|
Cyprus |
2020 |
Legislative |
|
Processing asylum applications at first instance |
The asylum authority may reject an application and issue at the same time a return, removal or expulsion order in a single administrative act. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Cyprus |
2020 |
Legislative |
|
Processing asylum applications at second or higher instance |
The House of Representatives adopted an amendment to the Constitution, allowing for an exception from the general 75-day time limit for an appeal against a negative decision of the Asylum Service before the Administrative Court. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Cyprus |
2020 |
Legislative |
|
Processing asylum applications at second or higher instance |
An amendment clarified that an appeal against a rejection of the asylum application together with a return, removal or expulsion order has suspensive effect. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Cyprus |
2020 |
Legislative |
|
Processing asylum applications at second or higher instance |
The time limits to lodge an appeal against a final decision of the Asylum Service in front of the Administrative Court for International Protection were amended: 30 days for the regular procedure and 15 days for the accelerated procedure. The time limits to launch an appeal against a decision of the International Protection Administrative Court was reduced to 14 days from 42 days. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Cyprus |
2020 |
Legislative |
|
Processing asylum applications at second or higher instance |
The composition of the Administrative Court of International Protection was amended, and the number of judges increased first from 3 to 5, then from 5 to 10. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Cyprus |
2020 |
Legislative |
|
Reception of applicants for international protection |
A Ministerial Decision defined the provision of material reception conditions in cash. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Cyprus |
2019 |
Policy |
|
Unaccompanied minors and vulnerable groups |
A safe zone for vulnerable applicants was designed with EASO’s support in the First Reception Centre “Pournara” in Cyprus (not yet operational). |
EASO Asylum Report 2020 |
|
Cyprus |
2019 |
Policy |
|
Processing asylum applications at first instance |
A Quality Control Unit was established within the Asylum Service, with participation of experts from the Asylum Service, EASO and UNHCR. |
EASO Asylum Report 2020 |
|
Cyprus |
2019 |
Policy |
|
Unaccompanied minors and vulnerable groups |
Development of a screening system for vulnerable applicants was developed in the First Reception Centre “Pournara”, with the tool waiting to be implemented in practice. |
EASO Asylum Report 2020 |
|
Cyprus |
2019 |
Policy |
|
Return of former applicants |
The AMIF project established the national forced return monitoring system, conducted by the Commissioner for Administration and Protection of Human Rights Ombudsman. |
EASO Asylum Report 2020 |
|
Cyprus |
2019 |
Policy |
|
Processing asylum applications at first instance |
The Asylum Service was reinforced with additional staff in order to manage the increasing pressures on the asylum and reception systems. |
EASO Asylum Report 2020 |
|
Cyprus |
2019 |
Policy |
|
Processing asylum applications at second or higher instance |
The new Administrative Court for International Protection (IPAC) began operating as of 18 June 2019. |
EASO Asylum Report 2020 |
|
Cyprus |
2019 |
Legislative |
|
Special procedures to process asylum applications |
By Ministerial Decision on Safe Countries, the accelerated procedure is applied to Georgian nationals. |
CY LEG 01 2019 |
|
Cyprus |
2019 |
Legislative |
|
Reception of applicants for international protection |
Applicants for international protection may have access to the labour market in an extended number of occupations. |
CY LEG 02 2019 |
|
Cyprus |
2021 |
Legislative |
|
Special procedures to assess protection needs |
The list of safe countries of origin was updated, adding Armenia, Benin, Kenya, Kosovo, Moldova, Mongolia and Togo. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Cyprus |
2021 |
Legislative |
|
Processing asylum applications at second or higher instance |
The Law on the Establishment and Operation of the Administrative Court was amended introducing an automatic suspensive effect for an appeal against a return decision, deportation order and removal order. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Cyprus |
2021 |
Legislative |
|
Reception of applicants for international protection |
New orders were issued by the Ministry of Labour, allowing applicants to start working before a formal decision is made on the work permit application. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Cyprus |
2021 |
Legislative |
|
Detention during the asylum procedure |
The law on the ratification of the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment was amended, formalising the practice that the Ombudsperson can visit freely, unhindered and unannounced any detention facility. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Cyprus |
2021 |
Legislative |
|
Return of former applicants |
Amendments entered into force allowing the Head of the Asylum Office to issue a deportation or removal order jointly with a negative decision when deciding on an application for international protection. Both decisions, which are no longer separate administrative acts, can be challenged before the International Protection Administrative Court and the suspensive effect may be automatic. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Cyprus |
2021 |
Legislative |
|
Persons with special needs in the asylum procedure |
The Deputy Minister for Social Welfare, the Minister for Justice and the police signed a memorandum in Cyprus to strengthen cooperation for the referral and support to survivors of human trafficking. The national reception strategy also established assessments and referral mechanisms as core objectives. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Cyprus |
2021 |
Legislative |
|
Persons with special needs in the asylum procedure |
The government took action toward increasing its reception capacity dedicated to unaccompanied children. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Cyprus |
2021 |
Institutional |
|
Processing asylum applications at first instance |
The reorganisation of the Asylum Service was ongoing, including the asylum administration and the ministry. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Cyprus |
2021 |
Institutional |
|
Reception of applicants for international protection |
The Asylum Service established new sectors which are responsible for the reception of applicants for international protection. The implementation and operationalisation of a reception allocation bureau was planned in the First Reception Centre Pournara to collect statistics, follow in- and outflow, and gather information on residences of applicants who are leaving the centre. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Cyprus |
2021 |
Policy |
|
Access to procedure |
The Cypriot Council of Ministers approved the establishment of an inter-ministerial committee mandated to suggest specific responses and management measures to address the emergency resulting from increased migration flows; a management unit with operational facilities; and a contingency plan for the irregular arrival of third-country nationals by sea or through the Green Line. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Cyprus |
2021 |
Policy |
|
Processing asylum applications at first instance |
The asylum services prioritised applications submitted in detention and at police stations. Due to an increase of the number of applicants from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and from other African countries, Cyprus examined these applications with priority. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |