|
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 |
Policy |
|
Reception of applicants for international protection |
Applicants from a safe country of origin may be assigned to the Collective Reception and Accommodation Centre through an individual administrative act for an accelerated processing of their application. If they leave the centre, their material reception conditions may be reduced or, in exceptional and duly justified cases, withdrawn. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
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 |
|
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 |
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 |
|
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 |
|
Special procedures to process asylum applications |
When a subsequent application is deemed to be inadmissible, the appeal needs to be lodged within 15 days. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
Cyprus |
2022 |
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 2023 |
|
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 |
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 |
Policy |
|
Reception of applicants for international protection |
The registration of job seekers among asylum applicants and the renewal of their unemployment period moved online. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
Cyprus |
2022 |
Legislative |
|
Special procedures to assess protection needs |
The list of safe countries of origin was revised and Ukraine was removed from the list. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2023 |
|
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 |
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 |
Policy |
|
Processing asylum applications at second or higher instance |
Courts were added to the Computerized Asylum Service System (CASS) database and case files were incorporated in the system. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2022 |
|
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 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 |
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 |
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 |
2022 |
Policy |
|
Processing asylum applications at second or higher instance |
The rules of procedures of the Administrative Court for International Protection (IPAC) were amended making the applicant's presence before the court mandatory, whether in person or represented by a lawyer, without which the appeal could be rejected, except in situations of force majeure. Applicants or their lawyer now have a maximum of 10 minutes to present their supporting arguments, unless extended by the court when deemed necessary. |
EUAA Asylum Report 2023 |
|
Cyprus |
2020 |
Legislative |
|
Special procedures to process asylum applications |
A Ministerial Decision established a list of safe countries of origin. |
EASO Asylum Report 2021 |
|
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 |
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 |