Almost 7,000 irregular migrants left Cyprus in nine months

A total of 6,987 irregular migrants left Cyprus in the first nine months of 2023, either by being deported or through voluntary repatriations.

This figure amounts to 92 per cent of the 7,631 irregular migrant arrivals in the same period.

The government pays voluntarily repatriated people between €1,000 and €1,500 each, based on the travelling distance required for them to return to their country of origin.

The interior ministry announced on Thursday that the arrivals for the corresponding period last year were at 13,599 with returns at 5,042 – meaning that 37 per cent left.