The significantly reduced irregular flows and high rates of migrant returns confirm that the state’s policy is correct, President Nikos Christodoulides said on Thursday night.

Speaking at a ceremony to lay the foundation stone for the asylum services’ office in Nicosia, Christodoulides said that other EU states were emulating Cyprus’ approach.

European Commission feedback had commended the country’s migration policy as “exemplary,” the president said.

Data from March 2023 show that new asylum applications then stood at approximately 1,800 per month, while today they are down to 257.

In the first quarter of 2025, 4,527 people departed Cyprus, while last year a total of 11,000 foreign nationals left.

The picture has clearly improved with regard to Syrian nationals and from December 2024 to date, there have been 2,031 repatriations, Christodoulides said.

A new multi-pronged strategy is set to tackle irregular migration while also providing for legally resident migrants, the president said.

It is focused on curbing arrivals, accelerating application procedures, improving infrastructure, and increasing the number of returns.

The president recalled the formation of a Deputy Ministry for Migration as the turning point towards “a successful and comprehensive response”.

Cyprus pursues its migration goals while fully respecting international and EU law, he said, adding that the ultimate goal is to enhance the sense of security for Cypriots and other legal residents in the Republic.

Christodoulides thanked the Swiss government for co-financing the project which enabled the rehousing of the central asylum services to an upgraded facility.

“The new facilities will improve the work of the [service], allowing for the more efficient handling of its critical task,” Deputy Minister of Migration Nikolas Ioannides said.

He said his office was committed to ongoing improvement with full awareness of the challenges involved in their mission.