From 2023 to August 2024, a total of 48,212 residence permits were issued for employees of foreign companies and their family members, according to figures from the deputy ministry of migration presented to cabinet on Wednesday.

The overwhelming majority of the permits, 33,517, were issued to Russian citizens. Ukrainians at 3,504, Belarussians at 2,713 and Israelis at 1,957 followed with a big gap.

Other countries of origin included India and Lebanon – both with more than 1,000 issued permits – and the UK with slightly more than 300 permits.

According to the deputy ministry, the figures break down to 20,997 permits issued to employees of foreign companies based in Cyprus, 25,053 permits issued to (direct) family members, such as children or wedded partners, in the context of a family reunification.

Another 2,162 residence permits were issued under the “dependent visitor” category, which includes stepchildren, non-wedded partners or partners from a marriage that is not recognised in Cyprus, such as same sex couples which married abroad.

The figures were submitted in response to a question from Volt MP Alexandra Attalidou.