Cyprus will process asylum seekers at airports and through a new screening centre under a sweeping overhaul of refugee law approved by cabinet on Wednesday, as the island races to meet a binding EU deadline of 12 June 2026.
The bill, signed by the Justice Minister and the Deputy Minister of Migration, aligns Cyprus fully with the European Pact on Migration and Asylum. For the first time, asylum applications will be examined at airports, allowing decisions to be taken on the spot.
A new Screening, Reception and Identification Centre will process third-country nationals on arrival, tightening border controls.
The bill also prioritises the examination of international protection requests, introduces a detailed procedure for serving Asylum Service decisions, and speeds up the processing of returns to countries of origin.
Special provisions cover vulnerable groups including people with disabilities, minors, and unaccompanied minors, with the bill setting out living conditions for asylum seekers and codifying the procedures governing their cases. New provisions also give Cyprus the legal tools to manage crisis situations and force majeure without disrupting the national asylum system.
The bill now goes to parliament ahead of the June deadline.
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