Latest news with #AsylumService
Leaders
3 days ago
- Business
- Leaders
Cyprus Grants Financial Support to Syrian Families to Resettle
Cyprus announced that it will give financial assistance to Syrian families to resettle them back in their homeland, according to Associated Press. Deputy Minister for Migration Nicholas Ioannides sated that they would allow the main income earners to remain in Cyprus for up to three years to work as part of a voluntary repatriation program. Ioannides noted that families must drop their claims for asylum or rescind international protection status in order to qualify for the program. The government will receive applications from June 2 to Aug. 31. Ioannides said that families wishing to voluntarily return will be given a one-off sum of 2,000 euros ($2,255) for one adult and 1,000 euros ($1,128) for each child. Importantly, couples who do not have children can also apply. According to the program, the family's main income earner, either the father or mother, will obtain a special residency and work permit. Therefore, they can stay for a minimum of two years in Cyprus with the option of staying for a third year. Moreover, the income earner will be allowed to travel back and forth to Syria as long as his or her residency and work permit are valid. 'This new program is a targeted, humanitarian and realistic policy that bolsters Syria's post-war transition to normality,' Ioannides said. Syrians represent the largest group of asylum-seekers in Cyprus. Recent Asylum Service figures showed that 4,226 Syrians applied for asylum last year. Related Topics: Syria Pledges to Assist in Locating Missing Americans: US Envoy Syria Welcomes US Sanctions Lift, Eyes Post-War Reconstruction Erdogan Holds Talks with Syria's Sharaa in Istanbul Short link : Post Views: 4
Roya News
4 days ago
- Business
- Roya News
Cyprus to pay Syrians to voluntarily return home
Cyprus has announced a new voluntary repatriation program aimed at encouraging Syrian families to return to their homeland, offering financial aid and temporary work permits for the main income earners to stay behind and continue supporting their loved ones. Unveiled on Thursday by Deputy Minister for Migration Nicholas Ioannides, the program provides 2,000 euros (USD 2,270) for each adult and 1,000 euros (USD 1,135) per child to families who choose to go back to Syria. Childless couples are also eligible. However, participation is contingent on applicants withdrawing their asylum requests or relinquishing international protection status granted before Dec. 31, 2024. The application window opens on June 2 and closes on August 31. As part of the arrangement, one parent or main income earner from each returning family — either the mother or father — will be granted a temporary residency and work permit valid for two years, with the possibility of a one-year extension. This allows them to remain in Cyprus, earn a living, and send remittances back home, while also being permitted to travel back and forth between the two countries. "Many Syrians have expressed their willingness to return and help rebuild their country," Ioannides said, "but are reluctant to do so because of the uncertainty surrounding where they'll be able to earn a living wage." The goal of the program, according to Andreas Georgiades, head of Cyprus' Asylum Service, is to ease that concern by offering 'a modest nest egg' for families restarting life in Syria, while maintaining an income stream from abroad. Ioannides described the initiative as a "targeted, humanitarian and realistic policy" that supports Syria's post-war transition. He added that European Home Affairs Commissioner Magnus Brunner views the plan as a potential model for other EU countries. Syrians currently make up the largest group of asylum-seekers in Cyprus. In 2023 alone, over 4,200 Syrians applied for asylum—almost 10 times more than Afghans, the second-largest group. Separately, Ioannides reaffirmed that Cyprus is acting within the bounds of a 2009 Search and Rescue agreement with Syria, which allows it to return rescued migrants at sea to their country of origin. He confirmed that two inflatable boats, each carrying around 30 Syrians, were recently intercepted and redirected under that agreement.
Asharq Al-Awsat
4 days ago
- Business
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Cyprus Offers Syrian Families Money to Resettle, Work Permits for Main Earners
Cyprus will offer Syrian families money to help them resettle back in their homeland and allow the main income earners to remain on the island nation for up to three years to work as part of a voluntary repatriation program, a Cypriot minister said Thursday. Deputy Minister for Migration Nicholas Ioannides said that a prerequisite for families to qualify for the program is that they must drop their claims for asylum or rescind international protection status already granted to them prior to Dec. 31, 2024, The AP news reported. Unveiling the program, Ioannides said that families wishing to voluntarily return will be given a one-off sum of 2,000 euros ($2,255) for one adult and 1,000 euros ($1,128) for each child. Childless couples are also eligible to apply. The application period runs from June 2 to Aug. 31. Additionally, the family's main income earner — either the father or mother will be granted a special residency and work permit allowing them to stay for a minimum of two years in Cyprus with the option of another year. Ioannides said that many Syrians have expressed their willingness to return and help rebuild their country, but are reluctant to do so because of the uncertainty surrounding where they'll be able to earn a living wage. According to the head of Cyprus' Asylum Service Andreas Georgiades, the program's premise is to help families overcome any such reluctance by affording them a modest nest egg with which to cover their immediate needs while enabling the main income earner to continue working and sending money to his family. The income earner will be allowed to travel back and forth to Syria while his or her residency and work permit are valid. Syrian nationals make up the largest group of asylum-seekers in Cyprus by far. According to Asylum Service figures, 4,226 Syrians applied for asylum last year — almost 10 times more than Afghans who are the second-largest group. 'This new program is a targeted, humanitarian and realistic policy that bolsters Syria's post-war transition to normality,' Ioannides said, adding that European Home Affairs Commissioner Magnus Brunner considers the program as a potential example for other European Union member countries to follow. Meanwhile, Ioannides repeated that a 2009 Search and Rescue agreement that Cyprus has with Syria enables Cypriot authorities to send back boatloads of Syrian migrants trying to reach the island nation after they're rescued in international waters. Ioannides said that two inflatable boats each loaded with 30 Syrian migrants were turned back in line with the bilateral agreement after being rescued when they transmitted that they were in danger. Ioannides again denied Cyprus engages in any pushbacks, despite urgings from both the UN refugee agency and Europe's top human rights body to stop pushing back migrants trying to reach the island by boat.
4 days ago
- Business
Cyprus offers Syrian families money to resettle and work permits for main earners
NICOSIA, Cyprus -- Cyprus will offer Syrian families money to help them resettle back in their homeland and allow the main income earners to remain on the island nation for up to three years to work as part of a voluntary repatriation program, a Cypriot minister said Thursday. Deputy Minister for Migration Nicholas Ioannides said that a prerequisite for families to qualify for the program is that they must drop their claims for asylum or rescind international protection status already granted to them prior to Dec. 31, 2024. Unveiling the program, Ioannides said that families wishing to voluntarily return will be given a one-off sum of 2,000 euros ($2,255) for one adult and 1,000 euros ($1,128) for each child. Childless couples are also eligible to apply. The application period runs from June 2 to Aug. 31. Additionally, the family's main income earner — either the father or mother will be granted a special residency and work permit allowing them to stay for a minimum of two years in Cyprus with the option of another year. Ioannides said that many Syrians have expressed their willingness to return and help rebuild their country, but are reluctant to do so because of the uncertainty surrounding where they'll be able to earn a living wage. According to the head of Cyprus' Asylum Service Andreas Georgiades, the program's premise is to help families overcome any such reluctance by affording them a modest nest egg with which to cover their immediate needs while enabling the main income earner to continue working and sending money to his family. The income earner will be allowed to travel back and forth to Syria while his or her residency and work permit are valid. Syrian nationals make up the largest group of asylum-seekers in Cyprus by far. According to Asylum Service figures, 4,226 Syrians applied for asylum last year — almost 10 times more than Afghans who are the second-largest group. 'This new program is a targeted, humanitarian and realistic policy that bolsters Syria's post-war transition to normality,' Ioannides said, adding that European Home Affairs Commissioner Magnus Brunner considers the program as a potential example for other European Union member countries to follow. Meanwhile, Ioannides repeated that a 2009 Search and Rescue agreement that Cyprus has with Syria enables Cypriot authorities to send back boatloads of Syrian migrants trying to reach the island nation after they're rescued in international waters. Ioannides said that two inflatable boats each loaded with 30 Syrian migrants were turned back in line with the bilateral agreement after being rescued when they transmitted that they were in danger. Ioannides again denied Cyprus engages in any pushbacks, despite urgings from both the U.N. refugee agency and Europe's top human rights body to stop pushing back migrants trying to reach the island by boat.
Euronews
4 days ago
- Politics
- Euronews
Cyprus offers money for migrants to return to Syria, minister says
Cyprus will offer Syrians money to help them resettle back in their home country, while allowing each family's main earner to remain on the island to work for up to three years, a Cypriot minister has said. Deputy Minister for Migration Nicholas Ioannides said Syrians would qualify for the voluntary repatriation programme if they drop their asylum claims or rescind international protection status already granted to them before 31 December 2024. Unveiling the scheme, Ioannides added that families who agree to return will be given a one-off sum of €2,000 for one adult and €1,000 for each child. Childless couples are also eligible to apply. The application period will run from 2 June to 31 August. The family's main earner — either the father or mother — will be granted a special residency and work permit allowing them to stay in Cyprus for a minimum of two years and a maximum of three years. They will be allowed to travel back and forth to Syria while their residency and work permit are valid. Ioannides said that many Syrians have expressed their willingness to return and help rebuild their country, following the ousting of the dictator Bashar al-Assad in December. However, they are reluctant to do so because of the uncertainty around the jobs market in their home country, he said. The Cypriot programme aims to help families overcome such concerns by giving them some financial guarantees, according to Andreas Georgiades, the head of Cyprus' Asylum Service. Syrian nationals make up the largest group of asylum-seekers in Cyprus by a significant margin. According to Asylum Service figures, 4,226 Syrians applied for asylum last year, almost 10 times as many as the next largest group. "This new programme is a targeted, humanitarian and realistic policy that bolsters Syria's post-war transition to normality," Ioannides claimed. Ioannides repeated that a 2009 search and rescue agreement between Cyprus and Syria enables Cypriot authorities to send back boatloads of Syrian migrants trying to reach the island. Ioannides said that two inflatable boats each carrying 30 Syrian migrants were recently turned back in line with the agreement. Cyprus denies suggestions from both the UN refugee agency and Europe's top human rights body that is engaged in pushbacks.
