UNHCR welcomes adoption of the Refugee Law of 2026 in Cyprus, while urging a protection-sensitive implementation

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, welcomes the adoption by the House of Representatives in Cyprus of the Refugee Law of 2026, incorporating the provisions of the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum.

UNHCR Representative Leslie Vélez reaffirmed appreciation for the ongoing consultative process between the Republic of Cyprus and UNHCR. “The Refugee Law has the potential to improve access to the asylum procedures and establish a more coherent and efficient asylum system in Cyprus”.

Whilst the Law aims to provide stronger safeguards for those in need of protection, important challenges remain. Key issues relating to movement restrictions, detention, and the treatment of children and persons with specific needs require careful protection-sensitive implementation to ensure full respect for fundamental rights. Access to free legal aid and a strengthened independence of the complaints mechanism for unaccompanied children also remain essential.

While the Screening Regulation introduces, for the first time in EU law, an obligation to identify and record indications of statelessness, the new legislation does not include a definition of statelessness. Cyprus has not acceded to the 1954 and 1961 Statelessness Conventions and lacks a dedicated statelessness determination procedure. As a result of these factors, stateless persons may not always be properly identified and protected.

“UNHCR stands ready to continue supporting the Cypriot authorities in the implementation of the new law, including through technical advice, operational support and capacity-building, to help ensure a system that fully respects international and European refugee and human rights law”, said Vélez.

ENDS

For further details on UNHCR’s key advocacy priorities in the context of the EU Pact, please refer to the following relevant materials:

• UNHCR Advocacy Brief: Screening and identification of persons with vulnerabilities under the European Union Pact on Migration and Asylum
• UNHCR Advocacy Brief: Independent National Monitoring Mechanisms under the European Union Pact on Migration and Asylum
• UNHCR Advocacy Brief: Restrictions of movement, detention and alternatives to detention under the European Union Pact on Migration and Asylum
• UNHCR Advocacy Brief: Legal Counselling, legal assistance and representation under the European Union Pact on Migration and Asylum

For more information, please contact:

In Cyprus - Zenaida Onoufriou [email protected]