On 21 September, Cyprus’ Aliens and Immigration Unit (ΥΑΜ) executed simultaneous raids across the districts of Larnaca, Limassol and Paphos, detaining 18 third-country nationals found to be residing in the Republic without legal status. All detainees were transferred to temporary reception centres while deportation procedures were initiated in cooperation with the Deputy Ministry of Migration and International Protection. The sweeps form part of a wider enforcement strategy launched in July 2026 that combines police data analytics with community-tip hotlines to locate overstayers and undocumented workers. According to police statistics, more than 1,050 irregular migrants have been located year-to-date, a 22 % increase over the same period in 2025. For employers, the crackdown carries tangible compliance risks. Firms found harbouring or employing undocumented workers face fines up to €10,000 per individual and potential suspension of hiring licences under amendments to the Aliens and Immigration Law passed in March 2026. Companies—particularly in construction, hospitality and agriculture—should therefore audit their workforce documentation and use the government’s online permit-verification portal before onboarding staff. The operation also has implications for relocation managers. Dependents of foreign assignees who lose legal status due to expired permits are now more likely to be identified during random checks, accelerating removal proceedings. Employers are advised to track permit-expiry dates diligently and submit renewals via the recently launched e-migration platform at least 30 days in advance. Cyprus’ stepped-up enforcement is partly driven by EU scrutiny of external-border management as the island seeks progress in its bid for Schengen membership. Officials hint that similar multi-district operations will continue on a monthly basis through the end of the year.
Source: Cyprus-FAQ News
