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55
CYPRUS
Foreigners may be refused entry if they do not avail of their own means of financing their stay
and departure from Cyprus upon expiry of their stay permit. They may also be refused entry if
they are mentally handicapped, suffering from a contagious or infectious disease, convicted of
murder or an offence for which they were sentenced to imprisonment, or if they are prostitutes or
living on the proceeds of prostitution. 6
Foreigners whose stay permit is not renewed must leave within 14 days from the date of advice
that their residence permit will not be renewed. Illegal migrants are ordered to leave immediately.
Foreigners may also be ordered to leave, when the reason for their stay expires, e.g. at the termination
of a working contract. In these cases, the Ministry of Interior orders their expulsion, which
comes into effect 15 days after the date of notification. The Minister of Interior (Chief Immigration
Officer) may also order the detention and deportation of a person in breach of their visa
conditions or having previously been deported from Cyprus.
In the case of rejected asylum seekers, the responsible authorities may order expulsion, once a
final decision of rejection of asylum applications has been reached. Expulsion, which in Cyprus
is an administrative act, as is the case in most countries in this study, may be ordered either by
Border Officials or the Refugee Authority.
Any person who contravenes the legal provisions of the Republic of Cyprus commits an offence
and may be fined Cyprus £ 1,000 and/or imprisoned for a period up to 12 months. Unlawfully
resident migrants who are apprehended are liable to a fine of Cyprus £ 5,000 and/or a sentence of
imprisonment not exceeding three years. 7
Deportation
According to the Immigration and Aliens Act, expulsion may be enforced on aliens, who:
Are classified persona non grata on the territory of Cyprus;
Pose a threat to public order and national security and/or infringe public morals;
Are members of an unlawful association as defined by the Penal Code and who have been
previously deported; 8
A foreigner who is expelled from Cyprus shall be removed to his/her country of origin or to any
other place as determined by the Council of Ministers with the consent of the other government.
Furthermore, the Council of Ministers shall determine a custodian for the placement of a foreigner’s
movable or immobile possessions until the deportee may make relevant arrangements.
Notwithstanding the legal provisions, the Chief Immigration Officer may, at his discretion, refuse
entry to a foreigner arriving by sea and who has no legal grounds to stay, to leave the Republic of
Cyprus on the same vessel on which he/she would have come to the island. 9
Deportees are not liable for the costs incurred by their removal.