Background information

Following the decision of the Council of the European Union Implementing Decision on the ‘establishing the existence of a mass influx of displaced persons from Ukraine within the meaning of Article 5 of Directive 2001/55/EC, and having the effect of introducing temporary protection’ (EU 2022/382), the Cabinet decided on 22 March 2022 to issue temporary visas for Ukrainian refugees fleeing war. The duration of the measure will be from 22 March 2022 to 4 March 2023.

Content of measure

Ukrainian nationals, refugees in Ukraine and their family members living in Ukraine before 24 February 2022 and stateless persons and non-Ukrainians living in Ukraine before 24 February 2022 with a permanent residence permit, who are unable to return safely in their country of origin are eligible for temporary visas in Cyprus.

Eligible Ukrainians of the temporary protection shall apply at the district offices of the Immigration Department and the Asylum Service in Nicosia of the Ministry of Interior or on-line. The rights granted to beneficiaries with the issuing of the temporary visas are:

• Residency rights,
• Access to labour market for employment or self-employment,
• Accommodation,
• Social welfare and means of subsistence if required,
• Medical care,
• Medical or other assistance in case of special needs,
• Access to education for children under 18 years of age.

Use of measure

The number of Ukrainian refugees eligible for receiving the temporary protection would be difficult to determine precisely. It seems that there has been an on-going flow of Ukrainian refugees arriving in Cyprus since 24 February 2022. The Minister of Interior stated on 17 March 2022 that the estimated number of Ukrainian refugees in Cyprus is around 8,000. On 30 March 2022 the Minister announced that the number of Ukrainian refugees in Cyprus reached 14,000. Reports in May 2022 predicted that there were 15,096 Ukrainian refugees living in Cyprus.

Target groups

Workers	Businesses	Citizens
Does not apply to workers	Does not apply to businesses	Migrants or refugees

Actors and funding

Actors	Funding
National government	No special funding required

Social partners

Social partners' role in designing the measure and form of involvement:

	Trade unions	Employers' organisations
Role	No involvement	No involvement
Form	Not applicable	Not applicable

Social partners' role in the implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:

• No involvement
• Main level of involvement: N/A

Involvement

This measure was decided by the members of the Cabinet after the EU directions. Social partners were not involved in the process of designing the measure; no social partner has been invited to contribute. The Ministry of Interior is the responsible agency for the implementation and monitoring of the measure.

Views and reactions

Particular reactions of trade unions and employers’ organizations in regards to the measure and its provisions have not been recorded.

Sources

• 31 March 2022: What you need to know about temporary protection (www.moi.gov.cy)
• 31 March 2022: Frequently asked questions for applicants of temporary protection (www.moi.gov.cy)