In 2023, the number of new resident permits in the EU grew, the majority were given to Russian citizens in Cyprus

In 2023, the European Union granted over 3.7 million first-time residence permits to non-EU citizens, according to Eurostat, the EU's statistical office. Cyprus contributed to this figure by issuing around 34,000 permits, primarily for educational purposes, reflecting a broader trend across the EU.

A notable rise in residence permits granted for educational purposes was observed in Cyprus, whereas a notable decrease was observed in permits issued under the "other reasons" category, which include international protection. Citizens of Russia, India, and Nepal were awarded most of the new licenses in Cyprus. Remarkably, Cyprus came in third place in the EU behind Germany and Spain in terms of the quantity of permits granted to Russian nationals.

On the other hand, compared to 2022, there was a 10.9% drop in the overall number of resident permits granted in Cyprus in 2023. The number fell from 38,917 to 34,694, the first decrease since 2013, with the exception of a small downturn brought on by the pandemic in 2020.

On the other hand, over that same period, the number of new residence permits issued in the EU increased by 4.7%, setting a record. With 33.8% of all residence permits granted in the EU being granted for work, employment remained the most common reason (although this was a little less than in 2022).

Family-related residence permits increased as well, accounting for 26.4% of all permits, a 6.4% increase over the prior year. Permits issued for educational purposes, on the other hand, were 14.3% of the total and had the fastest growth rate,13.5%.

The main justification for granting licenses in Cyprus was employment, accounting for 48.6% of all permits (16,874 overall), but this was a 12.2% drop from 2022. Permits for "other reasons" decreased dramatically by 31.2 percent, while permits for family reasons accounted for 24.7% of permits (8,564), indicating a minor increase. Even though they only made up 8.1% of all permits, education-related permits experienced the biggest increase in Cyprus, rising by 43.7%.

With 307,313 licenses granted, Ukraine topped the list of countries whose citizens received the most resident permits within the EU. After that came Morocco, India, and Belarus, the last two of which were granted more than 170,000 permits each.

In Cyprus, the majority of first-time residence permits were issued to Russian citizens, who received 12,029 permits in 2023. India followed with 3,852 permits, and Nepal ranked third with 3,148. Other notable countries included Sri Lanka, Syria, the Philippines, and Egypt.

For countries like Ukraine, Belarus, and India, employment continued to be the primary justification for resident permits throughout the European Union. However, the majority of licenses for Syrians and Afghans were given for "other reasons", such as international protection. Indian and Nepali citizens were mostly granted licenses for educational purposes in Cyprus, whereas citizens of Russia, Sri Lanka, and the Philippines were mostly given permits for family reasons. Permits for Syrians in Cyprus were mostly granted for "other reasons".

This data illustrates continued trends of migration inside the European Union, with work and education continuing to be important motivators. Additionally, Cyprus is still a major provider of residency cards for Russian citizens.