Cyprus issues five times the EU average in residence permits per capita

Local educationemploymentEurostatTop News Cyprus issues five times the EU average in residence permits per capita Image 177 Relevant News Paphos Municipality announces traffic restrictions near Konia 14 September 2026 Cyprus issues five times the EU average in residence permits per capita 14 September 2026 Six suspects to be deported over planned Cyprus murder-for-hire plot 14 September 2026 Theano Thiopoulou 14 September 2026 FacebookXWhatsAppEmailPrintViber Cyprus is among the highest-ranking countries in the European Union for new residence permits issued to third-country nationals, according to the latest Eurostat data for 2025, published on September 11, 2026. The figures show EU countries issued a total of around 3.9 million first residence permits to non-EU citizens, the highest level since records began in 2008, and a 10.1% increase on 2024. Cyprus’s position stands out even more when the number of permits is measured against population. In 2025, Cyprus issued 47 first residence permits per 1,000 residents, placing it second in the EU behind Malta, where the rate was 57 permits per 1,000 residents, with Portugal following at 27. At the other end of the scale, Slovakia, Czechia, Romania, Estonia and Bulgaria all sat at around 4 permits per 1,000 residents. The EU average was just 9 permits per 1,000 residents, meaning Cyprus’s rate was roughly five times the EU average. Given Cyprus’s small population, this performance is significant, and stems from more than one factor. Work was the leading factor, accounting for 25,168 permits, up 19.3% on the previous year. Education followed as the second major driver, with 9,401 permits, an increase of 171.9%. Family reasons accounted for 5,307 permits, down 5.9%, while other reasons accounted for 6,031, down 40.2%. The rise in education and study-related permits stands out in particular: the increase in this category in 2025 was exceptionally large compared with the previous year. The figures show Cyprus is becoming not only a destination for workers from third countries, but is also strengthening its role as a destination for international students. This development carries particular significance for the Cypriot economy given its links to universities and private education institutions. It also connects to housing, services, consumption and local economic activity more broadly. According to Eurostat, only three EU countries had education as the most common reason for granting a residence permit: Ireland (47.6% of all permits issued), Denmark (36.7%) and France (31.4%). In absolute terms, the top destinations for non-EU students seeking educational opportunities in the EU were France (118,404 permits), Germany (112,500) and Spain (105,419). At EU level, work was the most significant reason for issuing first residence permits in 2025. In total, around 1.3 million permits, or 33.6% of the total, were for work, followed by family reasons at 28.1%, other reasons including international protection at 22.8%, and education at 15.5%. The rise in work permits across the EU was particularly notable, up 16.1% on 2024. The picture across the rest of Europe Beyond Cyprus, work, family reunification and education recorded the largest absolute increases in first residence permits across the EU in 2025. The five countries issuing the most first permits were Spain (635,438), Germany (605,292), Poland (467,314), Italy (433,099) and France (377,462), together accounting for 65.2% of all first permits issued in the EU. Cyprus naturally does not feature among the leaders in absolute numbers, given the size of its population. At EU level, the three largest groups of nationals receiving a first residence permit in 2025 were Ukrainians (335,100), Indians (227,600) and Moroccans (202,100). Eurostat notes that these figures concern first residence permits, not the total number of people already living legally in Europe. Not everyone is a “new migrant” A key point in interpreting the figures is that “first residence permit” does not equate to the total number of people who entered a country. The data concerns residence permits issued for the first time, permitting legal residence for the reasons Eurostat records. People in the EU under temporary protection status due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine are not included in these figures; that category is recorded separately. 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