Immigration and asylum
Central Government
The central government is responsible for the formulation and implementation of migration and asylum policies and legislation. Specifically, in the field of migration it is in charge of:
- The formulation and implementation of migration, repatriation and integration policy and legislation;
- Administrating the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund;
- Citizenship rules, and
- The management of repatriation schemes.
In the field of asylum it is responsible for:
- Administrating the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AIMF),
- Receiving application forms;
- Interviews;
- the coordination and supervision of the operation of reception centres;
- the coordination of the Services involved in asylum-related matters
- the participation in EU working groups.
- Case Examination, and
- The processing of statistical data.
Responsible ministries/bodies
District authorities are responsible for:
- The administration and coordination of central government policies in the field of immigration and asylum at the district level, and
Migration administration tasks, including citizenship applications.
Local SAA
Provide and administrate training and migrant integration programmes for third country nationals through the AIMF.
- Colourful Societies is a programme of integration activities led by the municipalities of Aglandzia, Strovolos, Latsia and Dali, in the Nicosia area.
- New Channels of Integration is a programme of activities running throughout 2017 by the Municipalities of Nicosia, Ayios Dometios, Engomi and Lakatamia.
- The Nicosia Municipality in partnership with Hope for Children is running an education programme for developing social skills.
- The Nicosia Municipality Multifunctional Foundation runs numerous projects with the aim of helping third-country nationals.