Cyprus recorded 130 first-time asylum applications in December 2025, alongside 95 repeat applications, according to data released by the European Statistical Office (Eurostat).
Decline in EU asylum applications
In November 2025, Cyprus had 165 first-time applications and 105 repeat requests. In December 2024, first-time applications numbered 230, with 40 repeat requests. Across the European Union, 47,650 people applied for international protection in December 2025, marking a 23% decrease compared with December 2024 and a 13% decrease from November 2025.
Meanwhile, the EU registered 9,255 repeat applications in December 2025, representing a 29% increase compared with December 2024 but a 19% decrease from November 2025.
Main groups and countries for first-time applications
According to Eurostat, Venezuelans were the largest group of first-time applicants with 6,675 requests, followed by Afghans with 4,900, Bangladeshis with 3,190, and Syrians with 2,025.
Italy recorded the highest number of first-time applications in the EU with 9,985, followed by Spain (9,655), France (8,230), and Germany (6,530), collectively accounting for 72% of the EU’s total.
On a per capita basis, the EU average was 10.6 first-time applicants per 100,000 inhabitants in December 2025, with the highest rates in Greece (39.1), Ireland (22.9), and Spain (19.7).
Unaccompanied minors
In the same month, 1,330 unaccompanied minors submitted first-time asylum requests in the EU. The largest groups came from Somalia (250), Afghanistan (185), Venezuela (145), Egypt (115), and Eritrea (95). Countries receiving the most unaccompanied minors were the Netherlands (315), Greece (215), Germany (200), Spain (160), and Belgium (105).
EU asylum decisions
In the fourth quarter of 2025, the EU issued 229,735 first-instance asylum decisions, up 15% compared with the same period in 2024 and 10% compared with the previous quarter. Of these, 45% were positive, granting protection to 103,550 applicants.
Among first-instance protection recipients, 56% received refugee status, 23% humanitarian protection, and 21% subsidiary protection. The highest number of positive decisions were issued in Germany (34,940), Spain (23,210), and France (17,450).
The main beneficiaries of protection in the EU during the fourth quarter of 2025 were Afghans (37,895), Venezuelans (17,070), and Syrians (4,905).
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