Cyprus ranks 2nd in the EU for residence permits for minors
Cyprus ranks 2nd in the EU for residence permits for minors
Cyprus has the second highest rate in the entire European Union of first-time residence permits issued to non-EU citizens under the age of 18, measured against its own child population. These high numbers underline Cyprus' position as an attractive destination for international families.
The Eurostat figures in detail
- Cyprus recorded 2,584 permits per 100,000 inhabitants under the age of 18.
- This figure was only surpassed by Malta, which is at the top with 3,379.
- Luxembourg took third place with 1,861.
- By comparison, countries such as Latvia, Croatia, Estonia, Bulgaria and Romania were all below a ratio of 200 permits per 100,000.
The total number of first-time residence permits issued to non-EU citizens under the age of 18 in the EU in 2024 was 540,445.
The
majority of these residence permits were issued for reasons of family reunification or foundation (356,554 permits, representing 66% of the total value).
Other reasons:
- Other reasons (including international protection): 30% (160,618 permits).
- Education: Only 4% (21,179 permits).
Absolute numbers and origin
Although Cyprus is strong in relative proportions, the largest EU countries lead the absolute number:
- Germany issued the most titles with 138,692 licences (26% of the EU total).
- They were followed by Spain (107,828) and Italy (60,125).
In terms of the origin of minors, citizens from Asia formed the largest group (37%), followed by non-EU Europeans (27%) and Africans (21%). The most common nationalities were Syria (12%), Morocco (7%) and Ukraine (6%).
MFRadio.de | Cyprus Editorial Office | 20 November 2025 Source: Cyprus Mail Author: MF Editorial Team
