Pakistan’s Bureau of Immigration and Overseas Employment on 23 April published an advisory urging Pakistani nationals in Cyprus to “strictly comply” with local immigration rules and avoid irregular stay. The note follows a string of on-the-spot ID inspections by Cypriot authorities and reports of fines up to €1,200 for paperwork violations. Officials remind citizens to use only verified visa channels and to keep residence permits current, citing a 93 % rejection rate for asylum claims filed on the island in 2025. The advisory also references a rise in deportations of overstayers, including Pakistani workers in construction and agriculture. For global employers, the circular signals a zero-tolerance stance likely to affect seasonal labour pipelines. Firms hiring South-Asian talent must verify that staff hold valid pink slips, and should budget extra time—up to six weeks—for renewals as the migration department deals with a backlog. Legal consultants in Nicosia say overstayers now face expedited detention hearings and multi-year EU-wide re-entry bans, complicating future Schengen business trips. The embassy in Athens (accredited to Cyprus) has set up a hotline for urgent consular support.
Source: Daily Times (Pakistan)
