Reference metadata describe statistical concepts and methodologies used for the collection and generation of data. They provide information on data quality and, since they are strongly content-oriented, assist users in interpreting the data. Reference metadata, unlike structural metadata, can be decoupled from the data.
Enforcement of immigration legislation data (EIL statistics) contain statistical information based on Article 5 and 7 of the Regulation (EC) No 862/2007 as amended by the Regulation (EU) 2020/851 with reference to third-country nationals:
refused entry at the external border,
found to be illegally present,
ordered to leave,
returned following an order to leave.
3.2. Classification system
See table 3.2. in annex ‘Quality report tables EIL 2025’.
3.3. Coverage - sector
Migration and asylum – Enforcement of Immigration Legislation statistics
3.4. Statistical concepts and definitions
See table 3.4. in annex ‘Quality report tables EIL 2025’.
3.5. Statistical unit
Number of persons
3.6. Statistical population
See table 3.6. in annex ‘Quality report tables EIL 2025’.
3.7. Reference area
Cyprus
3.8. Coverage - Time
See table 3.8. in annex ‘Quality report tables EIL 2025’.
3.9. Base period
Not applicable.
Number of persons.
Calendar quarter and calendar year.
6.1. Institutional Mandate - legal acts and other agreements
Enforcement of immigration legislation data (EIL statistics) contain statistical information based on Article 5 and 7 of the Regulation (EC) No 862/2007 as amended by the Regulation (EU) 2020/851.
6.2. Institutional Mandate - data sharing
Not applicable
7.1. Confidentiality - policy
The General Data Protection Regulation applies in Cyprus. In addition, the Official Statistics Law of 2021 (Law No. 25(I)/ 2021) ensures that confidential data are used exclusively for statistical purposes and prevents their unlawful disclosure.
7.2. Confidentiality - data treatment
No rounding or concealment is applied to the tables of statistical data on residence permits, asEurostat ensures the confidentiality of the data.
8.1. Release calendar
Not applicable
8.2. Release calendar access
Not applicable
8.3. Release policy - user access
Not applicable
Not applicable
10.1. Dissemination format - News release
Not applicable
10.2. Dissemination format - Publications
Not applicable
10.3. Dissemination format - online database
Not applicable
10.3.1. Data tables - consultations
Not applicable.
10.4. Dissemination format - microdata access
Not applicable
10.5. Dissemination format - other
Not applicable
10.5.1. Metadata - consultations
Not applicable.
10.6. Documentation on methodology
Not applicable
10.6.1. Metadata completeness - rate
Not applicable.
10.7. Quality management - documentation
Not applicable
11.1. Quality assurance
Not applicable
11.2. Quality management - assessment
Good quality
12.1. Relevance - User Needs
The statistics collected under Regulation (EC) No. 862/2007 are used by a wide range of users at national, European and international level to cover various user needs. Some possible uses of the generated statistics are the development of research/projects in both academic and professional fields.
12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction
The EIL statistics are not published at national level.
12.3. Completeness
See table 12.3. in annex ‘Quality report tables EIL 2025’.
12.3.1. Data completeness - rate
Not applicable.
13.1. Accuracy - overall
High accuracy
13.2. Sampling error
Not applicable.
13.2.1. Sampling error - indicators
Not applicable.
13.3. Non-sampling error
Not applicable
13.3.1. Coverage error
See table 13.3.1. in annex ‘Quality report tables EIL 2025’.
13.3.1.1. Over-coverage - rate
Not applicable
13.3.1.2. Common units - proportion
Not applicable.
13.3.2. Measurement error
In table Y5.1, there maybe a small percentage <1% of double counting of person excluded
13.3.3. Non response error
Not applicable.
13.3.3.1. Unit non-response - rate
Not applicable.
13.3.3.2. Item non-response - rate
Not applicable.
13.3.4. Processing error
Not applicable
13.3.5. Model assumption error
Not applicable.
14.1. Timeliness
Data supply to Eurostat is in accordance with the Regulation and the Technical Guidelines, also concerning the timeframe of sending data to Eurostat.
14.1.1. Time lag - first result
Not applicable.
14.1.2. Time lag - final result
Not applicable.
14.2. Punctuality
See table 14.2. in annex ‘Quality report tables EIL 2025’.
14.2.1. Punctuality - delivery and publication
The data was delivered on time.
15.1. Comparability - geographical
Fully Compliance. No exceptions involved.
15.1.1. Asymmetry for mirror flow statistics - coefficient
Not applicable.
15.2. Comparability - over time
See table 15.2. in annex ‘Quality report tables EIL 2025’.
15.2.1. Length of comparable time series
Not applicable.
15.3. Coherence - cross domain
See table 15.3. in annex ‘Quality report tables EIL 2025’.
15.3.1. Coherence - sub annual and annual statistics
Not applicable
15.3.2. Coherence - National Accounts
Not applicable.
15.4. Coherence - internal
Not applicable
Administrative cost of extracting and processing data so as to comply with the guidelines.
17.1. Data revision - policy
Not applicable
17.2. Data revision - practice
See table 17.2. in annex ‘Quality report tables EIL 2025’.
17.2.1. Data revision - average size
Not applicable.
18.1. Source data
See table 18.1. in annex ‘Quality report tables EIL 2025’.
18.2. Frequency of data collection
Usually monthly for Y5.1 Third-country nationals ordered to leave by citizenship, age and sex and for Y6.1 Third-country nationals returned following an order to leave, by type of return, citizenship, age and sex.
18.3. Data collection
With regard to the tables "Third-country nationals subject to a removal order, by nationality, age and gender" and ‘Third-country nationals who have returned after a removal order, by type of return, nationality, age and gender’, the data are collected by the Asylum Service, the Aliens and Migration Unit and the Migration Department. All data are submitted to the Immigration Department for statistical purposes and compliance with guidelines.
18.4. Data validation
Data compilation is carried out by the Analysis and Statistics Office of the Police and by the Migration Department.
18.5. Data compilation
Data compilation is carried out by the Analysis and Statistics Office of the Police and by the Migration Department
Enforcement of immigration legislation data (EIL statistics) contain statistical information based on Article 5 and 7 of the Regulation (EC) No 862/2007 as amended by the Regulation (EU) 2020/851 with reference to third-country nationals:
refused entry at the external border,
found to be illegally present,
ordered to leave,
returned following an order to leave.
30 March 2026
See table 3.4. in annex ‘Quality report tables EIL 2025’.
Number of persons
See table 3.6. in annex ‘Quality report tables EIL 2025’.
Cyprus
Calendar quarter and calendar year.
High accuracy
Number of persons.
Data compilation is carried out by the Analysis and Statistics Office of the Police and by the Migration Department
See table 18.1. in annex ‘Quality report tables EIL 2025’.
Not applicable
Data supply to Eurostat is in accordance with the Regulation and the Technical Guidelines, also concerning the timeframe of sending data to Eurostat.
Fully Compliance. No exceptions involved.
See table 15.2. in annex ‘Quality report tables EIL 2025’.
