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Cyprus Emerges As A Preferred Hub For International Families In The EU

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

November 21, 2025

The European Union is witnessing a marked shift in international family migration, as Cyprus records the second highest ratio of first residence permits issued to non-EU minors. With 2,584 permits per 100,000 individuals under the age of 18, the island has firmly established itself as a destination of choice for families seeking reunification and stability.

Cyprus And Malta Lead The Statistical Landscape

Data from Eurostat positions Cyprus just behind Malta, which boasts 3,379 permits per 100,000 minors. In comparison, Luxembourg follows with 1,861. In stark contrast, nations such as Latvia, Croatia, Estonia, Bulgaria, and Romania reported fewer than 200 permits per 100,000, while France, issuing only 17 permits per 100,000, typically refrains from granting residence permits to minors.

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Permit Issuance: Categories And Distribution

Across the EU in 2024, a total of 540,445 first residence permits were issued to non-EU citizens under the age of 18. Notably, 66%—or 356,554 permits—were granted for family formation and reunification, highlighting a strong commitment to keeping families intact. Permits issued for other reasons, including international protection, accounted for 30% (160,618 permits), while education-related permits comprised a modest 4% (21,179 permits).

National And Citizenship Trends

Among EU member states, Germany issued the highest number of permits at 138,692 (26% of the bloc’s total), followed by Spain with 107,828 (20%), and Italy with 60,125 (11%). Analyzing citizenship trends, minors from Syria represented 12% of permits, with Morocco and Ukraine contributing 7% and 6% respectively. More broadly, Asian nationals accounted for 37% of the permits, Europeans from non-EU countries for 27%, Africans for 21%, Caribbean, Central and South Americans for 11%, and North Americans for 2%.

Implications For Policymakers And Stakeholders

The marked differences in permit issuance and policy approaches across EU nations illuminate broader trends in migration management. Cyprus’ elevated ratio underscores its emerging role as a nexus for international family migration, a trend that warrants attention from policymakers and business leaders amid evolving geopolitical currents in Europe.

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Meta’s Reality Labs Deepens Its Losses Even As Revenue Climbs

Meta Platforms’ Reality Labs division reported an operating loss of $4.62 billion in the second quarter, highlighting the continued cost of the company’s investments in virtual and augmented reality technologies. The unit generated revenue of $431 million, up from $370 million a year earlier and above analysts’ expectations of $423.4 million, according to StreetAccount. Operating losses widened from $4.53 billion in the same quarter of 2025.

Revenue Grows As Losses Continue

Despite higher revenue, Reality Labs remains one of Meta’s biggest cost centres. Since late 2020, the division has accumulated more than $80 billion in operating losses as the company continues investing in hardware and software for its long-term computing strategy.

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Focus Shifts Toward AI Wearables

Reality Labs develops the Quest virtual reality headsets and Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses in partnership with EssilorLuxottica. While Meta originally positioned the division around its metaverse vision, the company has increasingly focused on AI-powered wearables as demand for virtual reality devices has grown more slowly than expected.

Long-Term Investment

Meta renamed Facebook to Meta in 2021 to reflect its strategy of expanding beyond social media through immersive technologies. Although Reality Labs continues to report multi-billion-dollar quarterly losses, Zuckerberg has maintained that investments in AI, wearable devices and next-generation computing platforms are central to the company’s long-term growth strategy.