The Amount of Issued Residence Permits in the EU Last Year Decreased
October 18, 2021
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Due to the pandemic and related restrictions, the number of permits decreased by almost 25% compared to 2019.
In 2020, about 2.2 million citizens of third countries received their first residence permits in the EU. According to Eurostat, this is 24% (or 706,000) less than in 2019. This is also the first drop in the uptrend observed since 2013. This trend is mainly due to the COVID-19 pandemic, travel bans and administrative restrictions imposed by local authorities.
Reasons
Educational residence permits in 2020 were issued by 38% less than in 2019. The number of work-related permits issued decreased by 25%, for family reasons - by 23%, for other reasons, including international protection - by 13%.
Employment is the main reason why people received a residence permit in the EU in 2020. This type of residence permit accounted for 40% of all first permits issued. This is followed by family circumstances (28%), education (11%) and other reasons (21%).
Poland issued the most work-related permits – 22% of the total. France has issued the most education permits (3%). Germany (6%), Spain (5%) and France (4%) became the leaders in the number of residence permits granted for family reasons in 2020.
All current ways to move abroad
Slovakia
Slovakia residence permit for business
Residence permitFor 3 months
from 5 000 €
Turkey
Residence Permit In Turkey - Real Estate
Residence permitFor 2 months
from 50 000 $
Czech Republic
Czech residence permit through employment
Residence permitFor 6 months
from 1 000 €
Spain
Residency Visa For Acquisition Of Real Estate (Golden visa)
Residence permitFor 2 months
from 500 000 €
Georgia
Residence permit in Georgia for real estate buyers
Residence permit
from 100 000 $
Spain
Spain Residence Permit - Residencia no lucrativa
Residence permitFor 6 months
from 28 800 €
Slovenia
Slovenia temporary residence permit for business
Residence permitFor 4 months
from 50 000 €
Italy
Residence Permit in Italy for Financially Independent Individuals
Residence permitFor 2 months
from 31 000 €
France
Passeport talent
Residence permitFor 3 months
from 30 000 €
Switzerland
Swiss Residence Permit for Managers
Residence permitFor 5 months
from 9 300 000 €
Andorra
Residence permit in Andorra for investment
Residence permitFor 3 months
from 600 000 €
Portugal
Portugal Residence Permit for Passive Income Earners
Residence permitFor 6 months
from 8 460 €
USA
Treaty Investor Visa E-2
Residence permitFor 4 months
from 100 000 $
Germany
German Residence Permit for Self-employment
Residence permitFor 12 months
from 100 000 €
Estonia
The Estonian Startup Visa
Residence permitFor 3 months
from 2 000 €
Germany
German residence permit for wealthy individuals
Residence permitFor 6 months
from 60 000 €
France
Carte de sejour temporaire – Visiteur
Residence permitFor 5 months
from 15 000 €
Spain
Residence Permit in Spain by Investment (Golden visa)
Residence permitFor 2 months
from 1 000 000 €
UAE
Long-term residence visas in the UAE
Residence permitFor 1 month
from 1 350 000 $
Italy
Residence Permit in Italy for Entrepreneurs
Residence permitFor 2 months
from 8 900 €
UAE
Visa by Investment in Residential Property
Residence permitFor 4 months
from 204 000 $
Spain
Autorización de residencia para emprendedores (REM)
Residence permitFor 15 months
from 25 560 €
Austria
Red-White-Red Card for Self-employed Key Workers
Residence permitFor 4 months
from 3 000 000 €
Paraguay
Paraguayan Temporary Residency
Residence permitFor 2 months
from 3 000 €
USA
O-1 Visa for Individuals with Extraordinary Ability or Achievement
Residence permitFor 3 months
from 5 000 $
USA
L-1 Visa Intracompany Transferee Executive, Manager or Specialized Knowledge
Residence permitFor 2 months
from 5 000 $
Greece
Greece Residence Permit for Financially Independent Persons (FIP)
Residence permitFor 4 months
from 24 000 €
United Kingdom
UK Investor visa Tier 1
Residence permitFor 2 months
from 2 220 000 €
Greece
Residence Permit in Greece by Real Estate Investment (Golden visa)
Residence permitFor 2 months
from 250 000 €
Italy
Investor Visa for Italy
Residence permitFor 3 months
from 250 000 €
USA
Immigrant Investor Program - EB-5
Residence permitFor 31 months
from 900 000 $
Bulgaria
Residence for Pensioners in Bulgaria
Residence permitFor 4 months
from 2 870 €
Canada
Atlantic Immigration Pilot
Residence permitFor 6 months
from 2 000 €
Montenegro
Montenegro Residence Permit by Property Purchase
Residence permitFor 2 months
from 30 000 €
Latvia
Residence by Property Investment Program
Residence permitFor 2 months
from 262 500 €
Countries
In 2020, Poland issued 26% of all first residence permits. It is followed by Germany (14%) and Spain (14%).
The increase in the total number of permits granted in 2020 compared to 2019 was recorded in the only country – Lithuania: plus 5%.
On the other hand, the largest decrease in residence permits issued in 2020 was registered in the Czech Republic: minus 54%, followed by Greece (-53%) and Malta (-48%).
Nationalities
601,200 Ukrainians received their first residence permits in EU countries in 2020, which made them the largest national group among all recipients. 488,900 of these permits (81%) were issued by Poland. This was followed by citizens of Morocco (123,400 permits, of which 56% were Spanish) and India (79,270, of which 14% were provided by Germany). Citizens of these countries accounted for 36% of all first residence permits.
Work was the main reason for issuing permits to Ukrainians (86% of all first residence permits) and Belarusians (60%). Family circumstances were the predominant reason for granting permits to Moroccans (53%), and education to Chinese (36%).
