By Uglobal Staff
The number of residence permits issued for the first time to foreigners in the EU went down by 24% in 2020 because of the pandemic, according to new data released by Eurostat – the EU's statistical body.
In 2019, the EU issued around 3 million residence permits; however, the number dropped to 2.2 million in 2020 – the year COVID-19 became a global pandemic when many countries around the world shut their borders and imposed severe travel restrictions.
The Eurostat report noted that there were other contributing factors at play that resulted in lower residence permits such as visa applications becoming more complicated post pandemic coupled with administrative delays etc.
EMPLOYMENT TOP REASON FOR RESIDENCE PERMITS
The number one reason for first residence permits in the EU was employment, followed by family and education reasons.
Poland was the top destination for work-related first residence permits, followed by Spain and Portugal. Germany, Spain, France, and Italy were EU states with the largest share of first residence permits issued for family reasons.
France and Ireland were among top countries where international students got most first residence permits.
MALTA, CYPRUS SEE HIGHEST RATIO OF RESIDENCE PERMITS
The highest ratio of first residence permits per 1,000 inhabitants was recorded in Malta (22 per 1,000) followed by Cyprus (19) and Poland.
The lowest ratio was observed in Romania (0.9) followed by Bulgaria (1.5), Italy (1.8) and Greece (1.9).
PREFERENCE OF COUNTRIES BY NATIONALITY
Out of the 2.2 million first residence permits issued in 2020, the share of Ukrainians was 27%, most of whom went to Poland for work, followed by Moroccans (5%) and then Indians (4%).
AMERICANS PREFER SPAIN, RUSSIANS POLAND
A total of 41,768 Americans were granted first residence permits in the EU in 2020, out of whom 6,194 were in Spain, France (5,336), Netherlands (4300), Germany (4253) and Italy (3,836).
Meanwhile, 60,702 Russians were granted first residence permits in the same period, out of whom 11,326 were in Poland, Germany (9,400), Spain (6,829), Czechia (6,077) and France (3,759).
INDIANS PREFER GERMANY, CHINESE PREFER SPAIN
A total of 79,273 Indians were granted first residence permits in the EU in 2020, out of whom 10,918 were in Germany, Sweden (7,676), Netherlands (7,636), Portugal (7,172) and Ireland (6,352).
Also, 59,756 Chinese were granted first residence permits in the same period, out of whom 9,541 were in Spain, France (8,577), Germany (6,274), Hungary (5,998) and the Netherlands (5,148).
SOUTH AFRICANS PREFER NETHERLANDS, BRAZLIANS LIKE PORTUGAL
A total of 6,118 South Africans were granted first residence permits in the EU in 2020, out of whom 1,857 were in the Netherlands, Ireland (1,019), Germany (467), Hungary (365) and Portugal (363).
Meanwhile, 72,440 Brazilians were granted first residence permits in the same period, out of whom 42,245 were in Portugal, Spain (8,251), Ireland (5,010), France (3,875) and Germany (2,892).
EU STATES WITH INVESTMENT IMMIGRATION OPTIONS
Although the figures provided by Eurostat do not give a breakdown of residence permits issued by investment, one can get a sense of what EU country is preferred by different nationalities when they move to Europe and gain their first residence permits.
In Portugal, 84,396 first residence permits were issued in 2020, the majority of which went to Brazilians (42,245), followed by Indians (7,172), Angolans (4,829), Cabo Verde citizens (4,224) and Nepalis (3,880), according to Eurostat data.
In Greece, 19,821 first residence permits were issued, the majority of which went to Albanians (7,768), followed by Chinese (2,497), Georgians (1,694), Pakistanis (1,314) and Bangladeshis (726).
In Bulgaria, 10,267 first residence permits were issued, the majority of which went to Turks (3,927), followed by Russians (1,548), Ukrainians (1,340), North Macedonians (384) and Serbians (331).
In Cyprus, 16,910 first residence permits were issued, the majority of which went to Indians (3,041), followed by Russians (2,303), Nepalis (2,029), Syrians (1,560) and Filipinos (1321).
In Malta, 11,107 first residence permits were issued, the majority of which went to Indians (2,223), followed by Turks (904), Chinese (861), Filipinos (822) and Nepalis (807).
In Ireland, 30,382 first residence permits were issued, the majority of which went to Indians (6,352), followed by Brazilians (5,010), Americans (3,585), Chinese (1,731) and South Africans (1,019).
In Luxembourg, 5,706 first residence permits were issued, the majority of which went to Indians (520), followed by Eritreans (398), Brazilians (327), Americans (319) and Chinese (309).
In the Netherlands, 73,511 first residence permits were issued, the majority of which went to Syrians (8,032), followed by Indians (7,636), Turks (6,174), Chinese (5,148) and Americans (4,300).
In Italy, 105,729 first residence permits were issued, the majority of which went to Albanians (13,059), followed by Moroccans (10,239), Pakistanis (7,900), Bangladeshis (6,413) and Indians (6,156).
In France, 225,890 first residence permits were issued, the majority of which went to Moroccans (30,145), followed by Algerians (23,906), Tunisians (15,412), Cote d'Ivoire citizens (9,158) and Chinese (8,577).
In Germany, 312,692 first residence permits were issued, the majority of which went to Syrians (46,550), followed by Afghans (24,258), Turkish (20,861), Iraqis (16,202) and Kosovar (15,895).
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