EU countries issued a record 3.9 million first residence permits to non-EU citizens in 2025, driven by increased work, family reunification, and education, with Spain, Germany, and Poland leading the approvals.
EU countries issued a record 3.9 million first residence permits to non-EU citizens in 2025, a rise of 10.1 per cent on the previous year, according to Eurostat. The increase pushed the total to the highest level since the agency’s records began in 2013, reflecting a broad-based rise across most permit categories. Employment remained the dominant route into the bloc, while family reunification, education and other grounds also rose overall.
Eurostat said employment accounted for 33.6 per cent of all first permits, or about 1.3 million, making it the largest category by some margin. Family reasons followed at 28.1 per cent, while education made up 15.5 per cent and other reasons, including international protection, accounted for 22.8 per cent. Compared with 2024, work-related permits rose by 16.1 per cent, family permits by 14.1 per cent and education permits by 9.0 per cent. The only category to fall was other reasons, which edged down by 0.9 per cent.
Among member states, Spain issued the most first residence permits at 635,438, ahead of Germany on 605,292, Poland on 467,314, Italy on 433,099 and France on 377,462. Eurostat also said Portugal, Romania, Italy and Slovakia recorded the sharpest annual increases, while Croatia, Greece and Austria saw the most noticeable declines. In relative terms, the scale of approvals was also influenced by population size, with smaller countries sometimes ranking highly when permits were measured against their resident populations.
The largest nationalities receiving first permits were Ukrainians, Indians and Moroccans, with 335,100, 227,600 and 202,100 permits respectively. Eurostat noted that migrant networks, historical ties and geography all shape destination choices: Ukrainians and Belarusians were heavily concentrated in Poland, Moroccans in Spain and France, Brazilians in Portugal, and many Turkish citizens in Germany. By the end of 2025, there were 27.8 million valid residence permits held by non-EU citizens across the EU, with family reunification the most common basis overall; Moroccan citizens held the largest number of valid permits at 2.2 million, followed by Turkish citizens on 2.0 million and Ukrainians on 1.7 million.
Source Reference Map
Inspired by headline at: [1]
Sources by paragraph:
– Paragraph 1: [2], [3], [4]
– Paragraph 2: [2], [3], [4], [5], [6]
– Paragraph 3: [1], [2], [3]
– Paragraph 4: [2], [3], [4], [6]
Source: Noah Wire Services
Verification / Sources
- https://www.thelocal.dk/20260914/revealed-number-of-residency-permits-issued-in-europe-reaches-record-high – Please view link – unable to able to access data
- https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/fr/web/products-eurostat-news/w/ddn-20260911-2 – In 2025, EU countries issued 3.9 million first residence permits to non-EU citizens, marking a 10.1% increase compared to 2024. Employment was the primary reason, accounting for 33.6% of permits, followed by family reasons at 28.1%, other reasons including international protection at 22.8%, and education at 15.5%. The largest number of permits were granted to Ukrainian (335,100), Indian (227,600), and Moroccan (202,100) citizens. By the end of 2025, there were 27.8 million valid residence permits held by non-EU citizens in the EU, with family reunification being the most common reason for permits in force, accounting for 32.4% of the total. Moroccan citizens held the highest number of valid permits at 2.2 million, followed by Turkish citizens at 2.0 million, and Ukrainian citizens at 1.7 million.
- https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/SEPDF/cache/16752.pdf?v=4934115388186703 – In 2025, EU countries issued approximately 3.9 million first residence permits to non-EU citizens, a 10.1% increase compared to 2024. Employment was the main reason for issuing new permits, accounting for 33.6% of all first residence permits issued in 2025. Family reasons were the second most common, with 28.1%, followed by other reasons, including international protection, at 22.8%. Education accounted for 15.5% of the total. Compared with 2024, employment-related first permits increased by 16.1%, first permits for family reasons by 14.1%, and those for education by 9.0%. Other reasons, including international protection, were the only category in which the number of first permits fell (-0.9%).
- https://www.brusselstimes.com/eu-affairs/2313808/eu-residence-permits-rise-by-10-1-amid-surge-in-work-approvals/ – EU countries issued 3.9 million first residence permits to non-EU citizens in 2025, up 10.1% on the year before. A first residence permit is an authorisation for a non-EU citizen to live in an EU country for a specific reason for the first time, Eurostat informed in a release on Friday. Work was the most common reason for new permits, accounting for 1.3 million approvals — 33.6% of the total. Family reasons followed with 1.1 million permits (28.1%), while 0.9 million (22.8%) were granted for other reasons, including international protection. Education accounted for the remaining 0.6 million permits (15.5%). Compared with 2024, employment-related first permits rose by 16.1%, while family permits increased by 14.1% and education permits by 9.0%. The “other reasons” category was the only one to fall, down 0.9%.
- https://www.kiprinform.com/en/news/eu-issues-3-9-million-first-residence-permits-to-non-eu-citizens-in-2025/ – EU countries issued 3.9 million first residence permits to non-EU citizens in 2025, up 10.1% from the previous year, according to Eurostat. Employment remained the main reason for permits being granted. The number of first residence permits issued rose by 355,350 compared with 2024. Employment-related permits accounted for around one-third of all first permits issued, with 1.3 million permits, or 33.6% of the total. Family reasons were the second-largest category, accounting for 1.1 million permits, or 28.1% of the total. A further 0.9 million permits, representing 22.8%, were issued for other reasons, including international protection. Education accounted for the remaining 0.6 million first residence permits, equivalent to 15.5% of all permits issued in 2025. Compared with 2024, employment-related permits increased by 16.1% year on year, while family-related permits rose by 14.1%. First permits issued for education increased by 9.0% compared with 2024. Other reasons, including international protection, was the only category to record a decline, falling by 0.9%.
- https://sofiaglobe.com/2026/09/11/eurostat-first-residence-permits-issued-in-eu-up-by-10-1-in-2025/ – In 2025, European Union countries issued 3.9 million first residence permits to non-EU citizens, a 10.1 per cent increase compared with 2024, EU statistics agency Eurostat said on September 11. Employment was the main reason for issuing new permits in the EU, accounting for about one-third of all first residence permits issued in 2025 (1.3 million or 33.6 per cent). Family reasons were the second most common, with 1.1 million first permits (28.1 per cent), followed by other reasons, including international protection (0.9 million or 22.8 per cent). The remaining first permits were issued for education-related reasons (0.6 million; 15.5 per cent). Compared with 2024, employment-related first permits increased by 16.1 per cent, first permits for family reasons by 14.1 per cent and those for education by 9.0 per cent. Other reasons, including international protection, were the only category in which the number of first permits fell (-0.9 per cent). In 2025, citizens of Ukraine (335,100), India (227,600) and Morocco (202,100) received the highest number of first residence permits. By the end of 2025, there were 27.8 million valid residence permits held by non-EU citizens. Family reunification was the most common reason for permits in force, accounting for 32.4 per cent of the total. Moroccan citizens held the highest number of valid permits at 2.2 million, followed by Turkish citizens (2.0 million) and Ukrainian citizens (1.7 million).
- https://www.thelocal.dk/20260914/revealed-number-of-residency-permits-issued-in-europe-reaches-record-high – European Union countries issued a total of 3.9 million new residence permits to non-EU citizens in 2025, a 10 percent increase compared to 2024, and the “highest level”
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Freshness check
Score: 10
Notes: The article was published on 14 September 2026, which is the same date as the Eurostat press release. This indicates that the content is fresh and original, with no evidence of recycling or republishing from other sources. The data aligns with the Eurostat release, confirming its timeliness.
Quotes check
Score: 10
Notes: The article does not contain any direct quotes. All information is paraphrased from the Eurostat press release, which is the primary source. This approach ensures originality and avoids potential issues with reused or unverifiable quotes.
Source reliability
Score: 10
Notes: The article is based on a Eurostat press release, a reputable and authoritative source for statistical data within the EU. The Local is a well-known news outlet in Denmark, providing a reliable platform for disseminating such information. The use of a primary source enhances the credibility of the content.
Plausibility check
Score: 10
Notes: The claims made in the article are consistent with the Eurostat press release and align with known trends in EU migration statistics. The data presented is plausible and corroborated by the original source, with no discrepancies or inconsistencies noted.