Although the peak of the migration crisis has passed, Europe issued 3.1 million residence permits (for various reasons, including employment, family reunification, asylum, and student status) in 2017, which is 4% more (112,000) than in 2016.
According to Eurostat, Ukrainians (661,874) were the largest group admitted to stay in the European Union, primarily in neighboring Poland. Furthermore, Poland is the most welcoming country, issuing 683,228 residence permits, not for asylum, but for employment reasons (596,916). This significant effort should be considered when analyzing Poland’s attitude towards migrants from the Mediterranean. In fact, Poland is already taking its share of a neighboring tragedy.
In order of importance, one-third (32%) of European residence permits are granted for employment, one-quarter (26%) for family reunification, and 24% for asylum. Residence permits issued for studies represent 17% of all residence permits issued.
After Poland, Germany is the second host country, issuing 535,446 residence permits in 2017, ahead of the United Kingdom (517,000), France (250,175), Spain (231,153), and Italy (186,786). The reasons for residence vary from one country to another.
In France, the largest number of permits is for family reunification (92,759), followed by foreign students (78,758). The United Kingdom is the country that issues the most residence permits for studies (179,633, or 34% of residence permits).
Family reasons are the most significant in Germany (156,973, or 19% of the European total in this category), in Spain (125,637, or 15%), in Italy (112,607, or 12%), and in the United Kingdom (101,142, or 12%). Notably, when considering the population percentage, residence permits are the highest in two southern islands, Malta (23 new residence permits per 1,000 inhabitants) and Cyprus (22 per 1,000).
While Ukrainians are the most numerous, Syrians represent the second-largest group with 223,000 residence permits granted, with two-thirds of these in Germany. China, including Hong Kong, makes a strong entrance with 193,000 residence permits granted, with nearly half in the United Kingdom, ahead of India (163,000, with 44% in the United Kingdom). Chinese individuals primarily come to England for studies. Americans are also numerous (147,300) in obtaining residence permits. Of the 107,700 Moroccans admitted to Europe, family reunification accounts for 67%.
