EU issues 3.9 million first residence permits to non-EU citizens in 2025
EU countries issued 10.1 per cent more first residence permits in 2025, with employment the main reason for approval.
Nicosia, Cyprus. EU countries issued 3.9 million first residence permits to non-EU citizens in 2025, up 10.1 per cent from the previous year, according to Eurostat. Employment remained the main reason for permits being granted.
Increase in permits
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 per cent of the total.
Reasons for residence permits
Family reasons were the second-largest category, accounting for 1.1 million permits, or 28.1 per cent of the total.
A further 0.9 million permits, representing 22.8 per cent, were issued for other reasons, including international protection.
Education accounted for the remaining 0.6 million first residence permits, equivalent to 15.5 per cent of all permits issued in 2025.
Year-on-year changes
Employment-related permits increased by 16.1 per cent year on year, while family-related permits rose by 14.1 per cent.
First permits issued for education increased by 9.0 per cent compared with 2024.
Other reasons, including international protection, was the only category to record a decline, falling by 0.9 per cent.
Ukrainian nationals
Ukrainian citizens received the largest number of first residence permits among non-EU nationals in 2025, with 335,100 permits issued.
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