EU Block (the European countries) issued about 3 Million first residence permits to non-EU nationals last year in 2019 which is about 6% more than previous years’ numbers.
About a quarter of the first residence permits was issued by Poland to third-country nationals.
The first permit Residence permit is issued to a person for the first time for an EU country. This does not include the extensions of the first TRP. A residence permit is believed as a first permit also if the period hole between the expiry of the previous permit and the start of validity of a new permit issued for the same reason is at least six months.
First residency permits issued by an EU member state allows citizens of non-EU countries (also called third-country citizens) to stay on their territory for at least 3 months.
Details of issued residence permits
The latest report on the issuance of the first residence permits to third-country nationals by Eurostat, the European Union’s statistics office shows that 3 million non-EU citizens were issued residence permits to stay in the bloc last year. According to the report, the number of first residence permits issued in 2019 increased by 6.0%, including a further 163,000 permits issued by member countries, with Poland topping the list.
The increase in the total number of first residence permits from year to year was mainly due to the increasing number of first permits issued. Reasons for employment 214 000, or up to 22%.
First residence permits issued for employment-related reasons and (reasons percentage)
| Reasons | Percentage |
| Family | 41% |
| education | 27% |
| International security | 18% |
| other reasons | 14% |
Top ranking countries issued first residence permits in 2019
| Country | Percentage | Numbers |
| Poland | 25% | 724,000 |
| Germany | 16% | 460,000 |
| Spain | 11% | 320,000 |
| France | 10% | 285,000 |
| Italy | 6% | 176,000 |
| Czechia | 4% | 117,000 |
In 2019, 724,000 residency permits were issued by Poland, while a small number of other countries remained. Germany came in second with 460,000 permits, followed by Spain with 320,000, France with 285,000, Italy with 176,000, Czechia with 117,000, the Netherlands with 102,000, and Sweden with 102,000 was second with a permit.
Compared to the population of each member state, the highest rate of first permits issued in 2019 was recorded in Malta (42 permits per 1,000 population), Cyprus (26), Poland (19), Slovenia (15), and beyond Luxembourg (14). In 2019, for the European Union as a whole, seven residence permits were issued for every 1,000 population.
Top-ranked EU countries issued residence permits regarding employment reasons
Poland tops the list of the first residence permits for employment, with 625,000 permits issued in 2019, there were big numbers for Ukrainians which were around about 551,000.
Top-ranked EU countries issued residence permits regarding study and family reasons
France issued the most study permits 90,000 (23%), ahead of Germany 61,000 (15%). The most licensed member countries for family reasons in 2019 are Germany 167, 000 (21%), Spain 144,000 (18%), Italy and France 101,000 and 98,000 respectively (12%). With 166,000 permits (30%) issued in 2019, Germany was also the top country in the European Union for other reasons, most of which were refugee status and the protection of subsidiaries (90,000) and humanitarian. 43,000 permits were from these were for protection.
The Maximum numbers of first residence permits issued to (citizens of) countries
| Country | number |
| Ukrainians | 757,000 |
| Moroccan nationals | 133,000 |
| Indians | 131,000 |
Last year, 757,000 Ukrainians were issued residence permits, according to EU figures. About four-fifths of the permit was issued by Poland. For 87 % Of Ukrainians, the main reason for obtaining a residence permit was work.
The second-largest group of foreigners allowed to stay by the EU in 2019 is Moroccan nationals 133,000 followed by Indians 131,000. Citizens of these countries accounted for more than a third 35% of the first residence permits issued in 2019.
Permits for Education purpose were mostly issued to Chinese 40% and the United States 37% of citizens were the current reason for the family. Other reasons, namely the status of immigrants and subordinates Protection was important to Syrian citizens (65%).