European Union countries issued a record 3.9 million first residence permits to non-EU citizens in 2025, marking a 10 percent increase from the previous year and the highest figure recorded since EU-wide statistics began.
According to new Eurostat data, EU countries issued around 355,350 more permits than in 2024. Almost every major category saw growth, with work-related permits rising by 16 percent, family-related permits by 14 percent and education permits by 9 percent. Permits issued for other reasons declined slightly, by around 1 percent.
Employment remained the leading reason for moving to the EU, followed by family reunification, education and other purposes.
By the end of 2025, non-EU citizens held approximately 27.8 million valid residence permits across the bloc. Germany had the largest overall number, with 5.9 million, followed by France with 4.4 million, while Spain and Italy each recorded around 4.3 million.
Spain Leads in New Residence Permits
Spain issued the highest number of first residence permits in 2025, with 635,438, followed by Germany with 605,292, Poland with 467,314, Italy with 433,099 and France with 377,462.
Sweden issued 61,196 permits, Austria 55,486 and Denmark 49,882. Outside the EU, Switzerland issued 46,272 and Norway 25,197.
The sharpest year-on-year increases were recorded in Portugal, Romania, Italy and Slovakia, while Croatia, Greece and Austria experienced the most noticeable declines.
Work Remains the Main Reason for Moving to Europe
Employment accounted for approximately 1.3 million first residence permits, representing nearly 34 percent of the total issued in 2025.
Poland was the leading destination for workers from outside the EU, issuing 318,186 first permits for employment. It was followed by Portugal with 240,523, Spain with 115,040 and Germany with 108,091.
Ukrainian and Brazilian nationals were among the largest groups receiving work-related permits. Most Ukrainian workers received their permits in Poland, while Portugal was the main destination for Brazilian nationals.
Family Reunification Ranks Second
Family formation and reunification accounted for around 1.1 million first residence permits, or approximately 28 percent of the total.
Spain issued the largest number for family reasons, with 275,869 permits, followed by Germany with 225,591, Italy with 176,876 and France with 90,959.
Moroccan nationals represented the largest group receiving family-related permits, with Spain accounting for more than half of those issued to Moroccan citizens.
Hundreds of Thousands Arrive for Education
Around 600,000 first residence permits were granted for educational purposes in 2025, representing roughly 15 percent of all new permits.
Education was the most common reason for residence in Ireland, Denmark and France. In absolute numbers, France welcomed the largest number of non-EU students with 118,404 permits, followed by Germany with 112,500 and Spain with 105,419.
Indian nationals formed the largest group receiving education-related permits, with almost 40 percent of their permits issued by Germany.
Other Reasons Account for Nearly One-Quarter of Permits
Approximately 900,000 first residence permits, or 23 percent of the total, were issued for other reasons. This category can include international protection and certain other forms of residence, including permits for retirees.
In Greece, Estonia and Austria, this was the most common category of new residence permits in 2025.
Afghan nationals represented the largest group receiving permits in this category, with Germany issuing 42 percent of them.
Ukrainians Were the Largest Group of New Arrivals
Ukrainian citizens received the highest number of first residence permits in EU countries in 2025, with approximately 335,100 permits. They were followed by Indian nationals with 227,600 and Moroccans with 202,100.
Other major groups included citizens of Brazil, Belarus, Colombia, Türkiye, China, Syria and Pakistan.
Eurostat notes that migrants’ choice of destination can be influenced by factors such as geographical proximity, historical and linguistic ties, and established migrant communities.
This can be seen in the distribution of different nationalities across Europe. Many Ukrainians and Belarusians moved to Poland, while large numbers of Moroccans settled in Spain and France. Spain attracted significant communities from Venezuela, Colombia and Peru, while Portugal remained a major destination for Brazilians. Germany, meanwhile, has long-established Turkish communities.
Top Three Nationalities Receiving First Residence Permits in Selected Countries
- Austria: Ukraine, Afghanistan, Syria
- Denmark: United States, India, Nepal
- France: Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia
- Germany: Syria, Türkiye, India
- Italy: Bangladesh, Morocco, Egypt
- Spain: Colombia, Morocco, Venezuela
- Sweden: India, Pakistan, China
- Norway: Syria, India, Vietnam
- Switzerland: United States, India, China
Record Number of Indians Receive Residence Permits
A total of 227,577 Indian citizens received first residence permits in EU countries during 2025, the highest figure recorded since statistics began in 2013.
More than 100,000 received permits for employment, around 60,000 for education, 46,000 for family reunification and approximately 19,000 for other reasons.
Indians were the largest nationality receiving first residence permits in Sweden, Ireland, Cyprus and Luxembourg, while ranking second in Denmark and the Netherlands.
EU countries also issued first residence permits to more than 91,000 U.S. citizens, another record since 2013. Education was the most common reason, accounting for around 32,500 permits, followed by family-related reasons with approximately 23,000, employment with nearly 19,000 and other purposes with about 17,000.
American citizens were the largest group receiving first residence permits in Denmark and Switzerland, while ranking third in the Czech Republic and fourth in Sweden, Ireland and the Netherlands.
Around 44,000 British citizens also obtained first residence permits in EU countries in 2025, broadly in line with previous years. Approximately 12,900 permits were issued for employment and a similar number for family reasons, while 6,600 were granted for education and nearly 12,000 for other purposes.
The EU also issued first residence permits to around 15,700 Canadians and 9,000 Australians during the year.
