Source: European Parliament
In accordance with the Treaties, it is a prerogative of the Member States to determine the volumes of admission of third-country nationals coming from third countries to their territory in order to seek work[1]. The Commission cannot determine how many third-country nationals may enter and legally reside in Europe.
In 2023, Member States issued more than 3,7 million residence permits to non-EU citizens from more than 170 countries[2]. Other than residence permits issued for work (33%) and education (14%), the rest of the permits was granted for family reasons (26%) and other reasons (26%), including international protection[3].
The Commission has no information about the profiles of the persons who have obtained residency permits for education in the Member States.
Member States are not required to provide information to the Commission about the profiles of international students, what type of university education they have received in their countries of origin, and what level of degree they aim to obtain in the EU.
- [1] See Article 79(5) Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.
- [2] https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/migr_resfirst/bookmark/table?lang=en&bookmarkId=66195d4d-e3d8-444d-956b-55e8faca4038
- [3] https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php?title=Residence_permits_-_statistics_on_first_permits_issued_during_the_year