Close to 32 thousand Kosovars received EU residence permits in 2020

Compared to a year ago, the number of residence permits given to Albanian citizens has dropped by 38%, influenced by the situation created by the pandemic.

In the region, the highest number of residence permits given for 2020 keeps Serbia at 40.8 thousand, then Albania (37.6 thousand), followed by Bosnia and Herzegovina (35.1 thousand), Kosovo (31.6 thousand), North Macedonia (16.3 thousand), Montenegro (2.7 thousand).

Europe

According to Eurostat, in 2020, the European Union granted about 2.2 million residence permits for the first time for non-combat citizens. The EU. The number decreased by 24% (or - 706 000) compared to 2019, the first drop in the emerging growth trend between 2013 and 2020.

The decline came mainly due to the COVID-19 pandemic and restrictions related to travel and reduced administration activity, imposed by national authorities.

In 2020, 38% less (153 000) residence permits were issued for reasons related to education compared to 2019. A 25% drop in residence permits for employment reasons (294 000), a 23% drop for family reasons (-189 000) and a decline of 13% for other reasons, including international protection (-72 000).

Employment was the main reason why people received an EU residence permit in 2020, making up 40% of all residence permits. Family reasons accounted for 28%, education 11%, while other reasons, including international protection, accounted for 21%.

In 2020, Poland issued more than a quarter of all EU-based residence permits for non-combat citizens for the first time. The EU (598 000, or 26% of the total EU-set permits), followed by Germany (313,000, or 14% ) see the following notes) and Spain (312,000, or 14%).

The only increase in the total number of permits issued in 2020 compared to 2019 was registered in Lithuania: 5% (from 21 400 permits in 2019 to 22,500 permits in 2020).

On the other hand, the largest decline in the total number of permits issued in 2020 compared to 2019 was registered in Czechia: 54% (from 117 000 permits in 2019 to 54 300 permits in 2020), followed by Greece (53%) and Malta (4.8%).

Poland for Work, France for Studies

Poland headed the list of employment-related residence permits for the first time, with 502 300 permits issued in 2020, representing 22% of all EU permits. France granted more education-related permits (72 700 permits, or 3%). EU countries with the largest number of family permits in 2020 were Germany (130 700, or 6%), Spain (119 500, or 5%), and France (80 200, or 4%). Germany was also the first country in the EU to give residence permits for other reasons, with 153,000 permits (7%) issued in 2020. /Okinfo. ch