Publication date: 24 March 2026
This ad hoc query inquires about the legal framework and practices of EMN Member and Observer Countries regarding the renewal of residence permits of third-country nationals.
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Main theme: Cross-sectional, Asylum, Migration
Publication Type: Ad Hoc Queries
Keywords: residence permit, document validity, renewal, digitalisation
Publication date: 27 February 2026
This ad hoc query shines light on the practices applicable in EMN Member Countries regarding applications for family reunification by third-country nationals and their family members who enjoy visa-free travel for short-stays in the EU, in the context of the implementation of the Family Reunification Directive (2003/86/EC).
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Main theme: Family reunification
Publication Type: Ad Hoc Queries
Keywords: application for family reunification, sponsor, residence permit, visa-free travel
Publication date: 18 January 2026
This ad hoc query provides an overview of which EMN Member and Observer Countries require criminal record certificates in order to issue long-stay visas or residence permits. Details are provided on the categories of third-country nationals exempted from this requirement, the countries from which these certificates are required (country of origin and/or of previous residence), the other types of documents that may be accepted in lieu of a certificate (such as an affidavit), and more.
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Main theme: Economic migration, Family reunification, Study § Training, Borders & Visa
Publication Type: Ad Hoc Queries
Keywords: visa, residence permit, application, criminal record certificate, security
Publication date: 14 November 2025
This ad hoc query maps the legislation and current practices in EMN Member and Observer Countries regarding the issuance of authorisations to stay for study purposes granted to minors. This mapping includes eligibility criteria, procedural requirements, and information on who assumes responsibility for the minor during their stay in the receiving country.
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Main theme: Study § Training
Publication Type: Ad Hoc Queries
Keywords: residence permit, authorisation to stay, minor, education
Publication date: 06 September 2025
This ad hoc query aims to map the processing times of work-based residence permits across EMN Member and Observer Countries, including the collection of statistics on such processing times and the existence of fast-track procedures for certain categories of employees.
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Main theme: Economic migration
Publication Type: Ad Hoc Queries
Keywords: residence permit, work-based residence permit, processing time, highly skilled workers
Publication date: 31 August 2025
This ad hoc query examines whether EMN Member and Observer countries allow the revocation of temporary protection residence permits when beneficiaries are granted temporary protection in another Member State under Article 8(1) of Directive 2001/55/EC. It seeks to identify the legal provisions governing such revocation or, where applicable, alternative approaches.
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Main theme: Temporary protection
Publication Type: Ad Hoc Queries
Keywords: temporary protection, residence permit, revocation, termination
Publication date: 15 August 2025
This ad hoc query examines how EMN Member and Observer countries verify that third-country nationals applying for residence permits with the purpose of study have sufficient funds to support themselves during their stay. The query also explores trends in the issuance of residence permits for third-country national students and their family members in recent years.
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Main theme: Study § Training
Publication Type: Ad Hoc Queries
Keywords: student, sufficient financial resources, documentary proof, residence permit, application for family reunification
Publication date: 03 December 2024
This ad hoc query maps the schemes in place across EMN Member and Observer Countries to issue residence permits for so-called “digital nomads”, or persons who work remotely for an employer registered outside of their country of residence. Emphasis is placed on the issue of the use of forged documents in the applications for such permits.
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Main theme: Economic migration, Irregular Migration
Publication Type: Ad Hoc Queries
Keywords: residence permit, digital nomad, forged document
Publication date: 26 November 2024
The European Migration Network (EMN) study looks at whether EMN Member Countries implemented any changes in the application of the Temporary Protection Directive (TPD) in 2023 (as compared to 2022) and also aims to identify continued challenges, as well as good practices.
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Main theme: Temporary protection
Publication Type: Thematic Studies
Keywords: Temporary Protection Directive, beneficiary of temporary protection, residence permit, access to rights, vulnerability
Publication date: 24 October 2024
This ad hoc query examines the validity period of the first and subsequent residence permits for refugee protection and subsidiary protection in the EMN Member Countries.
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Main theme: International Protection
Publication Type: Ad Hoc Queries
Keywords: beneficiary of international protection, residence permit, document validity
Publication date: 18 October 2024
This ad hoc query examines the fees paid by third-country nationals for specific residence permits, and the rationale behind these fees. Additionally, it investigates the costs associated with children of third-country nationals applying for citizenship alongside their parents, as well as the fees charged for aliens’ passports.
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Publication date: 10 October 2024
This ad hoc query examines the types and amounts of fees that EMN Member and Observer Countries impose in relation to the granting and issuance of residence permits. It also examines whether the fees are charged for the submission of an application, regardless of the outcome, or for the granting or issuance of a residence permit.
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Publication date: 30 August 2024
This ad hoc query examines whether EMN Member Countries provide alternative legal statuses, aside from temporary protection, for persons fleeing the war in Ukraine within their national legislation and explores whether these statuses grant certain rights beyond temporary protection. Additionally, it considers whether EMN Member Countries have plans to create and offer beneficiaries of temporary protection a more permanent status, other than international protection, before the expiration of temporary protection.
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Main theme: Temporary protection
Publication Type: Ad Hoc Queries
Keywords: temporary protection, Ukraine, national status, residence permit
Publication date: 16 May 2024
This ad hoc query seeks to compare the au pair regulations of the EMN Member and Observer Countries to reduce the vulnerability of au pairs and prevent possible abuse of the programme in the Netherlands.
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Main theme: Economic migration
Publication Type: Ad Hoc Queries
Keywords: au pair, residence permit, sponsor, financial requirement
Publication date: 05 May 2024
This ad hoc query seeks to map the processes in place across EMN Member and Observer Countries to conduct systematic post-decision monitoring of residence permits; in other words, to check whether residence permit holders still fulfill the criteria of their residence permits.
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Main theme: Migration
Publication Type: Ad Hoc Queries
Keywords: residence permit, criteria, monitoring, revocation
Publication date: 02 May 2024
Under Council Directive 2004/81/EC, EU Member States have the option to grant residence permits to third-country nationals who have been the subject of an action to facilitate illegal immigration, such as smuggling. This ad hoc query seeks to map which Member States have implemented this possibility, and to what extent this residence procedure is used in practice.
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Main theme: Smuggling & Trafficking
Publication Type: Ad Hoc Queries
Keywords: residence permit, migrant smuggling, victim
Publication date: 25 April 2024
This ad hoc query examines how Article 8 ECHR relating to the right to respect for private and family life may lead to specific residence permits in EMN Member and Observer Countries, and how it is taken into account in national legislation and procedures applicable to foreign nationals.
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Main theme: Family reunification
Publication Type: Ad Hoc Queries
Keywords: family tie, private life, family life, residence permit, European Convention on Human Rights
Publication date: 21 March 2024
This Inform from the European Migration Network (EMN) offers an overview of current practices in EMN Member Countries and two Observer Countries (Georgia, Ukraine) on the digitalisation of identity documents and residence permits issued to third-country nationals. It also compiles views from national authorities on the challenges and advantages of introducing digital-only documents.
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Main theme: Migration
Publication Type: Informs
Keywords: identity document, residence permit, digitalisation
Publication date: 10 November 2023
This ad hoc query explores the use of a minimum salary threshold for granting regular residence permits to migrant workers in EMN Member Countries. This overview compares the different amounts, the policymaking and dissemination styles, and the indexation over time.
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Main theme: Economic migration
Publication Type: Ad Hoc Queries
Keywords: income threshold, income requirement, residence permit
Publication date: 28 August 2023
This ad hoc query aims to explore current practices and possible lessons learned on issuing or planning to issue digital-only identity and residency documents to third-country nationals.
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Main theme: Asylum, Migration
Publication Type: Ad Hoc Queries
Keywords: digitalisation, identity document, residence permit
Publication date: 04 December 2022
Have Member States planned to extend or issue new documents certifying the right of residence to beneficiaries of temporary protection whose certificates/visas/residence permits issued in 2022 are going to expire on 4 March 2023? This ad hoc query explores how Member States will address this, taking into account the large number of Ukrainians concerned.
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Main theme: Temporary protection
Publication Type: Ad Hoc Queries
Keywords: temporary protection, residence permit
Publication date: 25 June 2013
In order to satisfy the large demand for detailed figures on asylum and migration, the Belgian Contact Point of the EMN compiled in August 2012 a series of figures on asylum and migration.
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Main theme: Data & Statistics
Keywords: asylum decisions, asylum applications, residence permit, forced return, voluntary return, work permit
Publication date: 05 September 2011
In 2009, EU Member States issued about 2.3 million new residence permits to third country nationals, i.e. to non-EU citizens, a number that represents a decline of about
0.2 million compared with 2008.
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Main theme: Economic migration, Family reunification, Study § Training, Data & Statistics
Publication Type: Report
Keywords: Eurostat, residence permit
Publication date: 01 December 2009
This study examines the protection statuses granted in Belgium, including those harmonized at European level and those set at the national level in the framework of asylum and immigration policies. It addresses the legal basis, procedures and rights attached to these statuses.
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Main theme: International Protection
Publication Type: Thematic Studies
Keywords: displaced person, protection need, qualification directive, refugee, residence permit, rights
Publication date:
On 27 March 2026, EMN Belgium participated in a seminar organised by Myria and the National Institute of Criminalistics and Criminology (NICC) entitled "The status of victim of smuggling under the microscope", where the results of the research report on the practical application of this status were presented.