Background

The Finnish Immigration Service aims to improve the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of its residence permit processes. This includes calculating to which extent the fees paid by third-country nationals cover the actual costs of processing applications within the agency. As part of this effort, Finland is reviewing its fee structures. For comparison purposes, Finland seeks to gather information on the fees (application and/or issuance) charged to third-country nationals in other EMN Member and Observer Countries, and the criteria used to determine the level of these fees.

Finland is also interested in finding out whether third-country national children applying for citizenship at the same time as their parents must pay a fee and, if so, the amount of such fee, as well as the costs associated with aliens’ passports.

Respondents

24 EMN Member and Observers Countries (including BE) provided a public answer to this ad hoc query.

Findings

A preliminary analysis of the results of the ad hoc query shows that:

• The fees collected from third-country nationals for residence permits vary across the different responding EMN Member and Observer Countries. In most of them (including BE), the fees are linked to the actual cost of processing applications. Various factors are considered to establish these costs, such as human resource-related expenses, processing time, material costs, and overhead (in BE, these costs were calculated by an external consultant). However, some responding countries, such as NL, noted that the fees do not fully cover the administrative costs. In LT and PT, fees are reviewed annually to ensure they remain appropriate.
   

• In some responding EMN Member and Observer Countries, there is no direct link between the fees collected and the actual processing costs. In HU, the same procedural fees are collected for all types of residence permits, regardless of the actual processing costs, to simplify the procedures and the workflow. In LU, the issuance fee only covers the production cost of the residence permit.
   

• The responses from EMN Member and Observer Countries vary significantly regarding fees collected from children applying for citizenship alongside their parents. Roughly half impose a fee, while the other half do not. For example, in BE, no fee is charged for child applicants.
   

• The fees collected from third-country nationals for aliens’ passports also vary widely among responding countries. For instance, the fee is €25 in BG, whereas in PT, it is €121.16.

For further details, please read the compilation of answers above.

This ad hoc query complements another ad hoc query on this subject published on 10 October 2024.