Most Ukrainian 'first resident permit' holders went to Poland for work: Eurostat

In 2016, a record 3.4 million non-European citizens arrived in the bloc with first residence permits, up by nearly 28 percent compared to 2015.

Eurostat attributed the steep increase to a 64 percent hike in permits being issued for “other” reasons, which included pensioners moving abroad, humanitarian reasons, and international protection status, including for refugees.

There was also 21 percent growth in residencies issued for job seekers.

Nearly 600,000 first permit-holders were from Ukraine, 87 percent of whom were allowed to stay in Poland, and 82 percent of whom arrived in the European Union looking for work.

Syrians made up the second-largest group issued first residence permits. Two-thirds of the nearly 350,000 permits given to Syrians were issued by Germany.

The UK issued by far the most first residence permits. Of more than 865,000 permits, close to 190,000 went to US citizens, and nearly 120,000 to Indians.

Eurostat recently released its 2016 data on first residence permits which were issued to non-European Union nationals for the first time or at least six months after their previous residence permit expired.

According to Eurostat, residence is a legal stay in another country for three or more months. Permit holders are not necessarily migrants, who intend to stay in the host country for at least 12 months. (vb/pk)

Source: Eurostat