EMN Asylum and Migration Overview explores main developments of 2025

The EMN annual report “Asylum and Migration Overview (AMO) 2025” provides a comparable overview of the main legal, policy and operational developments in asylum and migration across EMN Member and Observer Countries, including statistics sourced from Eurostat. The edition features contributions from 30 EMN Member Countries, including the Observer Countries Norway, Georgia, the Republic of Moldova, Ukraine and Serbia. For the first time since 2013, Venezuela replaced Syria as the main country of citizenship of applicants for international protection in the EU. The number of third-country nationals residing in the EU and Norway increased by 6% compared with 2024. In this article, some of the report’s key insights and figures are summarised.

About the report

On 20 July 2026, the report was officially launched during an online event hosted via Webex and livestreamed on YouTube, bringing together policymakers and practitioners from EU institutions and agencies, academics, civil society, and the general public. The report provides an overview of legal and policy developments at both EU and national level covering eleven migration and asylum themes, complemented by Eurostat statistics and national authorities and other (national) databases for the period January to December 2025. The EMN Observer Countries Georgia, the Republic of Moldova, Ukraine, Montenegro, Armenia, Serbia, North Macedonia, and Albania provided statistics for the tables in the report. This edition does not include implementation reporting related to the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum.

Presentations during the launch event

During the launch event, Eurostat presented some of the latest migration figures in EU and Norway.

• 159 000 first-time applicants for international protection were less than 18 years old. Of these, around 23 000 or 14% were unaccompanied minors. (These numbers do not cover applications under the Temporary Protection Directive).
• As per 31 december 2025, the Czech Republic hosted the highest number of beneficiaries of temporary protection (BoTP) from Ukraine relative to its population, followed by Poland, Cyprus and the Slovak Republic.
• 724 500 third-country nationals were found to be staying illegally in the EU and Norway, with around 496 000 ordered to leave. 133 000 third-country nationals refused entry into the EU and Norway.

The event also showcased Estonia's digital migration solutions, including the Eesti national mobile app for accessing public services and digital identity documents, as well as a one-stop-shop digital platform for labour migration. Belgium presented examples of development cooperation and Global Skills Partnerships with countries including Morocco and The Gambia.

Main EU legislative and policy developments

In 2025, ongoing work at EU level aimed to improve asylum and migration management. Digitalisation remained a strong cross-cutting trend throughout 2025, supporting the modernisation of asylum and migration systems and improving efficiency. All these developments took place while EU Member States were preparing for the implementation of the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum.

• Key EU developments in international protection included proposals to amend the Asylum Procedure Regulation concerning the concepts of a safe country of origin and a safe third country.
• 40th Anniversary of the signature of the Schengen Agreement with the accession of Bulgaria and Romania as full members to the Schengen Area.
• Gradual implementation of large-scale EU information systems: the EU Entry/Exit System (EES) and preparations for the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS).
• The Council of the European Union adopted the implementing decision on the establishment of the annual solidarity pool for 2026.
• Revised Europol Regulation to enhance police cooperation in preventing and combating migrant smuggling and trafficking in human beings.

European outlook in EMN Member and Observer Countries

Labour migration policies evolved significantly in 2025, balancing economic needs with stronger safeguards. EMN Member and Observer Countries expanded legal pathways to attract talent and address labour shortages, streamlining recruitment and adapting admission quotas.

• At the same time, several EMN Countries tightened conditions referring to employer responsibilities, visa procedures and citizenship acquisition.
• Belgium, Cyprus, Spain, France, Croatia, Hungary, Poland, Sweden introduced legislative or regulatory changes to transpose or implement the revised EU Blue Card Directive.
• Spain, Croatia, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Bulgaria, Luxembourg, Slovak Republic, and Georgia adopted measures to simplify admission and residence procedures.

Temporary Protection. In 2025, EMN Member and Observer Countries continued to provide protection to displaced people from Ukraine, urging national policy developments shaped by the need to introduce sustainable long-term solutions beyond emergency measures.

• As for the provision of services, eleven EMN Member countries (among them the Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Italy, Sweden) aimed to balance long‑term integration and self‑sufficiency of BoTP and/or safeguarding the financial sustainability and integrity of national social welfare, healthcare and housing systems.
• The Republic of Moldova reported 20 029 new BoTP, Serbia 394, Georgia granted humanitarian status to 80 persons, and Armenia granted refugee status to 97.

Digitalisation. In 11 EMN Member Countries (among them Cyprus, Germany, Ireland, Latvia, Poland) as well as Georgia and Ukraine, digitalisation and the use of new technologies continued to shape legal migration systems. Belgium, Latvia and Slovenia reported advancing technical and operational implementation of the interoperability regulations at national level.

Some key figures and insights from the report

The share of third-country nationals in the total population varied across EMN Member Countries and Norway on 1 January 2025. In most countries, third-country nationals represented between 5% and 10% of the population, while Cyprus, Estonia, Latvia (including recognised non-citizens), Luxembourg and Spain recorded shares of 10% or more.

As of 1 January 2025, 30.6 million third-country nationals were residing in an EU country and Norway, representing 6.8% of the total population (+ 6% in comparison to previous year).

• First-time applications for international protection. They decreased of (-27%) in 2025 in EU27, compared to 2024. The first-time applications for international protection (asylum applications) by country of citizenship in EU and Norway were topped by: Venezuela (13%), Afghanistan (10%) and Syria (6%). Spain received the highest number of first-time applications, followed by Italy, France and Germany. In 2025, Venezuela overtook Syria, which was the main country of citizenship of applicants for international protection in the EU since 2013.
• Resettlement. The number of resettled third-country nationals in the EU and Norway decreased more sharply in 2025. Overall, resettlement dropped with 29% compared to 2024, following a steady decrease since 2023.
• Legal migration. While statistical data on legal migration for 2025 were not yet available at the time of publication, the report highlights continued policy efforts to open targeted legal migration pathways for highly qualified workers, students and other talent groups, while strengthening safeguards against misuse.
• Temporary Protection Directive. In 2025, the total number of BoTP in the EU remained relatively stable, at around 4.3 million throughout the year, with only minor fluctuations since 2024.
• Unaccompanied minors. The number of unaccompanied minors applying for international protection in the EU and Norway decreased with 35% in 2025 compared to 2024.
• Schengen uniform short-stay visas. The number issued in the EU and Norway increased to more than 9.5 million in 2025, compared to nearly 9.3 million in 2024.
• Irregular migration. Overall, the detection of illegal border crossings at the external borders of the EU Member States and Schengen Associated Countries dropped with 25% in 2025 compared to 2024.
• Return. Between 2024 and 2025, there was an increase in the number of both voluntary and forced returns from the EU and Norway, with total returns increasing by 21%. The percentage of assisted vs non-assisted returns remained approximately the same, at 75% and 25%, respectively in 2025.