Here’s the translation to American English:
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In 2024, the European Union issued 3.5 million residence permits to non-EU citizens, representing an 8.3% decrease compared to the previous year, which amounts to 315,700 fewer permits. This drop follows a record-setting 2023 for this statistic, raising concerns among authorities and migration experts, who identify employment as the primary reason for the issuance of permits, accounting for 31.9% of the total, or 1.1 million permits. However, this figure also reflects a significant decline of 12.2% compared to 2023.
Family reasons constituted 27.1% of the permits granted, equivalent to 950,600, showing a decrease of 6.5% from the previous year. Other reasons, including international protection, accounted for just over a quarter of the total, reaching 25.3% (886,300), with a 10% decline. In contrast, education showed a slight increase, representing 15.7% (549,400) of permits with a modest growth of 0.8%.
Eurostat statistics provide a clearer insight into the reasons behind the drop in residence permit issuance. Among the most relevant data, the largest number of permits was granted to citizens of Ukraine, who topped the list with 295,600 permits, followed by India with 192,400 and Morocco with 188,400. An analysis of the ten leading nationalities shows that employment was the most common reason for Ukrainians, Belarusians, and Indians. In contrast, international protection reasons predominated for citizens of Afghanistan and Syria.
Additionally, a high percentage of permits granted to Moroccan citizens were due to family reasons, accounting for 46.6%, followed by 44.8% for Colombians and 35.4% for Turks. Notably, 34.1% of permits for Chinese citizens were issued for educational reasons, highlighting the diversity of motivations driving individuals to seek residence in the European Union.
Trends in residence permit issuance reveal not only patterns in migration but also changes in the needs and expectations of those looking to establish themselves in the region, indicating a growing complexity in the current migration landscape.
Source: MiMub in Spanish