In 2024, 540 445 first residence permits were issued in the EU to non-EU citizens under the age of 18. Among these, 356 554 first residence permits were issued for reasons related to family formation and reunification, representing 66% of all first residence permits issued to minors in the EU. Another 160 618 (30%) first permits were issued to minors for other reasons, including international protection, and 21 179 (4%) were issued for education-related reasons.

The EU countries which issued the highest number of first residence permits to minors were Germany (138 692; 26% of the EU total), followed by Spain (107 828; 20%) and Italy (60 125; 11%). 

In relative terms, the ratio of first residence permits issued per 100 000 population under the age of 18 was the highest in Malta (3 379), Cyprus (2 584) and Luxembourg (1 861). In Latvia, Croatia, Estonia, Bulgaria and Romania this ratio was less than 200 first permits per 100 000. It shall be noted that France – where the lowest value of 17 per 100 000 was recorded – generally does not issue residence permits to minors. 

First residence permits issued to minors, 2024. Map. See link tot he full dataset below.

Source datasets: migr_resfas and demo_pjan

Looking at the country of citizenship of minors with first residence permit granted for all reasons, 37% were citizens of an Asian country, 27% were Europeans (non-EU), 21% were citizens of an African country, 11% were Caribbean, Central and South American and 2% were North American citizens.

Syria accounted for 12% of the total number of first residence permits issued to minors in the EU, followed by Morocco (7%) and Ukraine (6%).

First residence permits issued to minors by origin, 2024 (top 5 citizenships for Asia, Europe, Africa, and Caribbean, Central and South America). Map. See link to the full dataset below.

Source dataset: migr_resfas

This article marks World Children’s Day, celebrated each year on 20 November.