Immigrant Invest, a consulting company specialising in investment immigration, explored available data on residence permits and citizenship in the EU and compiled information into the report.
“The main goals were to understand current migration trends, identify the most popular and efficient ways to obtain a residence permit in the European Union, and explain what needs or challenges a residence permit helps address today,” explains Zlata Erlach, an expert at Immigrant Invest.
The report, which summarises all the data gathered, was published in November 2025. It is supported by information from official sources and the expert knowledge of Immigrant Invest’s legal team.
About the Immigrant Invest’s report
To compile the report, Immigrant Invest explored official sources such as Eurostat and the government websites of EU member states. Most of the data used covers the period back to 2023, as newer information is not available at the moment.
The experts examined categories of permits issued by EU countries, the number of foreigners with residence status, and the reasons why foreign nationals choose to obtain residency in the European Union. They also paid attention to Golden Visa programs available in some member states.
Key findings
As of 2023, 12,787,027 people in the EU hold statuses of residents. Spain leads with over 3 million permits granted to foreigners, followed by Germany, France, and Italy, each issuing more than 2 million permits. By that year, foreigners with residency status accounted for 50.7% of all residence permits issued in the EU.
“Based on the trends, we can conclude that residence permits are most commonly obtained for work, study, and family reunification,” explains Zlata Erlach.
Golden Visas, which are granted in exchange for investment, also remain a popular route to obtaining permits in the EU. Some of the top Golden Visa destinations include Portugal, Greece, and Hungary, with investment thresholds around €250,000.
“The main reasons for obtaining residence permits by investment include reducing tax burdens, diversifying assets, conducting business within the EU, and securing a relocation option in case of instability in one’s home country,” Zlata Erlach adds.
In 2023, citizens of Ukraine, Belarus, India, Morocco, Syria received the highest number of residence permits overall.
As for Golden Visas, they are most frequently granted to nationals of China, Russia, the United States, and Türkiye.
The full report can be found on the Immigrant Invest website.
Immigrant Invest helps to obtain residency and citizenship in the EU
Immigrant Invest is a consulting firm operating since 2006, with a core focus on investment immigration.
Our lawyers have in-depth knowledge of immigration law in EU countries and keep up with all the latest changes. They assist investors in obtaining residence and citizenship in the European Union and beyond.
Contact Immigrant Invest:
- Zlata Erlach
- +356 2033 0178
- digital@immigrantinvest.com
Members of the editorial and news staff of the Daily Caller were not involved in the creation of this content.
