Residence permits issued to non-EU citizens in 2009

This publication presents the latest available data on new residence permits issued in the European Union and EFTA countries. The number of people granted an authorisation to reside in the EU was 2.3 million in 2009, a number that represented a decline of about 0.2 million compared to 2008. The highest number of new permits, 28.2%, was granted for reasons related to family, followed by employment (27.6%) and education (21.8%). Indians, US citizens, Chinese and Moroccans were the main groups of non-EU citizens who received new permits. They accounted for almost 30% of all new permits issued in the EU in 2009.