Enforcement of immigration legislation statistics

Data extracted: 05 May 2025.

Planned update: May 2026.

Highlights

123 655 third-country nationals were refused entry into the EU at one of its external borders in 2024, a small increase of 0.3% compared to 2023.

918 925 third-country nationals were found to be illegally present in the EU in 2024, a decrease of 27.4% compared to 2023.

453 380 third-country nationals were ordered to leave the territory of the EU in 2024, a decrease of 7.3% compared to 2023.

110 385 third-country nationals were returned to a third country following an order to leave the EU in 2024, up 19.3% compared to 2023.

Third-country nationals subject to immigration law enforcement in 2024
Source: Eurostat (migr_eirfs), (migr_eipre), (migr_eiord1) and (migr_eirtn1)

This article presents indicators on the enforcement of immigration legislation. It provides statistics on third-country nationals who were refused entry at the external borders of the EU; third-country nationals who were illegally present on the territory of a country; third-country nationals who were ordered to leave the territory of an EU country; and third-country nationals who left an EU or EFTA country following an order to leave. Each of these indicators can be regarded as an official record of persons subject to the enforcement of EU immigration legislation, providing a general overview of the outcome of territorial surveillance and control procedures.

Figure 1

Since 2020, both, the number of refusals of entry and returns have remained relatively stable. Between 2020 and 2023, there was an increase in the number of citizens found to be illegally present in EU countries, with a decrease of 27.4% in the last year (Figure 1).

Third-country nationals refused entry into the EU

In 2024, the number of third-country nationals refused entry to the EU was nearly the same as last year (+0.3%)

In 2024, 123 655 third-country nationals were refused entry into the EU at one of its external borders. Almost one third of the total number of refusals were recorded in Poland (16.7%) and in Croatia (11.3%) (Table 1).

Table 1: Third-country nationals refused entry into an EU or EFTA country, 2017-2024
Source: Eurostat (migr_eirfs)

In 2024, the majority (56.9%) of third-country nationals who were refused entry in the EU were through the external EU land borders, followed by refusals at the air borders (39.8%), while only a small proportion (3.4%) of total refusals were at sea borders (Table 2). The largest numbers of refusals recorded at external land borders were reported by Poland (18 030; 87.2% of all refusals of entry in Poland), Croatia (13 535; 97.0%), Romania (8 960; 88.2%), Hungary (6 205; 89.8%), Bulgaria (5 350; 83.7%) and Greece (5 170; 78.2%). As regards the air borders, in 2024 France reported the highest number of refusals (7 800) in the EU, followed by Germany (6 935), Ireland (6 240) and Spain (5 650) in 2025. Italy (1 320) reported the highest numbers of refusals at the EU sea borders in 2024, followed by France (1 145).

Table 2: Third-country nationals refused entry into an EU or EFTA country, by type of border, 2024
Source: Eurostat (migr_eirfs)

The highest number of persons refused entry into the EU in 2024 was concerning Ukrainians

The largest number of persons refused entry into the EU in 2024 was recorded for Ukrainians (19 595), Albanians (14 260), Moldovans (12 100), Turkish (6 760) and Serbians (6 190), all representing countries with EU land borders (Figure 2).

Figure 2

The highest number of refusals at the EU land borders was recorded for the citizens of Ukraine (18 339; 93.5% of all refusals concerning Ukrainians), Moldova (10 725; 86.6%), Albania (7 855; 55.1%), Serbia (5 425; 87.7%) and Bosnia and Herzegovina (4 855; 95.9%). Regarding air borders, the highest number of such refusals was reported for citizens of Albania (5 415; 38.0% of all refusals concerning Albanians), Colombia (3 515; 89.4%) and Georgia (3 320; 68,8%). At the sea borders, the highest numbers were registered for citizens of Albania (990; 6.9% of all refusals concerning Albanians), Türkiye (460; 6.8%), and Morocco (335; 20.1%). Ukrainian citizens^[1] who were refused entry into the EU, mainly attempted to cross the land borders with Poland and Romania (Table 3). Most Albanian citizens were refused entry at Greek, Croatian, Hungarian, and Lithuanian land borders, or at Italian air and sea borders. Most Moldovans were refused entry at Romanian, Polish, and Latvian land borders, as well as in Estonia.

Table 3: Third-country nationals refused entry into an EU or EFTA country, by country, type of border and citizenship, 2024
Source: Eurostat (migr_eirfs)

Almost 50% of the refusals of entry were explained by not-justified purpose or conditions of the stay and absence of a valid visa or residence permit

Looking at the reasons for the refusals of entry— which are based on the Schengen Borders Code — in 2024, the main reasons for such refusals were: ‘Purpose and conditions of stay not justified’ (24.3%), ’No valid visa or residence permit’ (19.3%) and ‘Person already stayed 3 months in a 6-months period’ (18.3%) (Figure 3).

Figure 3

The main reasons for refusing entry to Ukrainians (19 595) were: 'Persons already stayed 3 months in a 6-month period' (52.0% of the total refusals of Ukrainians in the EU) and 'No valid visa or residence permit' (15.2%). Albanian citizens were mainly refused entry (14 260) due to 'An alert has been issued' (28.8%) and 'Purpose and conditions of stay not justified' (27.2%). Moldovan citizens were refused entry mainly (12 100) for 'Purpose and conditions of stay not justified' (29.7%) and 'Person already stayed 3 months in a 6-month period' (29.2%).

Third-country nationals found to be illegally present

A decrease of 27.4% of the number of third-country nationals found to be illegally present

Around 918 925 third-country nationals were found to be illegally present in the EU in 2024, a decrease of 27.4% compared to 2023. Germany reported the largest number of third-country nationals found to be illegally present in 2024 (249 155; a decrease of 5.5%), followed by France (142 190; an increase of 19.5%) and Italy (108 925; a decrease of 44.1%); these three EU countries together accounted for 54.4% of all third-country nationals found to be illegally present in the EU. Moreover, a noticeable decrease in the number of third-country nationals found to be illegally present was recorder in Slovakia (94.5%), Latvia (83.6%), Hungary (77.8%), Austria (60.4%) and Croatia (54.1%), leading to nearly 255 000 fewer persons apprehended in these five countries (Table 4) compared to the previous year.

Table 4: Third-country nationals found to be illegally present in an EU or EFTA country, 2024
Source: Eurostat (migr_eipre)

In relative terms, the number of third-country nationals found to be illegally present in the EU per thousand inhabitants was 1.8 in 2024, with the highest rates recorded in Slovenia (22.0), Cyprus (9.7), and Croatia (8.1). The lowest rates were recorded in Portugal (0.2), Finland (0.2), the Netherlands (0.2), Denmark (0.3) and Sweden (0.3) (Map 1).

Map 1: Third-country nationals found to be illegally present in the EU or EFTA countries, 2024
Source: Eurostat (migr_eipre) / (demo_pjan)

In 2024, Syrian citizens accounted for the highest number of third-country nationals found to be illegally present in the EU

In 2024, Syrian citizens accounted for the highest number of third-country nationals found to be illegally present in the EU (140 500), with a decrease of 44.4% compared with the previous year. The next highest numbers in 2024 were recorded for citizens of Afghanistan (60 060; a decrease of 46.6%), Algeria (58 165; an increase of 13.0%) and Türkiye (57 880; a decrease of 30.7%) (Figure 4). These four countries represented around one-third of all the third-country nationals found to be illegally present in the EU (34.5%).

Figure 4

Third-country nationals ordered to leave the EU

Orders to leave issued to third-country nationals in 2024 decrease 7.3%

In 2024, 453 380 orders to leave were issued to third-country nationals, a decrease of 7.3% comparing to 2023 (Table 5). France issued the highest number of such orders (128 250; 28.3%), followed by Germany (57 075; 12.6%) and Spain (51 025; 11.3%).

Table 5: Third-country nationals ordered to leave the territory of an EU or EFTA country, 2017-2024
Source: Eurostat (migr_eiord) and (migr_eiord1)

In 2024, the highest number of people ordered to leave the territory of an EU country were citizens of Algeria (37 465), Morocco (31 555), and Syria (27 055) (Figure 5).

Figure 5

Returns of third-country nationals

In 2024, the number of third-country nationals returned to a third country increased by 19.3%

In 2024, 110 385 third-country nationals who received an order to leave an EU country were returned to a third country (table 6), representing 88.1% of total returns (i.e. including also returns to another EU country) (125 305).

Table 6: Third country nationals returned following an order to leave, 2017-2024
Source: Eurostat (migr_eirtn) and (migr_eirtn1)

The three EU countries that recorded the highest number of returns to a third country were Germany (15 230; 13.8%), France (14 685; 13.3%) and Sweden (9 910; 9.0%). Altogether, they accounted for more than one third (36.1%) of the total number in the EU in 2024. The share of returns to a third country in the total returns (88.1%) increased by 4.9 percentage points. Denmark, Spain, Italy, Cyprus, Latvia, Malta, and Portugal all reported that their returns were to third countries only (Figure 6).

Figure 6

In 2024, citizens of Georgia were subject to the highest number of returns in the EU with 11 585 of them returned to a third country. They were followed by Turks (7 910), Albanians (7 810), Moldovans (4 970), and Colombians (4 930) (Figure 7).

Figure 7

Type of return and assistance received

In 2024, 53.8% of returns to third countries represented voluntary returns, while 46.2% were forced returns (Figure 8). In Denmark, Lithuania, Latvia, and Czechia, more than 90% of third-country nationals returned voluntarily. Only Italy reported all returns as forced returns.

Figure 8

To facilitate the return of third-country nationals there are certain assisted return programmes funded by the EU, national or international organisations to provide reintegration support for returnees. This may include administrative, logistical and/or financial support to migrants who return to their country of origin. In 2024, 74.3% of the returns following an order to leave were assisted returns and 25.7% were non-assisted returns (Figure 9). In Germany, Spain, Italy, Cyprus and Portugal, all the reported returns were assisted, while in Latvia and Lithuania, more than 90% were not assisted.

Figure 9

Source data for tables and graphs

Enforcement of immigration legislation statistics: tables and map

Data sources

The “Enforcement of Immigration Legislation statistics – Statistics Explained” article presents statistics regarding third-country nationals who were refused to entry, apprehended for illegal stay, ordered to leave, and returned following an order to leave, as recorded by EU and EFTA countries.
Statistics on the enforcement of immigration legislation are based on administrative data provided by national authorities in line with the requirements of Regulation (EC) No 862/2007 concerning statistics on migration and international protection. The compilation of these statistics draws on the terms used by the Schengen Borders Code, an EU code on the rules governing the movement of persons across borders (Regulation (EU) No 2016/399); for more information on the Schengen area, see here.

Statistics on the enforcement of immigration legislation exclude outgoing asylum seekers who are transferred from one EU country to another under the mechanism established by the Dublin Regulation (Regulation (EC) No 1560/2003 and Regulation (EU) No 604/2013) whereas the Regulation (EU) 2024/1351 on asylum and migration management has come into effect; these cases are covered by Dublin statistics.

Some of the EU countries are landlocked and hence, by definition, do not have any sea borders, while others have just internal land borders within the Schengen area. The compilation of statistics on refused entry by countries within the Schengen area generally only concerns external borders of the Schengen area, although internal borders may be considered in exceptional cases, such as when a temporary border control is introduced between Schengen members.

Note that the data for the number of third-country nationals presented in the text of this article have been rounded to the nearest five. Due to the rounding, various totals (such as for the EU) may not necessarily match the sum of the values for their components (such as the sum of values for the EU countries).
In relation to the statistics presented in this article, for the years 2021 to 2023 data some derogations' were granted to EU countries based on Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2021/431 of 10 March 2021.

Tables in this article use the following notation:

Value in italics	data value is forecasted, provisional or estimated and is therefore likely to change;
:	not available, confidential or unreliable value;
—	not applicable.

Context

The enforcement of migration law refers to two main areas: controlling the EU’s external borders and the management of unauthorised third-country nationals found on the territory of an EU country. Control of the EU’s external borders constitutes one of the pillars for the creation of a freedom, security and justice area. The most noteworthy developments include a harmonised set of rules governing the movement of persons across borders (the Schengen Borders Code published by Regulation (EU) No 2016/399); a comprehensive approach for European integrated border management at the EU’s borders and efficient and effective management of border crossings and the EU returns policy, respecting fundamental rights, and safeguarding free movement, operated by the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Regulation (EU) No 2019/1896); and an extensive package on automated border control, including the Entry-Exit System established by Regulation (EU) No 2017/2225 and Regulation (EU) No 2017/2226, and the European Traveler Information and Authorisation System established by Regulation (EU) No 2018/1240 and Regulation (EU) No 2018/1241).

Managing irregular migrant populations involves identifying illegally present persons, recognising an order to leave, and ensuring an effective return. The main legal instrument, the so-called Return Directive (Return Directive (2008/115/EC)), came into force at the end of 2010, establishing common standards for returning third-country nationals illegally staying in the EU. The directive provides clear, transparent, common, and fair rules for return and removal, the use of coercive measures, detention and re-entry, while respecting the human rights and fundamental freedoms of those concerned. The EU also aims to promote a more effective return system (Policy Document Towards an Operational Strategy for more Effective Returns - COM/2023/45 Final), with operational goals including improving data and statistical evidence on return, building a more targeted, planned, and efficient return policy, and developing a common operational response capability. Several Schengen Area member countries have temporarily reintroduced border control at internal borders pursuant to Article 25 and 28 et seq. of the Schengen Borders Code. This reintroduction can be due to various reasons, such as significant high pressure from irregular migration flows, smuggling and trafficking of human beings, secondary movements, organised crime and terrorism threats, or relevant events that could enhance migration flows and/or crime or terrorism threats (Member States’ notifications of the temporary reintroduction of border control at internal borders).

In terms of measuring the enforcement of immigration legislation, progress in collecting harmonised data resulted from the adoption of Regulation (EC) No 862/2007, particularly Articles 5 and 7. This regulation aims to support evidence-based decision-making, providing guidelines on the data that should be submitted by EU countries on the number of third-country nationals refused entry at the EU’s external borders, the number of third-country nationals apprehended for being illegally present in the EU, and the number of third-country nationals removed from the EU due to unauthorised presence. Irregular migration remains a phenomenon that is difficult to quantify, especially during times when an effective and humane ‘returns policy’ is considered by many to be an essential part of migration policy.

Regulation (EC) No 2020/851 amended Regulation (EC) No 862/2007 aimed at, among other commitments, to establish a framework for a quick response to changing needs regarding statistics on migration and international protection, promoting data collection on a sub-annual basis to address the primary needs for studying, formulating, and evaluating migration policies, developing human-rights-based policies, and enhancing the understanding of migration, international protection, and migratory movements within European Union countries.

Footnotes

↑ Ukrainian citizens benefitting from temporary protection, i.e. persons who left Ukraine due to Russia’s invasion, are generally not be covered by the data presented in this article. These persons are subject of a separate data collection on Temporary Protection (TP); see data on temporary protection here and the statistics explained article here.

Explore further

Database

Managed migration (migr_man), see:

Enforcement of Immigration Legislation (migr_eil)

Third country nationals refused entry at the external borders - annual data (rounded) (migr_eirfs)

Third country nationals found to be illegally present - annual data (rounded) (migr_eipre)

Third country nationals ordered to leave - annual data (rounded) (migr_eiord)

Third country nationals ordered to leave by citizenship, age and sex - quarterly data (rounded) (migr_eiord1)

Third-country unaccompanied minors ordered to leave, by citizenship, age and sex of the minor – quarterly data (rounded) (migr_eiord2)

Third country nationals returned following an order to leave - annual data (rounded) (migr_eirtn)

Third-country nationals returned following an order to leave, by type of return, citizenship, country of destination, age and and sex – quarterly data (migr_eirtn1)

Third-country unaccompanied minors returned following an order to leave, by type of return, citizenship, country of destination, age and sex of the minor – quarterly data (rounded) (migr_eirtn2)

Third-country nationals who have left the territory by type of return and citizenship (migr_eirt_vol)

Third-country nationals who have left the territory by type of assistance received and citizenship (migr_eirt_ass)

Third-country nationals who have left the territory to a third country by type of agreement procedure and citizenship (migr_eirt_agr)

Third-country nationals who have left the territory to a third country by destination country and citizenship (migr_eirt_des)

Thematic section

Managed migration

Methodology

Enforcement of Immigration Legislation (ESMS metadata file — migr_eil_esms)

External links

European Migration Network — Publications

Knowledge Centre on Migration and Demography

Legislation

Summaries of EU legislation: returning illegal immigrants — common standards and procedures

Summaries of EU legislation: migration statistics

Summaries of EU legislation: rules on crossing EU borders

[1] Ukrainian citizens benefitting from temporary protection, i.e. persons who left Ukraine due to Russia’s invasion, are generally not be covered by the data presented in this article. These persons are subject of a separate data collection on Temporary Protection (TP); see data on temporary protection here and the statistics explained article here.

[1]