748,709 is the number of immigrants legally residing in Greece

The Ministry of Immigration and Asylum released detailed data on the number of migrants residing in Greece, residence permits, migration flows and asylum applications, among others.

In particular, it was recorded that 748,709 migrants legally resided in Greece until February 2023, which represents a slight decrease compared to six months ago. (In August 2022 the corresponding number was 754,862 people).

Of these, 30% are EU nationals and expatriates, 62% are third-country nationals with a valid residence permit, and 8% are beneficiaries of international protection (refugee status or subsidiary protection) with single-type active residence permits (USPRs). .

Regarding migration flows from Ukraine, due to the Russian invasion, in total, as of 28/2/2023, 23,661 applications have been submitted online and 22,279 temporary protection permits have been issued.

Residence permits

The total residence permits for third country nationals valid in February 2023 is 463,177, showing a decrease of 32% compared to February 2022 and 0.46% compared to January 2023.

The top three countries of origin for third country nationals with valid residence permits are Albania with 60.0%, China with 5.0% followed by Georgia with 4.3%.

In February 2023, a total of 15,807 claims were filed (7,370 initial awards and 8,437 renewals) down 19% compared to January 2023 and compared to corresponding claims filed in February 2022 also down 29%.

Also, 10,232 residence permits were issued, a decrease of 6% compared to January 2023 and also a decrease of 10% compared to February 2022.

Strong investor licenses

The total investor permanent residence permits (initial and renewals) effective in February 2023 is 11,884. 10,105 (85%) related to initial grants and 1,779 (15%) related to renewals.

The main country of origin for our investors are Chinese nationals, at a rate of 62.5%, followed by Turks (6.6%) and Lebanese (4.6%) in much smaller numbers.

migration flows

It shows that migration flows in February 2023 decreased by 49% compared to January of the same year, to reach 841.

In particular, in terms of its distribution, there is a decrease of 53% in the outpost on Evros and 49% overall in the islands.

yields

In the same period, 448 third-country nationals were repatriated to their countries of origin. In more detail, these are 168 cases of forced return, 49 voluntary returns, 226 through the International Organization for Migration, as well as five cases involving unaccompanied minors, thus making up the ratio of departures to arrivals of 53: 100.

internal transportation

At the same time, 699 transfers were made from the islands to the mainland, representing an increase of 104%, compared to the corresponding month of 2022.

Residents of the Ministry’s structures

In total, the number of residents of the Ministry of Immigration and Asylum structures in the territory for the month of February 2023 amounted to 13,798 from 29,071 in February 2022 and 14,766 in January 2023. Of these, 4,438 people stayed on the islands, which indicates a decrease of 8% compared to January, While 9,622 asylum seekers resided in remote areas, a number that decreased by 5% compared to January 2023.

Looking at the population distribution for February 2023 compared to February 2022, there is a 35% decrease in structures, a 54% increase in controlled closed island structures, a 75% decrease in imprisonment and a 416% increase in KYT from remote areas, where KYT was Diavata and Malacasa. Regarding January, a decrease of 10% in structures and a marginal increase of 0.06% in KYT/KED was recorded.

Finally, it is emphasized that throughout the region, the population of structures and KYT/KED are on average 0.13% of the population based on the 2021 census and at the same time, in all regions of the country they are less than 0.15% except for the North Aegean regions ( 1.58%), Epirus (0.48%), southern Aegean (0.34%) and central Greece (0.30%).

Asylum applications

There is also a decrease in asylum applications, which reached 2,912 for the month of February, with 82% referring to initial applications. The decline comes to a total of 30.5% compared to January and is found in both initial orders (-31%) and subsequent orders (-29%).

At the same time, in February 2023 alone, 148 asylum applications were submitted by unaccompanied minors, which is a 42% decrease compared to January 2023.

In the first two months of 2023, the majority of asylum seekers came from Afghanistan (13.8%), Pakistan (13.0%), Palestine (10.1%), Syria (7.3%) and Egypt 6.0%. Of the total 7,103 asylum applications submitted in the first two months of 2023, 76% are men and 24% are women. 22% are minors (11.8% are under the age of 13), 60% are in the 18-34 age group and 18% are in the 35-64 age group.

Final works in the first and second grade are pending

In terms of type of decision, the number of asylum seekers who received a positive decision in the first and second instance in the first two months of 2023 was a total of 2,249 (Palestine (31.6%), Afghanistan (15.2%), Iraq (14.2%), Syria (7.4%) %) and Somalia (5.5%)). The proportions of men and women are 70% and 30%, respectively. Also, 29% are minors, 59% are in the 18-34 age group and 12% are in the 35-64 age group.

In particular, in the first two months of 2022, a total of 114 unaccompanied minors received a positive first-degree decision, coming from Afghanistan (43%), Somalia (34%), and Syria (6%).

In February 2023, the 3,572 first-class final acts were divided into 25% positive decisions, 41% negative and 34% endowments, resignations, and case filings. With regard to second-degree actions, out of 1,881, 6.5% related to positive decisions, 91.0% negative and 2.5% to leave, resignations and depositions.

In terms of backlog, there is an overall decrease of 40% in February 2023 compared to February 2022 (98% decrease in pre-registrations, 39% in first-class decisions, and 8% in second-class decisions). In February 2023 comparison with January 2023, there is a change in total pending cases by -5% and in detail pending cases for pre-registration showed a decrease of 65%, first-degree decisions 3% and second-class decisions 10%

Appeals are pending

Overall, in terms of appeals, they seem to be down 8.2% for the first two months of 2023 (2,669 appeals filed) compared to appeals filed in the first two months of 2022, with the main countries of origin Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan. . The average time for second-tier decisions is 90 days from the day of application and 52 days from the day of examination.

The remaining case backlog as of 02/28/2023 is 4,434, which relates to appeals examined from March 2022 to February 2023 (2,581 cases pending) or will be heard through June 2023 (1,853 cases pending) and showing a decrease of 10% in relation to January 2023.