Residence Permits in Europe Hit Record High, Foreign Press Reports

European Union member states issued 3.9 million new residence permits to non-EU citizens in 2025, a ten percent increase over 2024 and the highest level since records began, according to data reported by The Local Italy on Monday. The outlet described the figure as a record and asked which countries issue the most, without naming the national breakdown in its summary.

The number is a measure of legal migration into the bloc rather than irregular arrivals, and it covers the full range of grounds on which permits are granted — work, study, family reunification and protection. The Local Italy's report frames the rise as a European-wide trend.

For a border region, the category matters as much as the total. Friuli-Venezia Giulia's position on the Slovene frontier and its port make it a gateway for people entering Italy from the Balkans, and its universities and research institutes draw students and researchers from outside the EU.