Detailed data on the number of migrants living in Greece, residence permits, migration flows and asylum applications, among others, have been released Ministry of Immigration and Asylum.

In particular, it was noted that 748,709 immigrants legally resided in Greece until February 2023, which means a slight decrease from six months earlier. (in August 2022, the corresponding number was 754,862 people).

Of these, 30% are EU citizens and expatriates, 62% are third-country nationals with valid residence permits, and 8% are recipients of international protection (refugee status or subsidiary protection) with active uniform residence permits (SRP).

With regard to migration flows from Ukraine due to the Russian invasion, a total of 23,661 online applications were submitted up to 28.02.2023 and 22,279 temporary protection permits were issued.

Resident card

There are a total of 463,177 residence permits for third-country nationals valid as of February 2023, a decrease of 32% compared to February 2022 and a decrease of 0.46% compared to January 2023.

The top three countries of origin of third-country nationals with valid residence permits are Albania with a share of 60.0%, China with 5.0% and Georgia with a share of 4.3%.

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

In addition, 10,232 residence permits were issued, which is 6% less than in January 2023 and also 10% less than in February 2022.

Strong investor licenses

The total number of permanent residence permits for investors (initial and renewed) valid in February 2023 is 11,884. 10,105 (85% percent) are for initial grants and 1,779 (15% percent) are for renewals.

The main country of origin of investors in our country are Chinese citizens at a rate of 62.5%, followed by citizens of Turkey (6.6%) and Lebanon (4.6%).

Migration flows

It is shown that migration flows in February 2023 decreased by 49% compared to January of the same year and reached 841.

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

returns

During the same period, 448 third-country nationals were returned to their countries of origin. In more detail, these are 168 forced returns, 49 voluntary, 226 through the International Organization for Migration, as well as 5 unaccompanied minors, so the ratio of departures and arrivals is 53:100.

Internal transport

At the same time, 699 transfers were made from the islands to the mainland, which is 104% more than in the corresponding month of 2022.

Residents in the structures of the ministry

In total, 13,798 people live in the structures of the Ministry of Immigration and Asylum in the territory as of February 2023, compared with 29,071 in February 2022 and 14,766 in January 2023. Of these, 4,438 people lived on the islands, which means a reduction of 8 % compared to January, while 9,622 asylum seekers lived in the hinterland, down 5% from January 2023.

Looking at the distribution of residents for February 2023 compared to February 2022, one can see a 35% decrease in the number of buildings, a 54% increase in the number of closed supervised island buildings, a 75% decrease in the number of prisons, and a 416% increase in the number of K.U. T. inland areas in which K.Yu.T. Diavat and Malakas. In relation to January, the Structures recorded a decrease of 10% and a slight increase of 0.06% in K.Yu.T./K.E.D.

Finally, it is emphasized that throughout the territory, the inhabitants of Structures and K.Yu.T./K.E.D. they average 0.13% of the population according to the 2021 census and at the same time in all regions of the country they are below 0.15% with the exception of the regions of the North Aegean (1.58%), Epirus (0.48%) , South Aegean (0.34%) and Central Greece (0.30%).

Asylum requests

There has also been a decline in asylum requests, reaching 2,912 as of February, with 82% of those being initial requests. The decrease reaches a total of 30.5% compared to January and occurs both in the initial requests (-31%) and in later ones (-29%).

At the same time, in February 2023 alone, 148 asylum applications were submitted from unaccompanied minors, which is 42% less 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%. Out of a total of 7,103 asylum applications submitted in the first two months of 2023, 76% are men and 24% are women. 22% are minors (11.8% under 13), 60% are in the 18-34 age group and 18% are in the 35-64 age group.

Final acts in first and second grade and pending

Regarding the type of decision, the number of asylum seekers who received a first and second degree positive decision in the first two months of 2023 is 2,249 (Palestine (31.6%), Afghanistan (15.2%), Iraq). (14.2%), Syria (7.4%) and Somalia (5.5%)). The percentage of men and women is 70% and 30% respectively. Also, 29% relate to minors, 59% belong to the age group of 18-34 years and 12% belong to the age group of 35-64 years.

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

In February 2023, 3,572 final acts of the first degree are broken down into 25% positive decisions, 41% negative and 34% acts of termination, resignation and initiation of proceedings. As for claims of the second degree, out of 1881, 6.5% concern positive decisions, 91.0% negative and 2.5% leave, resignations and statements.

In terms of backlogs, in February 2023 the overall reduction is 40% compared to February 2022 (98% reduction in pre-registrations, 39% reduction in first degree decisions and 8% reduction in second degree decisions). Compared to February 2023, compared to January 2023, the total number of pending cases changed by -5%, and in detail, pending pre-registration cases showed a decrease of 65%, first-level decisions by 3%, and second-level decisions by 10. %

Appeals and pending

Overall, in terms of appeals, in the first two months of 2023, they decreased by 8.2% (2669 appeals filed) compared to the appeals filed in the first two months of 2022, with Pakistan, Bangladesh being the main countries of origin and Afghanistan. . The average time for issuing a second degree decision is 90 days from the date of filing and 52 days from the date of consideration.

The 4,434 appeals remaining until 28/02/2023 relate to appeals that were heard from March 2022 to February 2023 (2,581 pending cases) or will be heard before June 2023 (1,853 pending cases) and show a decrease of 10% . compared to January 2023.