Reference metadata describe statistical concepts and methodologies used for the collection and generation of data. They provide information on data quality and, since they are strongly content-oriented, assist users in interpreting the data. Reference metadata, unlike structural metadata, can be decoupled from the data.
Deputy Directorate-General for Institutional Relations and Information on International Protection
1.3. Contact name
Confidential because of GDPR
1.4. Contact person function
Confidential because of GDPR
1.5. Contact mail address
Calle San Fernando del Jarama 14
28002 - Madrid
Spain
1.6. Contact email address
Confidential because of GDPR
1.7. Contact phone number
Confidential because of GDPR
1.8. Contact fax number
Confidential because of GDPR
2.1. Metadata last certified
30 March 2026
2.2. Metadata last posted
30 March 2026
2.3. Metadata last update
30 March 2026
3.1. Data description
Data collection on Dublin statistics contains statistical information based on the Article 4.4 of Regulation (EC) No 862/2007 on Community statistics on migration and international protection.
Incoming ‘Dublin’ requests by submitting country (PARTNER), type of request, legal provision, sex and type of applicant (RI)
Outgoing ‘Dublin’ requests by receiving country (PARTNER), type of request, legal provision, sex and type of applicant (RO)
Incoming ‘Dublin’ requests based on EURODAC by submitting country (PARTNER), type of request, legal provision, sex and type of applicant (REDACI)
Outgoing ‘Dublin’ requests based on EURODAC by receiving country (PARTNER), type of request, legal provision, sex and type of applicant (REDACO)
Pending ‘Dublin’ incoming requests by submitting country (PARTNER), type of request, sex and type of applicant (RPENI)
Pending ‘Dublin’ outgoing requests by receiving country (PARTNER), type of request, sex and type of applicant (RPENO)
Incoming ‘Dublin’ requests for information by submitting country (PARTNER), legal provision, sex and type of applicant (RINFI)
Outgoing ‘Dublin’ requests for information by receiving country (PARTNER), legal provision, sex and type of applicant (RINFO)
Incoming responses to ‘Dublin’ requests for information by submitting country (PARTNER), legal provision, duration of response, sex and type of applicant (RESI)
Outgoing responses to ‘Dublin’ requests for information by receiving country (PARTNER), legal provision, duration of response, sex and type of applicant (RESO)
Unilateral ‘Dublin’ decisions by partner country, type of decision, sex and type of applicant (DUNI)
Decisions on incoming ‘Dublin’ requests by submitting country (PARTNER), type of decision, type of request, legal provision, sex and type of applicant (DI)
Decisions on outgoing ‘Dublin’ requests by receiving country (PARTNER), type of decision, type of request, legal provision, sex and type of applicant (DO)
Decisions on incoming ‘Dublin’ requests based on EURODAC by submitting country (PARTNER), type of decision, type of request, legal provision, sex and type of applicant (DEDACI)
Decisions on outgoing ‘Dublin’ requests based on EURODAC by receiving country (PARTNER), type of decision, type of request, legal provision, sex and type of applicant (DEDACO)
Incoming ‘Dublin’ transfers by submitting country (PARTNER), legal provision, duration of transfer, sex and type of applicant (TI)
Outgoing ‘Dublin’ transfers by receiving country (PARTNER), legal provision, duration of transfer, sex and type of applicant (TO)
Pending incoming ‘Dublin’ transfers by submitting country (PARTNER), sex and type of applicant (TPENI)
Pending outgoing ‘Dublin’ transfers by receiving country (PARTNER), sex and type of applicant (TPENO)
3.2. Classification system
See table 3.2 in annex 'Quality report tables Dublin 2025'
3.3. Coverage - sector
Migration and international protection – Dublin statistics
3.4. Statistical concepts and definitions
See table 3.4 in annex 'Quality report tables Dublin 2025'
3.5. Statistical unit
Number of persons concerned by each request, decision and transfer.
3.6. Statistical population
See table 3.6 in annex 'Quality report tables Dublin 2025´
3.7. Reference area
Spain
3.8. Coverage - Time
See table 3.8 in annex 'Quality report tables Dublin 2025'
3.9. Base period
Not applicable.
Number of persons concerned by each request, decision or transfer.
2025 calendar year.
6.1. Institutional Mandate - legal acts and other agreements
Dublin statistical data provided respect all confidentiality clauses established in European and National data protection frameworks:
Spanish Data Protection and Digital Rights Act 3/2018, art. 5, that refers to Regulation (EU) 2016/679, as well as subsequent amendments.
Regulation (EU) 2016/679 on the protection of natural persons regarding the processing of personal data.
7.2. Confidentiality - data treatment
From the Asylum database (EXPHS), a daily copy is made to a mirror database (EXPED). This copy is performed through nightly loading processes.
In this copy, no anonymization of personal information is carried out.
From this mirror database, the necessary information for the generation of EUROSTAT files is loaded daily into binary files. These files are in binary format and are therefore secured, as they can only be read through QLIK Sense. Additionally, for the generation of these files, database views are used, which expressly exclude any data that could identify individuals, such as Tax Identification Numbers (NIF) or names and surnames.
For the generation of information sent to EUROSTAT, no personal data that could identify asylum seekers is used. Only for statistical purposes is the information sent to EUROSTAT grouped by age, gender, and nationality.
On the other hand, data security and integrity are ensured through access to all applications via username and password, and no services are published outside the Ministry's internal network. Access to operational databases follows a role‑based authorisation model. All accesses are logged and subject to periodic audit.
No standard quality assurance currently in force. Internal Cross-check of data generated by the Asylum Office and data obtained by the ICT sub-Directorate within the Ministry of Interior.
11.2. Quality management - assessment
Evaluation of data discrepancies after internal cross-check and bilateral meetings with ICT Sub-Directorate.
12.1. Relevance - User Needs
The statistics collected under Regulation (EC) 862/2007 are used by a wide range of users at national, European and International level to cover various usersʼ needs.
12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction
User satisfaction surveys are not conducted.
12.3. Completeness
See table 12.3 in annex 'Quality report tables Dublin 2025'
12.3.1. Data completeness - rate
Not applicable
13.1. Accuracy - overall
Potential errors include late registration of transfers, duplicate counting in multi‑country chains of requests and erroneous partner assignment when a request is redirected. These cases are reviewed during validation.
13.2. Sampling error
Not applicable
13.2.1. Sampling error - indicators
Not applicable.
13.3. Non-sampling error
Not applicable.
13.3.1. Coverage error
Coverage errors occur when extracting the table from the database. In this moment, not all data regarding the reference period are recorded yet.
13.3.1.1. Over-coverage - rate
Not applicable.
13.3.1.2. Common units - proportion
Not applicable.
13.3.2. Measurement error
Not available.
13.3.3. Non response error
Not applicable.
13.3.3.1. Unit non-response - rate
Not applicable.
13.3.3.2. Item non-response - rate
Not applicable.
13.3.4. Processing error
A processing error may occur when extracting a table from the database. In this case, the error is detected and corrected.
13.3.5. Model assumption error
Not applicable.
14.1. Timeliness
Data are submitted on time.
14.1.1. Time lag - first result
Not applicable.
14.1.2. Time lag - final result
Not applicable.
14.2. Punctuality
Data are submitted on time.
14.2.1. Punctuality - delivery and publication
See table 14.2 in annex 'Quality report tables Dublin 2025'.
15.1. Comparability - geographical
The data are comparable. There is a single process at national level.
15.1.1. Asymmetry for mirror flow statistics - coefficient
Not applicable.
15.2. Comparability - over time
The comparability process is being evaluated.
15.2.1. Length of comparable time series
See table 15.2 in annex `Quality report tables Dublin 2025`.
15.3. Coherence - cross domain
Not applicable.
15.3.1. Coherence - sub annual and annual statistics
High level of coherence.
15.3.2. Coherence - National Accounts
Not applicable.
15.4. Coherence - internal
There is internal coherence.
No calculation on cost and burden has been made so far.
17.1. Data revision - policy
There is not a specific revision policy.
17.2. Data revision - practice
See table 17.2 in annex `Quality report tables Dublin 2025`.
17.2.1. Data revision - average size
Not applicable.
18.1. Source data
See table 18.1 in annex `Quality report tables Dublin 2025`.
18.2. Frequency of data collection
Annual
18.3. Data collection
The process requires both manual and automated activities.
18.4. Data validation
The validation process is continuous and mainly involves the Dublin unit.
Data collection on Dublin statistics contains statistical information based on the Article 4.4 of Regulation (EC) No 862/2007 on Community statistics on migration and international protection.
Incoming ‘Dublin’ requests by submitting country (PARTNER), type of request, legal provision, sex and type of applicant (RI)
Outgoing ‘Dublin’ requests by receiving country (PARTNER), type of request, legal provision, sex and type of applicant (RO)
Incoming ‘Dublin’ requests based on EURODAC by submitting country (PARTNER), type of request, legal provision, sex and type of applicant (REDACI)
Outgoing ‘Dublin’ requests based on EURODAC by receiving country (PARTNER), type of request, legal provision, sex and type of applicant (REDACO)
Pending ‘Dublin’ incoming requests by submitting country (PARTNER), type of request, sex and type of applicant (RPENI)
Pending ‘Dublin’ outgoing requests by receiving country (PARTNER), type of request, sex and type of applicant (RPENO)
Incoming ‘Dublin’ requests for information by submitting country (PARTNER), legal provision, sex and type of applicant (RINFI)
Outgoing ‘Dublin’ requests for information by receiving country (PARTNER), legal provision, sex and type of applicant (RINFO)
Incoming responses to ‘Dublin’ requests for information by submitting country (PARTNER), legal provision, duration of response, sex and type of applicant (RESI)
Outgoing responses to ‘Dublin’ requests for information by receiving country (PARTNER), legal provision, duration of response, sex and type of applicant (RESO)
Unilateral ‘Dublin’ decisions by partner country, type of decision, sex and type of applicant (DUNI)
Decisions on incoming ‘Dublin’ requests by submitting country (PARTNER), type of decision, type of request, legal provision, sex and type of applicant (DI)
Decisions on outgoing ‘Dublin’ requests by receiving country (PARTNER), type of decision, type of request, legal provision, sex and type of applicant (DO)
Decisions on incoming ‘Dublin’ requests based on EURODAC by submitting country (PARTNER), type of decision, type of request, legal provision, sex and type of applicant (DEDACI)
Decisions on outgoing ‘Dublin’ requests based on EURODAC by receiving country (PARTNER), type of decision, type of request, legal provision, sex and type of applicant (DEDACO)
Incoming ‘Dublin’ transfers by submitting country (PARTNER), legal provision, duration of transfer, sex and type of applicant (TI)
Outgoing ‘Dublin’ transfers by receiving country (PARTNER), legal provision, duration of transfer, sex and type of applicant (TO)
Pending incoming ‘Dublin’ transfers by submitting country (PARTNER), sex and type of applicant (TPENI)
Pending outgoing ‘Dublin’ transfers by receiving country (PARTNER), sex and type of applicant (TPENO)
30 March 2026
See table 3.4 in annex 'Quality report tables Dublin 2025'
Number of persons concerned by each request, decision and transfer.
See table 3.6 in annex 'Quality report tables Dublin 2025´
Spain
2025 calendar year.
Potential errors include late registration of transfers, duplicate counting in multi‑country chains of requests and erroneous partner assignment when a request is redirected. These cases are reviewed during validation.
Number of persons concerned by each request, decision or transfer.
Specific programming processes from database.
See table 18.1 in annex `Quality report tables Dublin 2025`.
Data on Dublin statistics are published yearly in the Statistical Yearbook of the Ministry of Interior. Provisional data are published quarterly.
Data are submitted on time.
The data are comparable. There is a single process at national level.
