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.
Department of Civil Liberties and Immigration, Central Directorate for Civil Services and Immigration, Dublin Unit
1.3. Contact name
Confidential because of GDPR
1.4. Contact person function
Confidential because of GDPR
1.5. Contact mail address
Piazza del Viminale, 1 - 00184 ROME - ITALY
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
1 July 2025
2.2. Metadata last posted
2 September 2025
2.3. Metadata last update
2 September 2025
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)
This metadata information is provided by the authorities of Italy to ensure compliance with the requirements of Article 4.4 (Dublin statistics) of the Regulation (EC) 862/2007 on Migration and International Protection as amended by the Regulation (EU) 2020/851.
As required by Article 9 of the Regulation (EC) 862/2007, Member States must report to Eurostat on the data sources used, the reasons for the selection of these sources and the effects of the selected data on the quality of the statistics. Member States shall provide Eurostat with all the information necessary to evaluate the quality, comparability and completeness of the statistical information.
The reference document used for assessing the compliance of the concepts and definitions in this metadata file is the document Dublin statistics - Eurostat Technical guidelines to Dublin statistics (see Annex).
3.2. Classification system
See table 3.2. in annex ‘Quality report tables Dublin 2024’.
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 2024’.
3.5. Statistical unit
The text of Art.4 of the Regulation (EC) 862/2007 refers in general to statistics based on the number of persons and not on the number of applications. However, the article describing the 'Dublin' statistics (Art.4.4) refers to statistics based on the number of requests. Commission services recommend that Art.4.4 (more precisely 4.4.a, 4.4.c and 4.4.d) is interpreted as referring to the number of persons concerned by each request, decision and transfer. Italy is in line with this definition.
3.6. Statistical population
Third country nationals, defined as "any person who is not a citizen of the Union within the meaning of Article 17 (1) of the Treaty, including stateless persons" (Art 2.1 (i) of the Regulation), applying for asylum at the border or in the territory. Number of persons concerned by each request, decision and transfer.
See table 3.6. in annex ‘Quality report tables Dublin 2024’.
See table 3.8. in annex ‘Quality report tables Dublin 2024’.
3.9. Base period
Not applicable.
Number (number of requests, number of decisions, number of transfers, etc.).
Calendar year.
6.1. Institutional Mandate - legal acts and other agreements
The compilation of Dublin statistics is based on Article 4.4 of Regulation (EC) 862/2007 of 11 July 2007 which depicts in details the data provisions Italy is bound to supply Eurostat with.
6.2. Institutional Mandate - data sharing
Not applicable.
7.1. Confidentiality - policy
Regulation (EC) No 223/2009 on European statistics (recital 24 and Article 20(4)) of 11 March 2009 (OJ L 87, p. 164), stipulates the need to establish common principles and guidelines ensuring the confidentiality of data used for the production of European statistics and the access to those confidential data with due account for technical developments and the requirements of users in a democratic society.
Although data periodicity is annual, data is updated on a continuous basis following any new incoming data input (first or revised data). Eurostat statistics are disseminated annually. The frequency of data transmission to Eurostat is annual and the national dissemination is not available.
10.1. Dissemination format - News release
Data on Dublin statistics are used in the frame of the annual Release made by the Italian Ministry of Interior.
10.2. Dissemination format - Publications
No Italian publications.
10.3. Dissemination format - online database
No Italian database online is available; see the Eurostat database.
10.3.1. Data tables - consultations
Not applicable.
10.4. Dissemination format - microdata access
Not applicable.
10.5. Dissemination format - other
Not applicable.
10.5.1. Metadata - consultations
Not applicable.
10.6. Documentation on methodology
Please see the annex "Technical Guidelines on Dublin statistics".
The quality of data in both Dublinet and Vestanet databases are assured by the IT agency in charge of data quality.
11.2. Quality management - assessment
Not available.
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.
Users of Dublin statistics :
national authorities (Ministries of Interior, Ministries of Justice, Migration agencies) who use Dublin and Asylum data to monitor or project the development of their national asylum procedures;
the European Migration Network (EMN) which uses the data as a basis for its annual EU- and national-level statistical and analytical reports;
researchers and students conducting analysis and research in the field of asylum;
journalists and international organisations in the area of asylum and migration.
Unmet user needs (on statistics) and reasons why these needs cannot be satisfied (at national and international level) : At present all statistical user needs are met.
12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction
Italy does not conduct user satisfaction surveys per se. Instead, the users satisfaction is monitored on a constant way through informal and formal contacts and communications with users and through requests and comments received by users.
12.3. Completeness
See below.
12.3.1. Data completeness - rate
96% (some double counting and some missing data, some errors in database data registration).
See table 12.3. in annex ‘Quality report tables Dublin 2024’.
13.1. Accuracy - overall
Overall accuracy of the Dublin Statistics is about 99%.
13.2. Sampling error
Not applicable.
13.2.1. Sampling error - indicators
Not applicable.
13.3. Non-sampling error
See below.
13.3.1. Coverage error
Not applicable.
13.3.1.1. Over-coverage - rate
See the file ‘Proportion of units (persons) reported in the statistics that do not belong to the target population in annex.
No over-coverage (rate = 0%).
13.3.1.2. Common units - proportion
Not applicable.
13.3.2. Measurement error
Not applicable.
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
Not available.
13.3.5. Model assumption error
Not applicable.
14.1. Timeliness
Data is collected on annual basis (calendar year) and must be transmitted by Italy not later than 3 months after the end of the reference period.
14.1.1. Time lag - first result
Number of days (on average) after the end of the reference period at which the country is able to report the first/preliminary data, at the earliest :
Normally on time. For some past years Italy was not able to send data on time due to change of Dublin regulation and necessity to up to date the system.
Normally Italy do not send preliminary data but only consolidated data.
Reasons for possible long production of the first/preliminary data and plans to improve the situation :
Italy is updating the databases used to store the data. This could lead to some delays in the production of statistics.
14.1.2. Time lag - final result
Number of days (on average) after the end of the reference period at which the country is able to report the final data, at the earliest :
Normally on time. For some past years Italy was not able to send data on time due to change of Dublin regulation and necessity to up to date the system.
Normally Italy do not send a revision of the data.
Reasons for possible long production of the final data and plans to improve the situation :
Italy is updating the databases used to store the data. This could lead to some delays in the production of final results.
14.2. Punctuality
90%.
See table 14.2. in annex ‘Quality report tables Dublin 2024’.
14.2.1. Punctuality - delivery and publication
Not applicable.
15.1. Comparability - geographical
Comparable.
15.1.1. Asymmetry for mirror flow statistics - coefficient
No asymmetry.
15.2. Comparability - over time
Perfect comparability over time.
See table 15.2. in annex ‘Quality report tables Dublin 2024’.
15.2.1. Length of comparable time series
Not applicable.
15.3. Coherence - cross domain
Asylum statistics collected under Article 4 of the Regulation (EC) 862/2007 are based on persons, while Dublin statistics may refer to requests in a few cases.
15.3.1. Coherence - sub annual and annual statistics
No sub-annual statistics.
15.3.2. Coherence - National Accounts
Not applicable.
15.4. Coherence - internal
Not applicable.
Not available.
17.1. Data revision - policy
Not available.
17.2. Data revision - practice
See table 17.2. in annex ‘Quality report tables Dublin 2024’. The Excel file already contains explanations about the data revisions.
17.2.1. Data revision - average size
The size of revision gives an idea of the stability of the data while direction is important to understand whether preliminary data tend to overestimate or underestimate the real target population.
Not available.
18.1. Source data
See table 18.1. in annex ‘Quality report tables Dublin 2024'
18.2. Frequency of data collection
Daily.
18.3. Data collection
Data are daily collected by the Ministry of Interior (Police headquarters) and directly register in the database (see source data). Data are consolidated and up to date by the Dublin Unit (Ministry of Interior).
18.4. Data validation
The validation process takes place through communication of the results and validation by the Dublin Unit.
18.5. Data compilation
Data are collected from the “Dublin Unit” caseworker and registered in a database through a DBMS procedures which verifies the correctness and consistency of the data entered. Subsequently, the data is processed using specific statistical software (Business Object) that generates the reports necessary to be sent to Eurostat.
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)
This metadata information is provided by the authorities of Italy to ensure compliance with the requirements of Article 4.4 (Dublin statistics) of the Regulation (EC) 862/2007 on Migration and International Protection as amended by the Regulation (EU) 2020/851.
As required by Article 9 of the Regulation (EC) 862/2007, Member States must report to Eurostat on the data sources used, the reasons for the selection of these sources and the effects of the selected data on the quality of the statistics. Member States shall provide Eurostat with all the information necessary to evaluate the quality, comparability and completeness of the statistical information.
The reference document used for assessing the compliance of the concepts and definitions in this metadata file is the document Dublin statistics - Eurostat Technical guidelines to Dublin statistics (see Annex).
2 September 2025
See table 3.4. in annex ‘Quality report tables Dublin 2024’.
The text of Art.4 of the Regulation (EC) 862/2007 refers in general to statistics based on the number of persons and not on the number of applications. However, the article describing the 'Dublin' statistics (Art.4.4) refers to statistics based on the number of requests. Commission services recommend that Art.4.4 (more precisely 4.4.a, 4.4.c and 4.4.d) is interpreted as referring to the number of persons concerned by each request, decision and transfer. Italy is in line with this definition.
Third country nationals, defined as "any person who is not a citizen of the Union within the meaning of Article 17 (1) of the Treaty, including stateless persons" (Art 2.1 (i) of the Regulation), applying for asylum at the border or in the territory. Number of persons concerned by each request, decision and transfer.
See table 3.6. in annex ‘Quality report tables Dublin 2024’.
Italy.
Calendar year.
Overall accuracy of the Dublin Statistics is about 99%.
Number (number of requests, number of decisions, number of transfers, etc.).
Data are collected from the “Dublin Unit” caseworker and registered in a database through a DBMS procedures which verifies the correctness and consistency of the data entered. Subsequently, the data is processed using specific statistical software (Business Object) that generates the reports necessary to be sent to Eurostat.
See table 18.1. in annex ‘Quality report tables Dublin 2024'
Although data periodicity is annual, data is updated on a continuous basis following any new incoming data input (first or revised data). Eurostat statistics are disseminated annually. The frequency of data transmission to Eurostat is annual and the national dissemination is not available.
Data is collected on annual basis (calendar year) and must be transmitted by Italy not later than 3 months after the end of the reference period.
Comparable.
Perfect comparability over time.
See table 15.2. in annex ‘Quality report tables Dublin 2024’.
