1.1. Contact organisation
1) Statistics Netherlands (CBS)
2) Ministry of Justice and Security
1.2. Contact organisation unit
1) team Justice and Security
2) DG Migration, data analysis unit (APM)
1.3. Contact name
Confidential because of GDPR
1.4. Contact person function
Confidential because of GDPR
1.5. Contact mail address
1) CBS
Henri Faasdreef 312
2492 JP The Hague
The Netherlands
2) Ministry of Justice and Security
P.O.Box 20301
2500 EH The Hague
The Netherlands
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
31 March 2025
2.2. Metadata last posted
26 March 2024
2.3. Metadata last update
31 March 2025
3.1. Data description
Enforcement of immigration legislation data (EIL statistics) contain statistical information based on Article 5 and 7 of the Regulation (EC) No 862/2007 as amended by the Regulation (EU) 2020/851 with reference to third-country nationals:
- refused entry at the external border,
- found to be illegally present,
- ordered to leave,
- returned following an order to leave.
3.2. Classification system
See table 3.2. in annex ‘Quality report tables EIL 2024’.
3.3. Coverage - sector
Migration and asylum – Enforcement of Immigration Legislation statistics
3.4. Statistical concepts and definitions
See table 3.4. in annex ‘Quality report tables EIL 2024’.
3.5. Statistical unit
Number of persons
3.6. Statistical population
See table 3.6. in annex ‘Quality report tables EIL 2024’.
3.7. Reference area
The Netherlands (the European part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)
3.8. Coverage - Time
See table 3.8. in annex ‘Quality report tables EIL 2024’.
3.9. Base period
Not applicable.
Number of persons.
Calendar year 2024 and calendar quarters of 2024
6.1. Institutional Mandate - legal acts and other agreements
Enforcement of immigration legislation data (EIL statistics) contain statistical information based on Article 5 and 7 of the Regulation (EC) No 862/2007 as amended by the Regulation (EU) 2020/851
The Ministry of Justice and Security, including the migration agencies and the Police, and the Royal Marechaussee acting under the authority of the Ministry of Justice and Security, are responsible for the registrations in the field of immigration legislation; the data is collected by the Ministry of Justice and Security (Aliens Act 2000).
The "Wet op het Centraal bureau voor de statistiek, van 2 maart 2022" (the dutch Law on Statistics Netherlands, March 2, 2022) states in article 4 that CBS is responsible for the production of the EU statistics.
[wetten.nl - Regeling - Wet op het Centraal bureau voor de statistiek - BWBR0015926 (overheid.nl) ]
This comprises all (mandatory and voluntary) statistics mentioned in the several EU Regulations and Directives.
A convenant has been signed between the Ministry of Justice and Security and CBS (signed August 30, 2023) regarding the provision of data from the Ministry to CBS for the purpose of statistics, e.g. specifying and regulating all data transfers between the Ministry (and its agencies and institutions) and CBS.
6.2. Institutional Mandate - data sharing
Data sharing is conform the convenant between the Ministry of Justice and Security and CBS (of August 30, 2023) regarding the provision of data from the Ministry to CBS for the purpose of statistics.
The Ministry of Justice and Security, DG Migration is responsible for data collection in the field of immigration legislation. They compile all EIL statistics, and send the (aggregated) tables to CBS.
CBS has set up a safe and automated data processing system to receive the tables from the data supplier, to process the data, and send the statistics via Edamis to Eurostat. This system includes the "database EU Asylum and managed Migration", plus a monitoring system, and several automated procedures for receiving and sending data. All procedures are in accordance with the CBS standards in the field of data collection and processing.
7.1. Confidentiality - policy
The General Data Protection Regulation applies in The Netherlands, and therefore to CBS and the Ministry of Justice and Security.
Moreover, the "Wet op het Centraal bureau voor de statistiek, van 2 maart 2022" (the dutch Law on Statistics Netherlands, March 2, 2022) states in article 37 that CBS will not disclose any data that might identify a person, household or economic entity, either directly or indirectly. [wetten.nl - Regeling - Wet op het Centraal bureau voor de statistiek - BWBR0015926 (overheid.nl) ]
7.2. Confidentiality - data treatment
In general, CBS defines a confidential cell as a cell where the number is lower than 7. Usually this cell is suppressed, however, depending on the statistic, also controlled rounding can be used, for example to the nearest fivefold or tenfold. CBS checks in general for residual disclosure, with methods depending on the statistic. In the publications in Statline based on the EIL data, the data is treated in the same manner, data are rounded to the nearest fivefold to prevent disclosure. As Eurostat itself has confidentiality rules for publications (rounding to nearest fivefold for the EIL data), and because of the secured process of sending data via Edamis to Eurostat, there is no rounding in the supplied tables.
8.1. Release calendar
Besides publication by Eurostat, EIL data is also published by CBS in four annual Statline tables: StatLine - Datasets via thema (cbs.nl)
In each of these tables there is an Explanation, stating when the data of the new period will be published.
These tables and Explanation are publicly accessible.
8.2. Release calendar access
The Statline tables concerning the EIL data can be reached via: StatLine - Datasets via thema (cbs.nl)
The moment of publication of the new data can be found under "tabelinformatie - tabeltoelichting" (Explanation).
8.3. Release policy - user access
The general release policy of CBS is to publish all regular statistics via Statline and Open Data: StatLine (cbs.nl) This is accessible to the general public via the website of CBS.
The policy for publishing incidental statistics is via incidental publications on the webpage at www.CBS.nl: Overzicht aanvullend statistisch onderzoek per jaar | CBS. This is also accessible to the general public.
In addition, statistics may be presented by dashboards, or other visuals. Moreover, any newly published statistic may be accompanied by a written 'news item' which gives some highlights of the data or a longer analysis. Every part of a publication is available on www.CBS.nl.
By these methods of publication, CBS provides for the dissemination of statistical data to all users at the same time.
The publicatieplanning on the CBS-website gives an overview of the dates and moments that statistics are made publicly available through an 'news item' . Other statistics (without news item) are made publicly available from 0:00 h (at night) in our databank StatLine.
CBS publishes its release policy on its website : Publicatiebeleid | CBS. This policy provides for the dissemination of statistical data to all users at the same time.
CBS may send new publications under embargo, in advance of the release of the data, to government organisations and agencies, and to the press. For the press, the maximum embargo period is 24 hours before publication. For the governmental organisations, the maximum embargo period is from 12:00 h in the afternoon on the working day before publication.
CBS disseminates the statistics related to the EIL tables on an annual basis.
10.1. Dissemination format - News release
Each year, based on the EIL data, 4 tables are published in Statline :
StatLine - Datasets via thema (cbs.nl).
10.2. Dissemination format - Publications
The publication of statistics based on EIL data has been, for the last couple of years, mostly in the form of Statline tables : StatLine - Datasets via thema (cbs.nl).
CBS sometimes issues a publication in the form of an 'news item' , for example in 2021 on the topic of persons refused at the border StatLine - Datasets via thema (cbs.nl).
10.3. Dissemination format - online database
Based on the EIL data, 4 tables are published in Statline :
StatLine - Datasets via thema (cbs.nl).
- Third Country Nationals refused at the border: StatLine - Derdelanders, geweigerd aan de grens; nationaliteit (cbs.nl).
- Third Country Nationals who have actually left: StatLine - Derdelanders; aantoonbaar vertrek (cbs.nl).
- Third Country Nationals with illegal presence: StatLine - Derdelanders; illegale aanwezigheid vastgesteld, nationaliteit (cbs.nl).
- Third Country Nationals ordered to leave: StatLine - Derdelanders; verplichting tot vertrek (cbs.nl).
10.3.1. Data tables - consultations
Not applicable.
10.4. Dissemination format - microdata access
For the EIL data, there is no access to the microdata for researchers at CBS. This is due to the fact that the EIL data supplier, the Ministry of Justice and Security/DG Migration, sends aggregated data to CBS.
10.5. Dissemination format - other
Apart from sending the tables to Eurostat and dissemination of part of the statistics in Statline, there are generally no other means of dissemination. In some years a news item may be published, at the same time as the dissemination of the new reference year data in Statline.
10.5.1. Metadata - consultations
Not applicable.
10.6. Documentation on methodology
Both Ministry of Justice/DG Migration and Security and CBS work in accordance with the relevant Eurostat guidelines.
10.6.1. Metadata completeness - rate
Not applicable.
10.7. Quality management - documentation
not applicable.
11.1. Quality assurance
Statistics Netherlands has implemented a.o. the European Statistics Code of Practice (CoP), the ESS Quality Assurance Framework (QAF), the CBS-law, and ISO-9001, and is regularly audited.
11.2. Quality management - assessment
1. Description of the Quality management system at national level
Statistics Netherlands has implemented a.o. the European Statistics Code of Practice (CoP), the ESS Quality Assurance Framework (QAF), the CBS-law, and ISO-9001, and is regularly audited.
The Ministry of Justice/DG Migration, who holds the administrative data for EIL, is monitoring the quality of the data on a regular basis. Moreover the Ministry of Justice/DG Migration has, since beginning of 2025, deployed a new data warehouse and migrated all data. Upon quality checks, during the migration it turned out that one of the reference tables to convert return registrations into return figures contained some inaccuracies, starting in 2022. This has now been repaired. It results in a slightly lower number of voluntary returns and a slight increase of “non-demonstrated return” (~absconding, which we don’t report to Eurostat/EIL). Especially table Y6.1 had been affected by this. The Netherlands has resubmitted all EIL data from the new data warehouse for 2022, 2023 and 2024 (even though for some datasets there was virtually no change in the data) thereby correcting for this error and enhancing the overall quality.
Overall, the Netherlands makes the following asessments of the data quality:
- Third-country nationals refused at border: Good quality
- Third-country nationals found to be illegally present:
- Before 2021: Sufficient quality
- 2021 and onwards: Good quality
- Third-country nationals who are subject to an obligation to leave: Good quality
- Third-country nationals effectively returned
- Before 2021: Sufficient quality (Dublin cases were not excluded)
- 2021 and onwards: Good quality
12.1. Relevance - User Needs
1. General aspects
The statistics collected under the Regulation 862/2007 are widely used in official publications and by a wide range of users at national, European and International level.
Main users of EIL statistics at national level
The EIL statistics produced are regularly used by national administrations: academic researchers and civil society groups working on a wide range of topics including the integration of immigrants, the development and monitoring of national asylum and immigration procedures, and the projection of the future population and labour force.
Main users of EIL statistics at European and International level
The main users of EIL statistics are Eurostat, DG Home Affairs and EUAA. The statistics are used in several publications of the Commission, as well as in the preparation of regular reports, policy proposals and analysis. The statistics also provide an input to the EMN studies and reports that address specific issues of current policy importance.
12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction
No user satisfaction surveys are conducted.
12.3. Completeness
See table 12.3. in annex ‘Quality report tables EIL 2024’.
12.3.1. Data completeness - rate
Not applicable.
13.1. Accuracy - overall
Third-country nationals refused at border: ~100%
Third-country nationals found to be illegally present: Close to 100%. It might happen that a TCN found to be illegally present is not registered (very limitly)
Third-country nationals who are subject to an obligation to leave: ~100% of the issued return decisions are counted.
Third-country nationals effectively returned:
- TCN that return voluntarily without intervention of the authorities are not counted, for example by land via one of the internal land borders.
- If registered, the country of destination of accurate (close to 100%)
- The type of return & assistance is influenced by the business rules that are applied to join the information of the RNM and the R&DS. Before reference period 2022, the accurate share of forced return might be slightly lower than reported and the share of voluntary return slightly higher. In november 2021, the registration of returns has changed and further standardised.
13.2. Sampling error
Not applicable.
13.2.1. Sampling error - indicators
Not applicable.
13.3. Non-sampling error
Summary of most important errors:
Third country nationals refused at border: before reference period 2022, one person could be counted more than once in each data set. The share was less than 1%. From 2021 and onwards, the data is deduplicated.
13.3.1. Coverage error
See table 13.3.1. in annex ‘Quality report tables EIL 2024’.
13.3.1.1. Over-coverage - rate
Not applicable.
13.3.1.2. Common units - proportion
Not applicable.
13.3.2. Measurement error
Third country nationals refused at border: Before reference period 2022, one person could be counted more than once in each data set. The share was less than 1%. From 2021 and onwards, the data is deduplicated.
Other data sets: The data is deduplicated (before and after 2021).
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 applicable
13.3.5. Model assumption error
Not applicable.
14.1. Timeliness
Data supply to Eurostat is in accordance with the Regulation and the Technical Guidelines.
14.1.1. Time lag - first result
Not applicable.
14.1.2. Time lag - final result
Not applicable.
14.2. Punctuality
See table 14.2. in annex ‘Quality report tables EIL 2024’.
14.2.1. Punctuality - delivery and publication
Not applicable.
15.1. Comparability - geographical
The statistics are comparable between all regions of the Netherlands, because there is only one national system of accumulating and processing the EIL data, which is at the Ministry of Justice and Security/DG Migration.
15.1.1. Asymmetry for mirror flow statistics - coefficient
Not applicable.
15.2. Comparability - over time
See table 15.2. in annex ‘Quality report tables EIL 2024’.
15.2.1. Length of comparable time series
Not applicable.
15.3. Coherence - cross domain
See table 15.3. in annex ‘Quality report tables EIL 2024’.
15.3.1. Coherence - sub annual and annual statistics
The annual totals might be slightly lower than the sum of the quarterly figures. This is due to the deduplication within the reporting period.
15.3.2. Coherence - National Accounts
Not applicable.
15.4. Coherence - internal
The statistics are consistent with the datasets.
Not available.
17.1. Data revision - policy
In past years, there are no data revisions planned. The EIL data send to Eurostat were the final data, usually.
However, the Ministry of Justice/DG Migration has, since beginning of 2025, deployed a new data warehouse and migrated all data. This resulted in slightly different numbers for some tables: During the migration it turned out that one of the reference tables to convert return registrations into return figures contained some inaccuracies, starting in 2022. This has now been repaired. It results in a slightly lower number of voluntary returns and a slight increase of “non-demonstrated return” (~absconding, which we don’t report to Eurostat/EIL). Especially table Y6.1 has been affected by this. The Netherlands has resubmitted all EIL data from the new data warehouse for 2022, 2023 and 2024, even though for some datasets there was virtually no change in the data.
From reference year 2025 onwards, no data revisions are planned, and EIL tables send to Eurostat will be final data.
17.2. Data revision - practice
See table 17.2. in annex ‘Quality report tables EIL 2024’.
17.2.1. Data revision - average size
Not applicable.
18.1. Source data
See table 18.1. in annex ‘Quality report tables EIL 2024’.
18.2. Frequency of data collection
All source data are collected and processed continuously by the Ministry of Justice/DG Migration. In order to submit the data to Eurostat, compilations of the data are made on a quarterly or annual base by DG Migration and send to CBS.
18.3. Data collection
General procedure for recording Non-EU citizens refused entry at the external borders:
After detection at a Border Crossing Point (BCP) of a TCN with insufficient papers for entering the Schengen Borders a registration is made in VBS, the registration system of the RNM and the SPP.
General procedure for recording Non-EU citizens found to be illegally present:
After detection of a illegally staying TCN during mobile security monitoring by the RNM a registration is made in VBS. When National Police detects an illegally staying TCN a registration is made in PSH-V.
General procedure for recording Non-EU citizens ordered to leave:
- When the INS rejects an application of a TCN or repeals a permit a return decision is issued.
- Return decisions by the Police are issued when a TCN is found to be illegally present in the Netherlands.
- The RNM mainly issues return decisions when a TCN is found to be illegally present when leaving the Netherlands at a border crossing point.
- If a TCN receives multiple return decisions in a reference period, it is counted only once in the Eurostat tables.
General procedure for recording Non-EU citizens returned following an order to leave:
Return is registered by multiple partners, RNM, Police and R&DS. Each organization uses its own primary registration system. Each organization sends its data on to the Ministry of Justice and Security/DG Migration where the data is collected and processed in KMI+.
18.4. Data validation
The following checks are performed in the systems:
When there are more than one record for a person in the reference period (with identical foreignernumbers), these are deduplicated in KMI+.
Plausibility checks are performed by comparing the data with previous periods. Deviating increases or decreases in numbers are investigated and explanations are sought, in order to ensure it is not caused by an omission or error in the data or query.
A check of consistency between Y2 and Y3 does not seem very useful in the Dutch context as most orders to leave/return decisions are issued when a application is refused or a permit is withdrawn.
A check of consistency between "TCNs subjects to an obligation to leave" and "TCNs who actually left the territory" seems only possible if this can be done based on a cohort of persons obligated to leave taking into consideration the time that can elapse between the moment that the obligation started and return and all other possible outcomes (such as abscondment and issuance of a permit).
However, the Ministry of Justice/DG Migration has, since beginning of 2025, deployed a new data warehouse and migrated all data. During the migration data validation checks were performed : it turned out that one of the reference tables to convert return registrations into return figures contained some inaccuracies, starting in 2022. This has now been repaired. It results in a slightly lower number of voluntary returns and a slight increase of “non-demonstrated return” (~absconding, which we don’t report to Eurostat/EIL). Especially table Y6.1 has been affected by this. The Netherlands has resubmitted all EIL data from the new data warehouse for 2022, 2023 and 2024, even though for some datasets there was virtually no change in the data.
18.5. Data compilation
Table Y 6.1:
The country of destination is sometimes not known although the type of return is assisted voluntary or forced return. In those cases, the destination country is assumed to be the country of citizenship. This annually applies to 10-20 returns.
In case of unassisted voluntary return, the country of destination is reported as unknown in the majority of cases.This is due to the process at the border, where country of destination is not registered. Efforts are made by the RNM and the Ministry/DG Migration to improve this process and decrease the number of unknown countries of destination.
Moreover, the Ministry of Justice/DG Migration has, since beginning of 2025, deployed a new data warehouse and migrated all data. During the migration it turned out that one of the reference tables to convert return registrations into return figures contained some inaccuracies, starting in 2022. This has now been repaired. It results in a slightly lower number of voluntary returns and a slight increase of “non-demonstrated return” (~absconding, which we don’t report to Eurostat/EIL). Especially table Y6.1 has been affected by this. The Netherlands has resubmitted all EIL data from the new data warehouse for 2022, 2023 and 2024 (even though for some datasets there was virtually no change in the data).
18.5.1. Imputation - rate
Not applicable.
18.6. Adjustment
not applicable
18.6.1. Seasonal adjustment
No statistical technique applied.
This metadata description is valid for all reference periods (years and quarters) of all EIL data send to Eurostat.
This metadata is composed by CBS, in consultation with the Ministry of Justice and Security/DG Migration.
Enforcement of immigration legislation data (EIL statistics) contain statistical information based on Article 5 and 7 of the Regulation (EC) No 862/2007 as amended by the Regulation (EU) 2020/851 with reference to third-country nationals:
- refused entry at the external border,
- found to be illegally present,
- ordered to leave,
- returned following an order to leave.
31 March 2025
See table 3.4. in annex ‘Quality report tables EIL 2024’.
Number of persons
See table 3.6. in annex ‘Quality report tables EIL 2024’.
The Netherlands (the European part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)
Calendar year 2024 and calendar quarters of 2024
Third-country nationals refused at border: ~100%
Third-country nationals found to be illegally present: Close to 100%. It might happen that a TCN found to be illegally present is not registered (very limitly)
Third-country nationals who are subject to an obligation to leave: ~100% of the issued return decisions are counted.
Third-country nationals effectively returned:
- TCN that return voluntarily without intervention of the authorities are not counted, for example by land via one of the internal land borders.
- If registered, the country of destination of accurate (close to 100%)
- The type of return & assistance is influenced by the business rules that are applied to join the information of the RNM and the R&DS. Before reference period 2022, the accurate share of forced return might be slightly lower than reported and the share of voluntary return slightly higher. In november 2021, the registration of returns has changed and further standardised.
Number of persons.
Table Y 6.1:
The country of destination is sometimes not known although the type of return is assisted voluntary or forced return. In those cases, the destination country is assumed to be the country of citizenship. This annually applies to 10-20 returns.
In case of unassisted voluntary return, the country of destination is reported as unknown in the majority of cases.This is due to the process at the border, where country of destination is not registered. Efforts are made by the RNM and the Ministry/DG Migration to improve this process and decrease the number of unknown countries of destination.
Moreover, the Ministry of Justice/DG Migration has, since beginning of 2025, deployed a new data warehouse and migrated all data. During the migration it turned out that one of the reference tables to convert return registrations into return figures contained some inaccuracies, starting in 2022. This has now been repaired. It results in a slightly lower number of voluntary returns and a slight increase of “non-demonstrated return” (~absconding, which we don’t report to Eurostat/EIL). Especially table Y6.1 has been affected by this. The Netherlands has resubmitted all EIL data from the new data warehouse for 2022, 2023 and 2024 (even though for some datasets there was virtually no change in the data).
See table 18.1. in annex ‘Quality report tables EIL 2024’.
CBS disseminates the statistics related to the EIL tables on an annual basis.
Data supply to Eurostat is in accordance with the Regulation and the Technical Guidelines.
The statistics are comparable between all regions of the Netherlands, because there is only one national system of accumulating and processing the EIL data, which is at the Ministry of Justice and Security/DG Migration.
See table 15.2. in annex ‘Quality report tables EIL 2024’.
