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.
Data collection on EU Blue Cards statistics based on EU Directive on the conditions of entry and residence of third-country nationals for the purpose of highly qualified employment. The EU Blue Cards statistics is produced under the Directive 2009/50/EC. From 19/11/2023 this directive is replaced by Directive (EU) 2021/1883. The new legal requirements regarding supplementary statistics are applicable starting with 2024 reference period.
The following datasets are collected in 2023 under this framework:
EU Blue Cards by type of decision, occupation and citizenship (migr_resbc1);
Admitted family members of EU Blue Cards holders by type of decision and citizenship (migr_resbc2);
EU Blue Cards holders and family members by Member State of previous residence (migr_resbc3).
Directive 2009/50/EC was transposed at national level on 12 December 2011.
Directive (EU) 2021/1883 was transposed at national level on 27 June 2024.
3.2. Classification system
See table 3.2. in annex ‘Quality report tables EU Blue Cards’.
3.3. Coverage - sector
Migration and asylum – Residence permits statistics, EU Blue Cards.
3.4. Statistical concepts and definitions
See table 3.4. in annex ‘Quality report tables EU Blue Cards’.
3.5. Statistical unit
The unit is always in Persons.
3.6. Statistical population
See table 3.6. in annex ‘Quality report tables EU Blue Cards’.
3.7. Reference area
The data relates to the territory of Luxembourg.
3.8. Coverage - Time
See table 3.8. in annex ‘Quality report tables EU Blue Cards’.
3.9. Base period
Not applicable.
Number of persons.
Calendar year.
6.1. Institutional Mandate - legal acts and other agreements
The Commitee for official statistics of STATEC* coordinates the statistical programs of the different national authorities, Ministries, public institutions and observatories. The General Department of immigration, being in possession of the data, is directly providing the data.
*STATEC is the national statistical authority that coordinates the national statistical system, and represents it on the international level.
6.2. Institutional Mandate - data sharing
On national level, data concerning residence permits is shared with STATEC, the national statistical authority that coordinates the national statistical system, and represents it on the international level.
On international level, data concerning residence permits is shared with OECD (within specific data collections carried out by this organization).
7.1. Confidentiality - policy
The legal framework and the conceptual framework for confidentiality is the Regulation 223/2009 on European statistics is applied.
7.2. Confidentiality - data treatment
In order to guarantee confidentiality and to protect residence permit holders, when publishing press releases on national level, the General department of immigration applies the rule to not share details when the number of persons of a specific nationality is below 5.
8.1. Release calendar
No specific release calendar. At national level, statistics are published on an annual basis (a few weeks after the end of the reference period).
8.2. Release calendar access
Not applicable.
8.3. Release policy - user access
As long as data is not released officially, it should not be publicly shared.
Please find information at this website Annual report.
10.3. Dissemination format - online database
Not applicable.
10.3.1. Data tables - consultations
Not applicable.
10.4. Dissemination format - microdata access
No micro-data access.
10.5. Dissemination format - other
Not applicable.
10.5.1. Metadata - consultations
Not applicable.
10.6. Documentation on methodology
Not applicable.
10.6.1. Metadata completeness - rate
Not applicable.
10.7. Quality management - documentation
Not available.
11.1. Quality assurance
Quality is assured by manual ad-hoc controls. Data in the Eurostat tables is cross-checked with the data in the national database.
11.2. Quality management - assessment
Good quality.
12.1. Relevance - User Needs
The statistics collected under the Directive are used by a wide range of users at national, European and International level to cover various users needs.
12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction
Not available.
12.3. Completeness
See table 12.3. in annex ‘Quality report tables EU Blue Cards’.
12.3.1. Data completeness - rate
Not applicable.
13.1. Accuracy - overall
Good. It can happen that some data were not properly registered (missing data) - very rare.
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
Not applicable.
13.3.1.1. Over-coverage - rate
Not applicable.
13.3.1.2. Common units - proportion
Not applicable.
13.3.2. Measurement error
Minor errors due to recording errors or errors in the requests in the national database are possible.
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
Minor processing errors may occur in cases where the national definitions are not meeting the Eurostat definitions and data needs to be converted to meet Eurostat definitions.
13.3.5. Model assumption error
Not applicable.
14.1. Timeliness
Data is available in real time. However, data may be processed with a certain delai because of updates of the data collection tools (tables, specifications) by Eurostat and technical adjustments to be carried out because of these updates.
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 EU Blue Cards’.
14.2.1. Punctuality - delivery and publication
Not applicable.
15.1. Comparability - geographical
Data is coherent across the territory.
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 EU Blue Cards’.
15.2.1. Length of comparable time series
Not applicable.
15.3. Coherence - cross domain
Data is coherent across the domain.
15.3.1. Coherence - sub annual and annual statistics
No issues.
15.3.2. Coherence - National Accounts
Not applicable.
15.4. Coherence - internal
No issues.
Not available.
17.1. Data revision - policy
Not applicable - revisions are carried out on an ad hoc basis.
17.2. Data revision - practice
See table 17.2. in annex ‘Quality report tables EU Blue Cards’.
17.2.1. Data revision - average size
Not applicable.
18.1. Source data
See table 18.1. in annex ‘Quality report tables EU Blue Cards’.
18.2. Frequency of data collection
Database is updated on daily basis.
18.3. Data collection
Data is extracted from the national database, no collection needed.
18.4. Data validation
Data is controlled and validated annualy when data is extracted.
Data collection on EU Blue Cards statistics based on EU Directive on the conditions of entry and residence of third-country nationals for the purpose of highly qualified employment. The EU Blue Cards statistics is produced under the Directive 2009/50/EC. From 19/11/2023 this directive is replaced by Directive (EU) 2021/1883. The new legal requirements regarding supplementary statistics are applicable starting with 2024 reference period.
The following datasets are collected in 2023 under this framework:
EU Blue Cards by type of decision, occupation and citizenship (migr_resbc1);
Admitted family members of EU Blue Cards holders by type of decision and citizenship (migr_resbc2);
EU Blue Cards holders and family members by Member State of previous residence (migr_resbc3).
Directive 2009/50/EC was transposed at national level on 12 December 2011.
Directive (EU) 2021/1883 was transposed at national level on 27 June 2024.
20 November 2024
See table 3.4. in annex ‘Quality report tables EU Blue Cards’.
The unit is always in Persons.
See table 3.6. in annex ‘Quality report tables EU Blue Cards’.
The data relates to the territory of Luxembourg.
Calendar year.
Good. It can happen that some data were not properly registered (missing data) - very rare.
Number of persons.
Not applicable.
See table 18.1. in annex ‘Quality report tables EU Blue Cards’.
Annually.
Data is available in real time. However, data may be processed with a certain delai because of updates of the data collection tools (tables, specifications) by Eurostat and technical adjustments to be carried out because of these updates.
Data is coherent across the territory.
See table 15.2. in annex ‘Quality report tables EU Blue Cards’.
