1.1. Contact organisation
1) Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND)
2) Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek (CBS)
1.2. Contact organisation unit
1) BV/FBI/BIC
2) team Justice and Security, sector SQS
1.3. Contact name
Confidential because of GDPR
1.4. Contact person function
Confidential because of GDPR
1.5. Contact mail address
1) IND
Rijnstraat 8
2515 XP The Hague
(P.O. Box 16275, 2500 BG The Hague)
The Netherlands
2) CBS
Henri Faasdreef 312
2492 JP The Hague
(P.O. Box 24500, 2490 HA 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
3 December 2024
2.2. Metadata last posted
3 December 2024
2.3. Metadata last update
3 December 2024
3.1. Data description
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 November 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 19 June 2011.
Directive (EU) 2021/1883 was transposed at national level on 20 October 2021.
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
Person.
3.6. Statistical population
See table 3.6. in annex ‘Quality report tables EU Blue Cards’.
3.7. Reference area
The Netherlands.
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 Blue Card statistics up to reference year 2021 were based on Directive 2009/50/EG of 25 May 2009 referring to Regulation (EC) 862/2007, and for reference year 2021 up to reference year 2023 based on the same Directive 2009/50/EG referring to Regulation (EC) 862/2007 as amended by Regulation (EU) 2020/851.
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 (Statistics Netherlands) 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.
The Immigration and Naturalization Service (a Service of the Ministry of Justice and Security) is responsible in the Netherlands for the registration of the Blue Cards data, and is the data supplier to CBS of the Blue Card tables.
There exists a formal agreement between IND and CBS regarding the provision of data from IND to CBS for the purpose of EU and other statistics, which also features the Blue Cards data.
6.2. Institutional Mandate - data sharing
Data sharing is conforming the agreement between IND and CBS regarding the provision of data from IND to CBS for the purpose of (EU and other) statistics, and conform the 'CBS law' and other relevant legal acts and agreements.
IND has set up a registration/data warehouse, in which amongst other data, the Blue Card data are registered. IND compiles the Blue Card tables, and sends these (aggregated) tables to CBS, via a secured process.
CBS has set up a secure and automated data processing system to receive the data from the data supplier, to check and process the data, and send the statistics via Edamis to Eurostat. This system includes the "database EU Asylum and managed Migration" and several secure and automated procedures for receiving, processing and sending the 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 IND.
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
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 publication in Statline based on the BC data, the data is treated in the same manner, data are rounded to the nearest fivefold to prevent disclosure. In the BC tables supplied to Eurostat in 2014-2022, the lowest reported number is 8, preventing disclosure. (To be complete, also '0' is reported and 'not available')
8.1. Release calendar
The Blue Card data is published by CBS in annual Statline tables: StatLine - Verblijfsvergunningen voor bepaalde tijd; verblijfsgrond en nationaliteit (cbs.nl)
The first release is since the start of the BC statistics, and there will be a release of the new reference year every June.
In the Statline table there is an Explanation, stating when the next data release will be.
This table and Explanation are publicly accessible.
8.2. Release calendar access
The Statline tables concerning the Blue Card data can be reached via:
StatLine - Verblijfsvergunningen voor bepaalde tijd; verblijfsgrond en nationaliteit (cbs.nl) (Dutch version)
and StatLine - Temporary residence permits; purpose of stay and nationality (English version)
The moment of publication of the new data can be found under "tabelinformatie - tabeltoelichting" (Table information - 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.
The data are yearly disseminated.
The Blue Card data is published by CBS in annual Statline tables: StatLine - Verblijfsvergunningen voor bepaalde tijd; verblijfsgrond en nationaliteit (cbs.nl)
The first release was since the start of the BC statistics, and there will be a release every June.
10.1. Dissemination format - News release
The Blue Card data is published by CBS in annual Statline tables: StatLine - Verblijfsvergunningen voor bepaalde tijd; verblijfsgrond en nationaliteit (cbs.nl) and StatLine - Temporary residence permits; purpose of stay and nationality.
There may be a news item accompanying the release of new annual data, this is published at the same time as the Statline table.
10.2. Dissemination format - Publications
The publication of statistics based on Blue Card data will be mostly in the form of a Statline table, on an annual basis.
CBS may issue a news item, together with the release of a new Statline data set.
10.3. Dissemination format - online database
Based on the Blue Card data, tables are published in Statline:
in dutch StatLine - Verblijfsvergunningen voor bepaalde tijd; verblijfsgrond en nationaliteit (cbs.nl)
and in English StatLine - Temporary residence permits; purpose of stay and nationality (cbs.nl)
10.3.1. Data tables - consultations
Not applicable.
10.4. Dissemination format - microdata access
There is no access to the microdata. CBS does not have the Blue Card microdata, because IND sends aggregated Blue Card tables to CBS.
10.5. Dissemination format - other
Apart from sending the tables to Eurostat and dissemination of the statistics in Statline, a news item may be published, at the same time as the dissemination of the new reference period in Statline.
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 applicable.
11.1. Quality assurance
CBS has implemented a.o. the European Statistics Code of Practice (CoP), the ESS Quality Assurance Framework (QAF), ISO-9001, and works accordingly the CBS-law, and is regularly audited by internal and external auditors.
11.2. Quality management - assessment
Not applicable.
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 Blue Card statistics :
The statistics collected under the Regulation (EU) 851/2020 are widely used in official publications and by a wide range of users at national, European and International level.
At National level the Ministry of Justice and Security and CBS are the main user of the Blue Card statistics.
At European level, the main users of Blue Card statistics are Eurostat and DG Migration and Home Affairs.
Unmet user needs (on statistics) and reasons why these needs cannot be satisfied (at national and international level) : No unmet needs are known.
12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction
No user satisfaction surveys are conducted.
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
There are no sampling errors. There are no coverage errors, no measurement errors and no nonresponse errors. Processing errors sometimes occur in extracting a table from the IND METIS/INDIGO system, mostly in the format of the table, which errors are corrected before sending the final version of the table to Edamis/Eurostat.
13.2. Sampling error
Not applicable.
13.2.1. Sampling error - indicators
Not applicable.
13.3. Non-sampling error
There are no coverage errors, no measurement errors and no nonresponse errors in the population of BC holders. However some variables (occupation, previous residence) and part of the target population (family members) is not measured. Processing errors sometimes occur in extracting a table from the IND METIS/INDIGO system, mostly in the format of the table, which errors are corrected before sending the final version of the table to Edamis/Eurostat.
13.3.1. Coverage error
The coverage error for the number of Blue Card holders, which is the discrepancy from the Eurostat target population, is 0 %.
However the coverage error for the number of family members is 100%: data on family members is not available in the METIS data warehouse of IND, from which the BC data are extracted from.
13.3.1.1. Over-coverage - rate
Not applicable.
13.3.1.2. Common units - proportion
Not applicable.
13.3.2. Measurement error
There are no measurement errors for the number of BC holders: all individual data records concerning Blue Card data are registered in INDIGO (the registration system of IND, who is responsible for the Blue Card procedures). From METIS, the data warehouse based on INDIGO, the Blue Card tables are extracted and send to CBS. There is no bias in the outcome, and the population, definitions and breakdowns are according to the Eurostat technical guidelines.
However, the number of family members of BC holders is not measured. The occupation and member state of previous residence of BC holders is not measured, and moreover no data concerning family members are measured.
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
The data provided to Eurostat are extracted from the METIS data warehouse of IND. In this data warehouse not all required data are available: The data necessary 'occupation' of BC holders in table BC1 is not available, moreover all data necessary for table BC2 family members are not available, and member state of previous residence is not available for BC holders and family members.
Process errors sometimes occurr in making the tables, mostly in the format of the table, which errors are corrected before sending the final version of the tabel to Edamis/Eurostat.
13.3.5. Model assumption error
Not applicable.
14.1. Timeliness
There is no time lag.
All data provided to Eurostat are sent timely, in accord with the deadlines mentioned in the 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 EU Blue Cards’.
14.2.1. Punctuality - delivery and publication
Not applicable.
15.1. Comparability - geographical
The statistics are comparable between all regions of the Netherlands, there is only one national system of accumulating and processing the data.
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
Not applicable.
15.3.1. Coherence - sub annual and annual statistics
There are no sub annual statistics, and the annual Blue Card statistics are comparable over all years.
15.3.2. Coherence - National Accounts
Not applicable.
15.4. Coherence - internal
The statistics are internally consistent, because they are based on the same registration of the BC (micro)dataset.
Not available.
17.1. Data revision - policy
The Netherlands does not have a data revision policy for these statistics: the data produced are final data.
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
All source data are collected and processed continuously by IND. In order to submit the data to Eurostat, compilations of the data are made on an annual base.
18.3. Data collection
The source for the datasets is METIS, the IND data warehouse, based on INDIGO, the IND registration system.
18.4. Data validation
During the process of monitoring to ensure the quality of the resulting tables, a.o. the next checks are performed: an automatic check on integrality of the data within the data warehouse; checking that the population coverage is accurate according to the definitions of the Technical guidelines; checking retrospectively a sample of the data in the register in order to confirm that they are accurate; comparing yearly the data with data of previous periods; checking for outliers.
18.5. Data compilation
METIS (the IND data warehouse), which is based on INDIGO (the registration system at IND of a.o. the administrative data records of residence permits), is the sole source for the tables. INDIGO is an integral microdata registration of all permits, therefore there is no imputation, no adjustment to non-response and no weighting of records. Based on METIS/INDIGO, for each table the required records are extracted, aggregated and counted, and tabulated into the table, all processes are according to the guidelines.
18.5.1. Imputation - rate
Not applicable.
18.6. Adjustment
There are no seasonal or other adjustments.
18.6.1. Seasonal adjustment
No statistical technique applied.
No further comments.
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 November 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 19 June 2011.
Directive (EU) 2021/1883 was transposed at national level on 20 October 2021.
3 December 2024
See table 3.4. in annex ‘Quality report tables EU Blue Cards’.
Person.
See table 3.6. in annex ‘Quality report tables EU Blue Cards’.
The Netherlands.
Calendar year.
There are no sampling errors. There are no coverage errors, no measurement errors and no nonresponse errors. Processing errors sometimes occur in extracting a table from the IND METIS/INDIGO system, mostly in the format of the table, which errors are corrected before sending the final version of the table to Edamis/Eurostat.
Number of persons.
METIS (the IND data warehouse), which is based on INDIGO (the registration system at IND of a.o. the administrative data records of residence permits), is the sole source for the tables. INDIGO is an integral microdata registration of all permits, therefore there is no imputation, no adjustment to non-response and no weighting of records. Based on METIS/INDIGO, for each table the required records are extracted, aggregated and counted, and tabulated into the table, all processes are according to the guidelines.
See table 18.1. in annex ‘Quality report tables EU Blue Cards’.
The data are yearly disseminated.
The Blue Card data is published by CBS in annual Statline tables: StatLine - Verblijfsvergunningen voor bepaalde tijd; verblijfsgrond en nationaliteit (cbs.nl)
The first release was since the start of the BC statistics, and there will be a release every June.
There is no time lag.
All data provided to Eurostat are sent timely, in accord with the deadlines mentioned in the guidelines.
The statistics are comparable between all regions of the Netherlands, there is only one national system of accumulating and processing the data.
See table 15.2. in annex ‘Quality report tables EU Blue Cards’.
