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.
Thivon Avenue, 196-198, Ag. Ioannis Rentis – Nikaia, 18233
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
28 July 2025
2.2. Metadata last posted
28 July 2025
2.3. Metadata last update
28 July 2025
3.1. Data description
Data collection on the residence permits (RESPER) statistics contains statistical information based on the principles stated in the Union legislation on migration Regulation (EC) No 862/2007 as amended by the Regulation (EU) 2020/851 and the Commission Regulation (EU) No 216/2010 implementing the categories of reasons for residence permits.
The main RESPER data collection based on Article 6 of the Migration Statistics Regulation
First residence permits,
Residence permits issued on the occasion of changing the immigration status or reason to stay,
Residence permits valid at the end of the year,
Long-term residence permits valid at the end of the year,
Long-term permits issued during the year.
Statistics collected on voluntary basis
Residence permits issued for family reunification with beneficiaries of protection status.
3.2. Classification system
See table 3.2. in annex ‘Quality report tables RESPER’.
3.3. Coverage - sector
Migration and asylum – Residence permits statistics.
3.4. Statistical concepts and definitions
See table 3.4. in annex ‘Quality report tables RESPER’.
3.5. Statistical unit
Residence permits statistics refers in general to the number of persons receiving a residence permit.
3.6. Statistical population
See table 3.6. in annex ‘Quality report tables RESPER’.
3.7. Reference area
Greece
3.8. Coverage - Time
See table 3.8. in annex ‘Quality report tables RESPER’.
3.9. Base period
Not applicable.
Number of persons.
Calendar year.
6.1. Institutional Mandate - legal acts and other agreements
The national legislation for residence permits in Greece is governed by the Migration Code (Law 5038/2023). This new code integrated and codified several previous legislative acts to create a unified and modern framework.
Purpose of the Law:
The goal of Law 5038/2023 was to simplify and harmonize the rules for the entry, residence, and social integration of third-country nationals (non-EU citizens), while also aligning Greek law with European Union regulations. It essentially brings all the key provisions under a single umbrella.
Previous Law Integrated into the Current Code:
The new Code incorporated the legal framework from the following key law:
Law 4251/2014 ("Immigration and Social Integration Code"): This was the primary law governing residence permits before the new code. Law 5038/2023 essentially revised and replaced it, building on its core structure.
Main Categories of Residence Permits
The Immigration Code organizes residence permits based on their specific purpose, including:
Work: For dependent employment, seasonal work, or highly skilled professionals ("EU Blue Card").
Study: For students and researchers.
Family Reunification: Allowing family members to join a legal resident.
Investment: The "Golden Visa" program for significant investments in real estate or other assets.
Exceptional or Humanitarian Reasons.
Key Process & Requirements
Initial Permit: The application is typically submitted to the Ministry of Migration and Asylum after entering Greece with a D-type visa.
Renewal: Applications for renewal must be submitted before the current permit expires.
Documentation: All applicants must provide necessary documents, such as a valid passport, proof of financial means, and health insurance.
Authorities: The competent authorities are the Ministry of Migration and Asylum and the Decentralized Administrations.
By combining these different legal acts, the new Immigration Code provides a more coherent and accessible system for all stakeholders, from applicants to government authorities.
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)), 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.
7.2. Confidentiality - data treatment
The Greek Ministry of Migration and Asylum treats personal information in line with the general data protection regulation.
8.1. Release calendar
No release calendar. The data are published on the website on monthly basis
8.2. Release calendar access
No release calendar. The data are published on the website on monthly basis.
8.3. Release policy - user access
Statistics concerning residence permits are published on a monthly basis, typically around the middle of the month following the reference month.
The data are published on the Ministry of Migration and Asylum's website at the following website Migration website in accordance with the Law on Statistics and the European Statistics Code of Practice respecting professional independence and aiming at objectivity, transparency, and equal treatment of all users.
Monthly on website and yearly on eurostat platform
Compilation of data is following the guidelines and instructions provided by Eurostat. Consistency validation checks are performed.
11.2. Quality management - assessment
Residence permits statistics are based on administrative sources which allows a good quality of the data.
12.1. Relevance - User Needs
Users of Eurostat residence permits statistics are: various policy DGs in the European Commission, like DG Migration and Home Affairs for designing, funding and implementing migration related policies in the EU, European Parliament, national authorities who use migration data to monitor or project the development of their national asylum procedures, European Migration Network (EMN) which uses the migration 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 residence permits, journalists and international organisations in the area of migration.
12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction
Not available.
12.3. Completeness
See table 12.3. in annex ‘Quality report tables RESPER’.
12.3.1. Data completeness - rate
Not applicable.
13.1. Accuracy - overall
Overall accuracy is high.
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
No coverage errors.
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.
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, also concerning the timeframe of sending data to Eurostat.The tables are produced and send to Eurostat within the mandatory deadlines: 180 days after the end of the reference period.
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 RESPER’.
14.2.1. Punctuality - delivery and publication
Not applicable.
15.1. Comparability - geographical
The results are completely consistent across the territory, at all levels of disaggregation, as they are calculated at the most disaggregated level possible, and the totals are obtained by aggregating results. In addition, they are calculated based on the definitions established in the European Regulation 862/2007 as amended by the Regulation (EU) 2020/851 and the Commission Regulation (EU) No 216/2010 implementing the categories of reasons for residence permits.
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 RESPER’.
15.2.1. Length of comparable time series
Not applicable.
15.3. Coherence - cross domain
No incoherence noticed.
15.3.1. Coherence - sub annual and annual statistics
Not applicable.
15.3.2. Coherence - National Accounts
Not applicable.
15.4. Coherence - internal
All the statistics produced are consistent since they are all obtained from the same administrative register and the calculation methodology is the same for all of them.
Not available.
17.1. Data revision - policy
The data undergoes continuous validation on a regular basis.
17.2. Data revision - practice
See table 17.2. in annex ‘Quality report tables RESPER’.
17.2.1. Data revision - average size
Not applicable.
18.1. Source data
See table 18.1. in annex ‘Quality report tables RESPER’.
18.2. Frequency of data collection
All source data are collected and processed continuously in the relevant database
18.3. Data collection
The extraction of data is performed from the Integrated Information System (OPS), which constitutes the Legal Migration Data Information System and the main digital mechanism of the Ministry of Migration and Asylum for managing all procedures related to the entry and residence of third-country nationals in Greece (via one stop shop services all around the country).
This statistical procedure, from registration to the final report, is divided into the following main phases:
A.Data Entry Process (Input)
The system (OPS) is continuously supplied with information, ensuring the currency of the data:
Data Source: All data recorded and stored in the OPS are collected from administrative sources. This information relates to administrative events (e.g., submission, rejection, granting of permits) that arise during the procedures for issuing and renewing residence permits.
Users and Competent Services: Data entry is performed by administrative staff working at the competent Directorates of Aliens and Immigration of the Decentralized Administration, who have access to the Information System (OPS).
Registration Frequency: The recording of administrative events in the system is highly frequent, occurring instantaneously, hourly, and primarily daily, ensuring the speed and accuracy of the data.
B. Statistical Extraction and Processing (Output)
The following process is carried out to generate the necessary statistical reports:
Analysis/Extraction: Data reports are retrieved from the Information System (OPS) on a monthly basis.
Data Format: The extracted data is transmitted in Excel format.
Processing and Rules: The monthly Excel files are subjected to processing according to a predefined set of rules.
Final Reports: Through this processing, the final reports are created, which are used to cover all potential statistical requests.
C. Quality Assurance
All civil servants of migration services, registered and authorized users of OPS, have access to the relevant source data and continuously monitor the quality of the recorded information, thus enhancing the overall reliability of the System.
18.4. Data validation
The source data are checked and validated before compiling the aggregates output statistics sent to Eurostat.
18.5. Data compilation
All processes are according to guidelines. For each table the required records are extracted.
Data collection on the residence permits (RESPER) statistics contains statistical information based on the principles stated in the Union legislation on migration Regulation (EC) No 862/2007 as amended by the Regulation (EU) 2020/851 and the Commission Regulation (EU) No 216/2010 implementing the categories of reasons for residence permits.
The main RESPER data collection based on Article 6 of the Migration Statistics Regulation
First residence permits,
Residence permits issued on the occasion of changing the immigration status or reason to stay,
Residence permits valid at the end of the year,
Long-term residence permits valid at the end of the year,
Long-term permits issued during the year.
Statistics collected on voluntary basis
Residence permits issued for family reunification with beneficiaries of protection status.
28 July 2025
See table 3.4. in annex ‘Quality report tables RESPER’.
Residence permits statistics refers in general to the number of persons receiving a residence permit.
See table 3.6. in annex ‘Quality report tables RESPER’.
Greece
Calendar year.
Overall accuracy is high.
Number of persons.
All processes are according to guidelines. For each table the required records are extracted.
See table 18.1. in annex ‘Quality report tables RESPER’.
Monthly on website and yearly on eurostat platform
Data supply to Eurostat is in accordance with the Regulation and the Technical Guidelines, also concerning the timeframe of sending data to Eurostat.The tables are produced and send to Eurostat within the mandatory deadlines: 180 days after the end of the reference period.
The results are completely consistent across the territory, at all levels of disaggregation, as they are calculated at the most disaggregated level possible, and the totals are obtained by aggregating results. In addition, they are calculated based on the definitions established in the European Regulation 862/2007 as amended by the Regulation (EU) 2020/851 and the Commission Regulation (EU) No 216/2010 implementing the categories of reasons for residence permits.
See table 15.2. in annex ‘Quality report tables RESPER’.
