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.
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
Germany
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 quarter and calendar year.
6.1. Institutional Mandate - legal acts and other agreements
Agreement between the Federal Ministry of the Interior, the Federal Police, Federal Office for Migration and Refugees, Federal Criminal Police Office.
6.2. Institutional Mandate - data sharing
1) refused entry at the external border = Federal Police.
2) found to be illegally present = Federal Criminal Police Office.
3) ordered to leave = Federal Office for Migration and Refugees.
4) returned following an order to leave = Federal Police and Federal Office for Migration and Refugees.
The upload of the data is in the responsibility of the Federal Police (1 und 2) and the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (3 und 4).
7.1. Confidentiality - policy
Data protection regulations in the authorities prevent misuse of data.
7.2. Confidentiality - data treatment
All data are anonymised.
8.1. Release calendar
Not applicable.
8.2. Release calendar access
Not applicable, see 8.1
8.3. Release policy - user access
Not applicable, see 8.1
Not applicable, see 8.1
10.1. Dissemination format - News release
The are no press releases by German authorities on EIL-statistics.
10.2. Dissemination format - Publications
Not applicable, see 10.1
10.3. Dissemination format - online database
Not applicable, see 10.1
10.3.1. Data tables - consultations
Not applicable.
10.4. Dissemination format - microdata access
Micro-Data are not disseminated.
10.5. Dissemination format - other
There are no other dissemination formats.
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
There are several quality evaluations. Concepts from the different authorities ensure statistical accuracy, e.g. quality assurance measures at several levels, controls by a second person.
11.2. Quality management - assessment
All statistics are on very good quality.
12.1. Relevance - User Needs
As far as is known, the users of the data are satisfied.
12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction
No information available.
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
There is a high accuracy overall.
13.2. Sampling error
Not applicable.
13.2.1. Sampling error - indicators
Not applicable.
13.3. Non-sampling error
Not apllicable.
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
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 applicable.
13.3.5. Model assumption error
Not applicable.
14.1. Timeliness
There is a time span between the event and the availability in the database. But this has usually no influence to the correctness of the statistic.
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
All statistics are comparable between the areas in Germany.
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
There are differences between subannula and annual statistics due to corrections and subsequent deliveries.
15.3.2. Coherence - National Accounts
Not applicable.
15.4. Coherence - internal
Statistics are consistent between the same datasets.
See cost assessment survey.
17.1. Data revision - policy
No need for yearly revisions of data as they are from annual national statistics and created only after final national results are available.
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
Quarterly and annually.
18.3. Data collection
There is a national process for collecting and processing the data on several levels (departments within the authorities) that bring the data together.
18.4. Data validation
EUROSTAT's automatic processes are used. The data are prepared by two people. Data are checked in advance at several levels (departments within the authorities). In addition, the entire dataset is regularly checked for plausibility and coherence.
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.
1 July 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’.
Germany
Calendar quarter and calendar year.
There is a high accuracy overall.
Number of persons.
Not applicable.
See table 18.1. in annex ‘Quality report tables EIL 2024’.
Not applicable, see 8.1
There is a time span between the event and the availability in the database. But this has usually no influence to the correctness of the statistic.
All statistics are comparable between the areas in Germany.
See table 15.2. in annex ‘Quality report tables EIL 2024’.
