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 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
All data explicilty refer to the number of persons
3.6. Statistical population
See table 3.6. in annex ‘Quality report tables RESPER’.
3.7. Reference area
Germany
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
Compilation of statistics on residence permits is based on Article 6 of Regulation (EC) No 862/2007 and amending Regulation (EU) 2020/852, which depicts in detail the data provisions Member States are bound to supply Eurostat with.
Statistics on migration are processed by the central register of foreigners.
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
Ther german Immigration service treats personal information in line with the general data protection regulation
Data checks and data validation are performed regularly. The Statistical Unit is in constant contact with the specialist offices for consultation on suspicious/unusual registrations (outliers or obvious mistakes such as a negative age) and feedback on the plausibility of the numbers.
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 (Ministries of Interior, Ministries of Justice, immigration agencies) 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
No user satisfaction surveys
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
The only errors can come from recording errors (erroneous variable, alte registrations or missing data).
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
For the yearly data the german central register of foreigners performs a data freeze on the 31st of december and after a period of data checks they are sent to Eurostat.
Residence permits statistics covered by Article 6 is supplied to Eurostat within six months of the end of the reference year.
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
As there are different definitions of which title counts to which category across institutions data isnt always comparable. As AZR provides data to different institutions it is not possible to assess how those institutions might define the titles.
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
Checks are performed to ensure coherence.
Not applicable.
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
Data are collected regularly(end of each month). The data is collected at all times but only updated in the AZR when the month changes
18.3. Data collection
The source of the data is AZR which contains data from the central register of foreigners. This data is collected from over 700 local institutions in germany that provide services for foreigners in germany.
18.4. Data validation
Data is validated annually and checked if it is consistent with the guidelines.
18.5. Data compilation
All processes are according to guidelines. For each table the required records are extracted.
18.5.1. Imputation - rate
Not applicable.
18.6. Adjustment
There are no adjustments.
18.6.1. Seasonal adjustment
No statistical technique applied.
Due to adjustments in the data basis Data for Resper 1, 2, 3 and 4 have been revised for the years 2019-2023. with the extraction date being 30 June 2024.
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.
16 March 2025
See table 3.4. in annex ‘Quality report tables RESPER’.
All data explicilty refer to the number of persons
See table 3.6. in annex ‘Quality report tables RESPER’.
Germany
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’.
There are no national regular publications from the central register of foreigners on any data. Eurostat dissemination yearly (on ESTAT website).
Other dataproviders in germany might have regular publications.
For the yearly data the german central register of foreigners performs a data freeze on the 31st of december and after a period of data checks they are sent to Eurostat.
Residence permits statistics covered by Article 6 is supplied to Eurostat within six months of the end of the reference year.
As there are different definitions of which title counts to which category across institutions data isnt always comparable. As AZR provides data to different institutions it is not possible to assess how those institutions might define the titles.
See table 15.2. in annex ‘Quality report tables RESPER’.
