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
Number of persons.
3.6. Statistical population
See table 3.6. in annex ‘Quality report tables RESPER’.
3.7. Reference area
Estonia.
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
This metadata information is provided by the authorities of Estonia to ensure statistics 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. As required, Member States must report to Eurostat on the data sources used, the reasons for the selection of these sources and the effects of the selected data on the quality of the statistics. Member States shall provide Eurostat with all the information necessary to evaluate the quality, comparability and completeness of the statistical information.
The Police and Border Guard Board is responsible in Estonia for the issuance of residence permits and the registration of the administrative data. At the national level, the relevant field is regulated by the Aliens Act.
6.2. Institutional Mandate - data sharing
On national level, statistics concerning Article 6 of Regulation 862/2007 is shared internally with relevant ministries, organizations etc.
On European level, data is shared with Eurostat and UNHCR.
7.1. Confidentiality - policy
Police and Border Guard Board employees must follow the principles of confidentiality when processing applicant's personal data. Procedural rules, obliged for every user who processes personal data, are set up to define specific actions and rules for access and protection of personal data. Internal rules and guidelines have been established on how to handle personal data.
7.2. Confidentiality - data treatment
Data are published in statistical form only. Microdata are not accessible in any form for external users.
8.1. Release calendar
Data is not published at the national level. These data are disseminated yearly through Eurostat online databases.
8.2. Release calendar access
Not applicable.
8.3. Release policy - user access
Not applicable.
Statistics at national level are updated on the bases of a need. The data is disseminated yearly through Eurostat online databases.
10.1. Dissemination format - News release
Not available.
10.2. Dissemination format - Publications
Not available.
10.3. Dissemination format - online database
Not available.
10.3.1. Data tables - consultations
Not applicable.
10.4. Dissemination format - microdata access
Not available.
10.5. Dissemination format - other
Not available.
10.5.1. Metadata - consultations
Not applicable.
10.6. Documentation on methodology
All the documentation is accordance with the relevant Eurostat guidelines.
10.6.1. Metadata completeness - rate
Not applicable.
10.7. Quality management - documentation
Not available.
11.1. Quality assurance
Compilation of data is following the guidelines and instructions provided by Eurostat. Consistency validation checks are performed.
11.2. Quality management - assessment
Good quality.
12.1. Relevance - User Needs
Users of Eurostat asylum statistics are:
various policy DGs in the European Commission, like DG Migration and Home Affairs for designing, funding and implementing asylum related policies in the EU,
European Parliament,
national authorities (Ministries of Interior, Ministries of Justice, immigration agencies) who use Asylum data to monitor or project the development of their national asylum procedures,
European Migration Network (EMN) which uses the Asylum 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 asylum,
journalists and international organisations in the area of asylum and migration.
12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction
No measures 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
The overall assessment of the accuracy of the data collection is considered to be high.
13.2. Sampling error
Not applicable.
13.2.1. Sampling error - indicators
Not applicable.
13.3. Non-sampling error
There are no coverage errors and no nonresponse errors.
13.3.1. Coverage error
There is no difference between the frame population and the target population. There is no under-coverage or over-coverage.
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
There are no processing errors.
13.3.5. Model assumption error
Not applicable.
14.1. Timeliness
The first data can be reported in 30 days at the earliest 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 statistics are comparable between all regions of Estonia, 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 RESPER’.
15.2.1. Length of comparable time series
Not applicable.
15.3. Coherence - cross domain
No available information.
15.3.1. Coherence - sub annual and annual statistics
The sub annual (monthly or quarterly) and annual statistics are coherent.
15.3.2. Coherence - National Accounts
Not applicable.
15.4. Coherence - internal
The statistics are internally coherent, they are produced from one source database.
Residence permit statistics are based on administrative data. Their production does not require any special costs or burden.
17.1. Data revision - policy
No data revision policy.
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
Monthly.
18.3. Data collection
Police and Border Guard Board collects data on monthly basis using a data warehouse. The basis for data collection is an application form, which the applicant completes and which is then entered into the information 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
The collected data is converted into statistical output. Estimations are not used.
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.
1 September 2025
See table 3.4. in annex ‘Quality report tables RESPER’.
Number of persons.
See table 3.6. in annex ‘Quality report tables RESPER’.
Estonia.
Calendar year.
The overall assessment of the accuracy of the data collection is considered to be high.
Number of persons.
The collected data is converted into statistical output. Estimations are not used.
See table 18.1. in annex ‘Quality report tables RESPER’.
Statistics at national level are updated on the bases of a need. The data is disseminated yearly through Eurostat online databases.
The first data can be reported in 30 days at the earliest after the end of the reference period.
The statistics are comparable between all regions of Estonia, there is only one national system of accumulating and processing the data.
See table 15.2. in annex ‘Quality report tables RESPER’.
