This Inform, covering developments across 22 EMN Member Countries, as well as Norway and Serbia, explores the use of alternatives to providing in-kind housing for applicants for international protection between January 2020 and October 2025. It examines how such measures were implemented while respecting legal obligations and supporting applicants’ autonomy, addressing their vulnerability, and promoting their integration into society. The Inform focuses on financial allowances and vouchers as alternatives to accommodation provided directly by the state and highlights national approaches and innovative solutions identified across participating countries.

This ad hoc query examines whether EMN Member and Observer Countries experience irregular occupancy within their reception systems. It explores whether countries have mechanisms that allow individuals in the reception system to save part of their income to facilitate access to independent housing, or whether direct financial support is provided. The query also considers whether countries have mechanisms for individuals who unjustifiably refuse to leave the reception system, as well as any financial reimbursement mechanisms for costs incurred when an individual remains irregularly.

This Inform examines how digital services in legal migration procedures are designed and implemented in EMN Member and Observer Countries to ensure accessibility and inclusion for applicants with disabilities and digitally disadvantaged applicants. It looks at how authorities have adapted applications, document submission, appointment booking, communication and information exchange, and case-tracking services in the context of the ongoing digitalisation of legal migration procedures. The analysis is based on contributions from 25 EMN Member and Observer Countries.

This ad hoc query gathers comparative data from EMN Member Countries on the number of citizenships granted annually between 2021 and 2025. It highlights significant disparities in volumes and emerging trends over time, including increases, decreases, or stable patterns. It also provides an overview of the main nationalities acquiring citizenship in selected countries and the different administrative sources used to produce the data.

This ad hoc query examines whether accommodation centres are included in spatial planning regulations in EMN Member and Observer Countries, and whether exceptions apply during periods of significant increases in asylum applications. It also looks at possible exceptions to zoning rules, environmental impact assessments, and the duration of construction and operative permits. Finally, it explores whether countries have formal guidance or standards for establishing such centres, including aspects like room sizes or site location.

This ad hoc query inquires about experiences and practices across EMN Member and Observer Countries when confronted to cases of children born on their territory to an Iraqi mother, and maps provisions in place to prevent these children being born stateless if Iraqi citizenship cannot be passed.

This ad hoc query maps existing legislation and practices across EMN Member and Observer Countries with regard to the determination of the nationality of third-country nationals, including documentation required. Questions are also asked on the registration of nationalities of children born on their territory to third-country national parents.

This ad hoc query maps the status of recognition of Palestine as a sovereign State across EMN Member Countries and the resulting administrative practices regarding statelessness and citizenship for individuals originating from the Palestinian territories. 

This ad hoc query maps EMN Member Countries’ intended waiting periods for access to the labour market following the implementation of the recast Reception Conditions Directive. It aims to provide a comparative overview of planned national approaches under the EU Asylum and Migration Pact.

This ad hoc query maps the use of both language tests and citizenship tests in the requirements to obtain citizenship across EMN Member and Observer Countries. Information is provided on the language levels, topics tested, and institutions responsible for examining applications, with a particular focus on the testing of adherence to the country’s fundamental values.

This ad hoc query examines whether countries have implemented alternatives to provide housing in kind (for instance, financial support) for applicants for international protection between 2020 and 2025, and if so, under which circumstances and for which target group. The query further explores the implementation of such alternatives, such as the systems put in place to ensure the mandatory provision of services (e.g., legal support, healthcare), and the specific measures to support vulnerable groups. Finally, the query examines whether these alternatives were evaluated through an established evaluation system, and if so, what the key results of these evaluations were. 

This ad hoc query examines the approaches taken by EMN Member Countries regarding potential changes to support measures for beneficiaries of temporary protection (BoTPs) with respect to accommodation and social welfare. It examines whether changes were applied retroactively and whether different levels of support persist across groups. The query investigates the existence of differentiated support for vulnerable BoTPs and how vulnerability is defined and assessed. 

This ad hoc query examines where applicants for international protection (and beneficiaries of temporary protection) with special needs are accommodated. When accommodated in regular reception centres, the query explores the services provided in-house and the professionals employed in this regard. When applicants are accommodated in specialised facilities, the placement procedure is examined, including which stakeholders are involved and their respective roles and responsibilities. It also covers how these financial costs are borne.

This Inform examines how international protection applicants and accommodation centres are distributed across 23 EMN Member Countries and Serbia, and how such policies are governed and managed. It compares approaches, criteria and mechanisms used by different countries, highlighting both challenges and good practices. The study also looks at how local communities and stakeholders are informed and engaged in the process. Finally, it identifies opportunities for further collaboration to support effective reception and integration.

This ad hoc query examines whether EMN Member and Observer Countries use mechanisms to verify that applicants are genuinely residing in the allocated accommodation. It explores how these mechanisms are implemented, whether vulnerability criteria are considered, and the rules for determining if accommodation has been abandoned and if residents can challenge such assessments. It also looks into whether these mechanisms have led to legal challenges, particularly regarding data protection.

This ad hoc query explores the legal frameworks and practices of EMN Member Countries to understand how they link reception conditions to whether an asylum seeker is legally employed.

This inform provides insights into the governance and processes of accommodation for applicants for international protection in EMN Member and Observer Countries. This governance of accommodation is crucial for responding to challenges, such as fluctuating asylum applications, limited housing capacity, and community relations.

In its 2023 Annual Report, Fedasil reviews the key events of the year and provides an overview of the reception network for international protection applicants, the resettlement of refugees, and voluntary returns. The report also presents key statistics that offer valuable insights into these areas, helping to illustrate both the challenges faced and the progress made.

This ad hoc query maps the pathways to citizenship in place across EMN Member and Observer countries. The information reported covers the possibility of dual citizenship, the residence, linguistic and economic criteria to obtain citizenship, and the process fees required by responding countries.

This ad hoc query seeks to better understand EMN Member and Observer Countries’ approaches to financial contributions in the context of reception for international protection applicants.

This ad hoc query offers comparative information on citizenship tests as part of the naturalisation process. It examines whether EMN Member and Observer Countries organise a citizenship test in order to acquire nationality, the authority or institution responsible for administering and drafting these tests, the topics covered, the connection between language and citizenship components in these tests, measures or sanctions in place to prevent potential misuse, and fees for participating in citizenship tests.

This ad hoc query offers comparative information on existing legislation on the acquisition of citizenship for new generations. It examines EMN Member and Observer Countries’ changes in legislative developments and regulations since 1 January 2020, the prerequisites and requirements embodied in these changes, and the impact of these changes on the procedure for acquiring citizenship.

Upon Sweden's request, this ad hoc query examines the measures taken in the EMN Member Countries in the context of Article 7.1 of Directive 2013/33/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 June 2013 laying down standards for the reception of applicants for international protection (recast).

This ad hoc query examines the challenges faced by applicants and beneficiaries of international protection in accessing autonomous housing and how EMN Member and Observer Countries organise the provision of support to this group.