This Inform, updated on the basis of national contributions from 28 EMN Member and Observer Countries, provides an overview of recent developments and policy approaches in the field of statelessness, with a cut-off date of 31 October 2025. It forms part of the EMN Platform on Statelessness series, building on previous Informs published in 2016, 2020 and 2023.
27/02/2026
The Antwerp Family Court has annulled the decisions of local civil registry officials that sought to revoke the Belgian nationality of children born in Belgium to Palestinian parents. In five rulings issued on 27 February 2026, the court emphasised that depriving these children of nationality would be contrary to their best interests.
05/01/2026
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.
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17/07/2025
On 27 October 2025 in Luxembourg, stakeholders will gather to discuss how the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum addresses statelessness as a vulnerability. The meeting will focus on early experiences with implementing the new obligations under the Screening and Asylum Procedures Regulations. Organised under the EMN Platform on Statelessness, it will provide space for exchange among national experts, EU agencies, and international organisations.
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23/10/2025
This ad hoc query maps the issuance of travel documents for individuals recognised as stateless across EMN Member and Observer Countries. Information is provided on the type and validity of such documents, as well as on whether recognition as stateless automatically leads to the issuance of a residence permit.
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22/07/2025
The European Pact on Asylum and Migration, adopted in May 2024, introduces binding obligations for EU Member States, including Belgium, on the identification and protection of stateless persons. The Nansen report highlights the specific challenges faced by stateless persons in Belgium and offers key recommendations to ensure their effective access to international protection.
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14/02/2025
The European Network on Statelessness organises an annual webinar to provide participants with a state of play on statelessness in Europe and an opportunity to learn about the latest developments.
03/12/2024
On the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the International Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons, UNHCR and NANSEN organise a study day on statelessness. Particular emphasis will be placed on the rights of stateless persons and the specific procedures applicable in Belgium, in particular the new residence procedure for stateless persons.
28/11/2024
Myria has published the fifth thematic section of its 2024 annual report. In this section, entitled « International protection », Myria pays particular attention inter alia to the new residence procedure for stateless persons. The Federal Migration Centre underlines that the new procedure is subject to strict conditions and that it provides reduced procedural guarantees for stateless persons.
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28/09/2024
As the 1954 Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons celebrates its 70th anniversary on 28 September 2024, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) estimates the number of stateless people worldwide at more than 4 million by the end of 2023.
01/09/2024
The law of 10 March 2024 which creates a residence status as a stateless person in Belgium, comes into force on 1 September 2024. Applications for admission to stay on the grounds of statelessness must now be submitted directly to the Immigration Office by registered mail.
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17/05/2024
This multistakeholder meeting, jointly organized by the Council of Europe and the EMN Luxembourg within the framework of the EMN Platform on Statelessness, will allow participants to share good practices and challenges on topics including the age assessment and best interest of the child; the burden of proof in the special case of children and the access to nationality for children.
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06/12/2023
While a draft law introducing a new right of residence for stateless persons is currently being discussed in Parliament, ENS and Nansen underline that the project has a large number of formal and substantive conditions and reduced procedural guarantees. They conclude that it is not compatible with the obligation to have a fair, effective and accessible procedure for the access of stateless people to their rights.
20/11/2023
Under the endorsement of the EMN Platform on Statelessness, this ad hoc query explores the legal framework and practice of EMN Member Countries to prevent stateless persons from receiving social and healthcare benefits in multiple countries simultaneously.
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11/04/2023
EMN Luxembourg, which chairs the EMN Platform on Statelessness, organizes a technical meeting on access to nationality for stateless persons.
26/04/2023
This EMN Inform updates the 2020 Inform “Statelessness in the EU” and focuses on the implications of statelessness for affected individuals in the EU, Norway and Georgia.
29/01/2020
In de Europese Unie zijn naar schatting 400.000 mensen erkend staatloos of hebben geen vastgestelde nationaliteit (UNHCR, 2018). In 2017 waren er niet minder dan 2.100 staatloze kinderen in Europa geregistreerd. Dit is een verviervoudiging t.o.v. 2010. Hoe stellen EU-lidstaten staatloosheid vast? Wat betekent deze erkenning in de praktijk voor staatloze migranten? Op deze en andere vragen over staatloosheid vindt u een antwoord in deze Inform.
17/11/2017
This progress report describes the activities undertaken and publications released by the EMN Platform on Statelessness, in cooperation with strategic partners, from May 2016 until November 2017.
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30/06/2017
UNHCR developed a practical tool called "Stateless Persons in Detention: A tool for their identification and enhanced protection". The purpose of the instrument is to facilitate identification o persons in the context of detention who may be stateless and to support the achievement of solutions to their predicament.
28/02/2017
The handbook highlights the complex implications of statelessness for individuals, states and societies, with good practices and recommendations aiming to increase engagement and progress in addressing this phenomenon by OSCE participating States.
19/12/2016
The Platform on Statelessness of the European Migration Network, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees and the European Network on Statelessness organized the conference "Addressing Statelessness in the European Union, One year on from the adoption of European Council Conclusions".
01/01/2017
This report of the ‘Institute on Statelessness and Inclusion’ (ISI) explores the urgency of and opportunities for addressing childhood statelessness. Over 50 experts and organizations have contributed material – essays, interviews, photographs and more.
28/11/2016
This EMN Inform examines – inter alia – the state of play of the 1954 and 1961 conventions on statelessness, statelessness determination procedures, rights granted to recognized stateless persons, and the situation of stateless minors in the EU.
18/09/2016
The Hungarian Contact Point of the EMN is organizing this conference to examine different examples of international cooperation to address statelessness.
26/04/2016
This EMN/UNHCR Ireland seminar invites participants to examine both the challenges and advantages associated with establishing a statelessness determination procedure.
