Publication date: 12 May 2026
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.
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Main theme: Economic migration, Family reunification, Study § Training, Citizenship & Nationality, Borders & Visa
Publication Type: Informs
Keywords: legal migration, digitalisation, accessibility, inclusion
Publication date: 30 April 2026
This ad hoc query examines whether EMN Member Countries allow persons holding a Schengen visa and persons enjoying visa-free travel to apply for a single permit on their territory during their short stay. Additionally, the ad hoc query inquires about different aspects of such procedures as well as possibilities for third-country nationals to obtain a visa for the purpose of seeking employment.
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Main theme: Economic migration, Borders & Visa
Publication Type: Ad Hoc Queries
Keywords: Schengen visa, visa-free travel, single permit, migrant worker
Publication date: 18 January 2026
This ad hoc query provides an overview of which EMN Member and Observer Countries require criminal record certificates in order to issue long-stay visas or residence permits. Details are provided on the categories of third-country nationals exempted from this requirement, the countries from which these certificates are required (country of origin and/or of previous residence), the other types of documents that may be accepted in lieu of a certificate (such as an affidavit), and more.
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Main theme: Economic migration, Family reunification, Study § Training, Borders & Visa
Publication Type: Ad Hoc Queries
Keywords: visa, residence permit, application, criminal record certificate, security
Publication date: 14 December 2025
This ad hoc query, which informed the preparation of an EMN Inform, collected information on how EMN Member and Observer Countries have adapted digital services in legal migration procedures to ensure accessibility and inclusion for applicants with disabilities and digitally disadvantaged applicants. It examined compliance with relevant EU and international frameworks, as well as national legislation. It also explored additional accessibility measures, support for users with special needs, GDPR safeguards, user involvement in service design, and approaches to digital disadvantage, alongside challenges and good practices identified by countries.
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Main theme: Economic migration, Family reunification, Study § Training, Citizenship & Nationality, Borders & Visa
Publication Type: Ad Hoc Queries
Keywords: legal migration, digitalisation, accessibility, inclusion
Publication date: 14 December 2025
Carriers transporting third-country nationals by air, sea, or land to the Schengen area are required to take all necessary measures to ensure that these individuals hold the travel documents needed for entry into the Schengen States. The European Commission has launched three ad hoc queries, each focusing on a specific aspect of carriers’ liability: the framework of sanctions and penalties; responsibility for costs; and cooperation with carriers and control/supervision.
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Main theme: Borders & Visa
Publication Type: Ad Hoc Queries
Keywords: Schengen Agreement, carriers' liability, sanction, penalty, responsibility, supervision, compliance
Publication date: 30 November 2024
This ad hoc query examines national regulations and practices concerning the employment of third-country nationals during short stays or visa-free stays, as well as the procedures in place to issue long-stay D-visas for the purpose of employment.
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Main theme: Economic migration, Borders & Visa
Publication Type: Ad Hoc Queries
Keywords: short-stay visa, long-stay visa, right to work, access to employment
Publication date: 29 November 2024
This ad hoc query examines whether EMN Member Countries issue visas, short-term permits, or temporary authorisations of stay before third-country nationals can receive a residence permit and, if so, which conditions apply and which processes are in place.
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Main theme: Borders & Visa
Publication Type: Ad Hoc Queries
Keywords: application for a residence permit, right of entry
Publication date: 18 July 2024
Many of the applicants for international protection are believed to hold or have held a visa in order to enter the territory, but their number remains unknown. This ad hoc query maps the collection of statistics on migrants who enter the Schengen area legally but who subsequently lodge an asylum application in an EU Member State.
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Main theme: Borders & Visa
Publication Type: Ad Hoc Queries
Keywords: visa, Schengen area, misuse, application for international protection
Publication date: 23 March 2023
This briefing discusses key recent trends and figures and provides an overview of EU policy developments relating to the management of the EU's external borders.
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Main theme: Borders & Visa
Publication Type: Report
Keywords: external border, border management, border security
Publication date: 01 July 2021
This paper provides an overview of EU initiatives on developing and deploying artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to improve border control and border security.
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Main theme: Borders & Visa
Publication Type: Report
Keywords: artificial intelligence, border control, security
Publication date: 29 March 2019
This EMN study aims to identify challenges, best practices and positive experiences in different Member States and Norway on the impact of visa liberalisation. The study covers Western Balkan and Eastern Partnership countries which have successfully concluded visa liberalisation dialogues according to the relevant action plans and roadmaps.
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Main theme: Data & Statistics, Borders & Visa
Publication Type: Thematic Studies
Keywords: visa liberalisation, visa policy
Publication date: 29 May 2018
This publication takes stock of recent EU developments in the area of asylum, borders and external cooperation on migration.
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Main theme: External Dimension, Asylum, Borders & Visa
Publication Type: Study
Keywords: border management, ECAS, external coorperation
Publication date: 15 January 2018
This Inform presents an overview of the EMN Study on “Challenges and practices for establishing the identity of third-country nationals in migration procedures”.
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Main theme: International Protection, Borders & Visa, Return & Readmission
Publication Type: Informs
Keywords: identification
Publication date: 15 January 2018
The Belgian Contact Point of the European Migration Network has published a report on challenges and practices for establishing identity in the migration process. The report served as the Belgian contribution to an EU Synthesis report on the topic, which compares national policies, legislation and practices on the subject in 25 EU Member States and Norway.
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Main theme: International Protection, Borders & Visa, Return & Readmission
Publication Type: Thematic Studies
Keywords: identification
Publication date: 01 December 2017
This EMN Policy Brief examines trends in applications for international protection and irregular movements of third-country national migrants across the EU and Norway. It focuses on the period 2012 - 2016 and – where data is available - up to August 2017. This is an update of the Policy Brief published in December 2015.
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Main theme: International Protection, Borders & Visa, Irregular Migration, Smuggling & Trafficking
Publication Type: Informs
Keywords: asylum applications, asylum decisions, Mediterranean, migratory route, secondary movement
Publication date: 06 April 2017
The Africa-Frontex Intelligence Community (AFIC) Joint Report 2016 analyses the irregular migratory movements affecting AFIC countries and EU Member States, cross-border criminality and provides an overview of the main regional security threats affecting the countries in the community. The report also presents a picture of the smuggling networks in Africa.
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Main theme: Borders & Visa, Smuggling & Trafficking
Publication Type: Report
Keywords: human smuggling, border control, border security, cross-border crime
Publication date: 01 April 2015
The Frontex Annual Risk Analysis (ARA) presents a European summary of trends and developments along the external borders of the Member States of the EU.
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Main theme: Borders & Visa, Irregular Migration
Publication Type: Report
Keywords: entry refusal, illegal border crossing, irregular entry, irregular stay, obligation to leave the territory
Publication date: 07 August 2014
The key task of the Consultative Forum is to provide advice to Frontex on fundamental rights issues. The Annual Report gives an overview of the activities undertaken by the Consultative Forum in 2013 and contains the main recommendations made to Frontex and its Management Board.
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Publication date: 16 July 2014
The annual "activity report" 2013 of the Immigration Office is available.
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Main theme: Migration, Economic migration, Family reunification, Borders & Visa, Irregular Migration, Return & Readmission
Publication Type: Report
Keywords: Immigration Office
Publication date: 02 December 2013
This publication reviews the solidarity measures the EU has established to support those countries most affected by irregular arrivals by sea and focusses on the fundamental rights challenges raised by such measures.
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Main theme: Asylum, Borders & Visa, Irregular Migration
Keywords: Frontex, Mediterranean Transit Migration (MTM), solidarity
Publication date: 14 June 2013
The annual "activity report" 2012 of the Immigration Office is available.
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Publication date: 11 March 2013
Frontex Programme of Work 2013 outlines Frontex's areas of possible activities for the year in question, focusing inter alia on the further development of the EUROSUR system, the operational support to Greece, implementation measures and new structures.
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Main theme: Borders & Visa
Keywords: border control, EUROSUR, external border
Publication date: 03 January 2013
This EMN Inform provides a short overview of the main developments that took place in the EU in 2011 in response to increasing migratory pressure and specifically in relation to the six strategic priority areas of the EU Action on Migratory Pressure.
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Main theme: Borders & Visa, Irregular Migration, Return & Readmission, External Dimension
Publication Type: Informs
Keywords: border management, migration management, mobility partnership, readmission agreement
Publication date: 03 January 2013
This EMN Inform analyzes whether there is a nexus between visa and migration policy in Member States practices, especially relating to long-stay visas.
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Publication date: 26 October 2012
This Synthesis Report summarises the main findings of the National Reports for the EMN Study on Visa Policy as Migration Channel undertaken by EMN National Contact Points from 21 Member States.
