If you would like to receive the quarterly list of EMN ad hoc queries, please send us an email at emn@ibz.be.
Publication date: 28 April 2025
This ad hoc query compares the existing legislation in EMN Member and Observer Countries regarding the granting of protection statuses to family members of beneficiaries of international protection, as well as recent changes in practices in light of the regime change in Syria.
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Main theme: International Protection, Family reunification
Publication Type: Ad Hoc Queries
Keywords: application for family reunification, Syria, protection status, suspension, decision-making
Publication date: 17 April 2025
This ad hoc query explores how EMN Member and Observer Countries support legally residing migrant children (third-country nationals) in adapting to the cultural environment of primary and secondary schools. It focuses on national measures, including language support, teacher training, targeted initiatives, and the use of specific educational tools. It also examines challenges, good practices, and whether countries monitor migrant children's academic performance.
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Main theme: Integration, Vulnerable groups
Publication Type: Ad Hoc Queries
Keywords: migrant child, school performance, adaptation, language learning
Publication date: 11 April 2025
This ad hoc query, launched by the Finnish National Contact Point of the EMN, explores whether and how EMN Member and Observer Countries measure the efficiency of their international protection procedures. It looks in particular at indicators such as the number of interviews conducted per full-time equivalent (FTE), the average length of these interviews, and the number of decisions issued per FTE. It also considers the tools used for these assessments and the actors responsible for carrying them out.
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Main theme: International Protection
Publication Type: Ad Hoc Queries
Keywords: international protection procedure, efficiency, interview, asylum decisions
Publication date: 10 April 2025
This ad hoc query, which informed the preparation of an EMN Inform, collected information on how Member and Observer Countries organise vocational education and training (VET) for applicants and beneficiaries of international protection. It covers programme structures, admission conditions, support measures, incentives, obligations, and the recognition of prior skills, as well as good practices and key challenges in delivering VET.
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Main theme: Integration, International Protection
Publication Type: Ad Hoc Queries
Keywords: labour market integration, vocational education, vocational training, applicant for international protection, beneficiary of international protection
Publication date: 03 April 2025
This ad hoc query, launched by EMN Belgium, explores whether authorities in EMN Member Countries are permitted to search the electronic devices of irregularly staying third-country nationals in the context of return. It examines the legal conditions under which such searches may take place, the categories of individuals concerned, the availability of related statistics, and the perceived impact on identification processes. The query also invites information on challenges encountered and any planned legislative developments in this area.
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Main theme: Return & Readmission
Publication Type: Ad Hoc Queries
Keywords: irregularly staying third-country national, identification, search, electronic device
Publication date: 20 March 2025
This ad hoc query examines the initiatives in place across EMN Member and Observer Countries to encourage employers to participate in the integration of their employees.
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Main theme: Integration
Publication Type: Ad Hoc Queries
Keywords: foreign workers, language course, civic integration course
Publication date: 07 March 2025
This ad hoc query examines the voluntary return procedures for Ukrainian nationals granted temporary protection in EU Member States, focusing on the support provided for their return and reintegration. The aim is to understand the various national approaches to facilitating voluntary returns, including whether reintegration assistance is offered and how these programmes are funded.
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Main theme: Temporary protection, Return & Readmission
Publication Type: Ad Hoc Queries
Keywords: beneficiary of temporary protection, voluntary return, reintegration, Ukraine
Publication date: 06 March 2025
This ad hoc query investigates how healthcare services for applicants for international protection are organised in EMN Member and Observer Countries. It examines which authorities are responsible for providing such services, who covers the costs, and what types of services adult applicants are entitled to. It also explores how applicants access medical treatment, whether reception centres have healthcare personnel on staff, and how healthcare services are managed during a mass influx of migrants.
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Main theme: International Protection
Publication Type: Ad Hoc Queries
Keywords: applicant for international protection, access to healthcare
Publication date: 27 February 2025
This ad hoc query examines the obligation imposed on Member States to make an audio recording of the personal interview of applicants for international protection, as outlined in the Pact on Migration and Asylum. It explores the means currently used by some EMN Member Countries to record, store, and transmit recordings of personal interviews, as well as how others intend to implement this obligation in the future.
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Main theme: International Protection
Publication Type: Ad Hoc Queries
Keywords: asylum procedure, procedure for international protection, personal interview, recording
Publication date: 16 February 2025
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.
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Main theme: Reception
Publication Type: Ad Hoc Queries
Keywords: reception centre, reception facility, presence monitoring
Publication date: 05 January 2025
This ad hoc query examines how EMN Member and Observer Countries use service providers for return and reintegration services. It covers whether countries manage operations directly or rely on service providers, details on contracts and procurement methods used, and how they assess European Procurement Regulations when choosing procurement approaches, including any exceptions justifying direct contracts.
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Main theme: Return & Readmission
Publication Type: Ad Hoc Queries
Keywords: return, reintegration, outsourcing, procurement
Publication date: 05 January 2025
This ad hoc query maps the existence of language requirements prior to entry for family members of beneficiaries of international protection. Responding countries also report on experiences with pre-entry language requirements for other categories of residence permits, when applicable.
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Main theme: Family reunification
Publication Type: Ad Hoc Queries
Keywords: application for family reunification, beneficiary of international protection, language requirement, language learning
Publication date: 03 January 2025
This ad hoc query looks into the time limit within which an administrative authority may detain, without judicial review, an applicant for international protection or an irregularly staying third-country national who is subject to return.
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Main theme: Return & Readmission
Publication Type: Ad Hoc Queries
Keywords: detention, judicial review, applicant for international protection, irregularly staying third-country national
Publication date: 21 December 2024
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.
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Main theme: Reception
Publication Type: Ad Hoc Queries
Keywords: material reception condition, reduction, withdrawal, sufficient financial resources
Publication date: 19 December 2024
This ad hoc query examines the existence of national initiatives across EMN Member and Observer Countries to support parents of allophone children to navigate the schooling system in order to improve their children’s academic success and overall integration in their host society.
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Main theme: Integration
Publication Type: Ad Hoc Queries
Keywords: allophone child, parent, parental involvement, school
Publication date: 12 December 2024
This ad hoc query examines whether EMN Member Countries structurally involve third-country nationals in the development of migration policies at the national level. If so, it investigates in which areas, at what point and how such consultations take place. It aims to gain insight into lessons learnt in organising migrant involvement in the policy development.
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Main theme: Migration
Publication Type: Ad Hoc Queries
Keywords: migration policy, migrant involvement, consultation
Publication date: 06 December 2024
This ad hoc query looks into which countries verify that the sponsor who applies for family reunification is not a threat to public order when examining the application for family reunification.
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Main theme: Family reunification
Publication Type: Ad Hoc Queries
Keywords: application for family reunification, sponsor, threat to public order
Publication date: 03 December 2024
This ad hoc query maps the schemes in place across EMN Member and Observer Countries to issue residence permits for so-called “digital nomads”, or persons who work remotely for an employer registered outside of their country of residence. Emphasis is placed on the issue of the use of forged documents in the applications for such permits.
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Main theme: Economic migration, Irregular Migration
Publication Type: Ad Hoc Queries
Keywords: residence permit, digital nomad, forged document
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: 24 October 2024
This ad hoc query examines the validity period of the first and subsequent residence permits for refugee protection and subsidiary protection in the EMN Member Countries.
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Main theme: International Protection
Publication Type: Ad Hoc Queries
Keywords: beneficiary of international protection, residence permit, document validity
Publication date: 18 October 2024
This ad hoc query examines the fees paid by third-country nationals for specific residence permits, and the rationale behind these fees. Additionally, it investigates the costs associated with children of third-country nationals applying for citizenship alongside their parents, as well as the fees charged for aliens’ passports.
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Publication date: 17 October 2024
This ad hoc query examines whether the legislation of the responding EMN Member Countries allows employment agencies to hire third-country nationals on behalf of their clients. Where this is allowed, the query further investigates the legal framework that enables it, as well as how these agencies are monitored and what restrictions are in place to prevent potential misuse.
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Main theme: Economic migration
Publication Type: Ad Hoc Queries
Keywords: employment agency, recruitment agency, safeguard, exploitation, labour inspection
Publication date: 10 October 2024
This ad hoc query examines the types and amounts of fees that EMN Member and Observer Countries impose in relation to the granting and issuance of residence permits. It also examines whether the fees are charged for the submission of an application, regardless of the outcome, or for the granting or issuance of a residence permit.
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Publication date: 06 October 2024
This ad hoc query examines whether the EMN Member Countries implement a labour market test to regulate the employment of third-country nationals. Where a labour market test is implemented, details are provided on the procedure, the exemptions, the criteria for a negative decision, and the possible challenges.
