Unaccompanied minors face a double transition: not only from childhood into adulthood, but also, possibly, a change to their status, which can impact on their right to stay, and the extent to which they can access education, housing, employment, services, and support.

The EU acquis does not lay down any guarantees or rights to support the transition to adulthood of unaccompanied minors. As such, the rights and conditions related to unaccompanied minors transitioning into adulthood vary significantly across the EU and Norway.

Among other findings, the EMN Inform notes:

• As regards the status and right to remain on the territory: Unaccompanied minors who have a (temporary) status specifically linked to them being a minor, which exists in half of the Member States and Norway, may no longer have any legal grounds to remain on the territory when turning 18, although in 10 Member States alternative ways exist to regularise their situation.
• With respect to the “ongoing support or aftercare”: Although most Member States do not have a national strategy to support the transition to adulthood for unaccompanied minors, more than half provide some form of ongoing support and services for a limited period after they come of age. This "aftercare" usually involves allowing young adults to remain in their housing, complete their studies, or receive support to enter the labour market. Civil society organisations also play an important role in providing (additional) support, such as language courses, legal, social and/or psychological counselling, transition to adulthood and aftercare services for aged-out minors.
• As regards challenges, Member States and Norway experience similar difficulties in supporting the transition of unaccompanied minors to adulthood, identifying, in particular, the need to improve accommodation for those who turn 18 and the need to level up services and support available to those who have just transitioned into adulthood.
• When it comes to returns, unaccompanied minors are considered "vulnerable persons" under Article 10 of the Return Directive, but they can still receive a return decision before turning 18. Two-thirds of the Member States either do not issue a return decision to unaccompanied minors until they reach adulthood or if they do, they usually do not enforce it until they reach the age of 18.

Additional information, including key points to note and “best practices” can be found in the Inform above.