The emigration rate of Albanian citizens to European Union countries has accelerated in recent years, as reflected by the high number of residence permits issued by EU member states. According to the latest Eurostat data, approximately 75,000 residence permits were granted to Albanian citizens in 2023. The year before, 79,200 permits had been issued, marking a slight revision from previous reports, with an increase of around 4,000 additional permits.
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These numbers represent the highest levels since 2010, indicating a post-pandemic surge in emigration. In the period between 2022 and 2023, a total of 154,000 first-time residence permits were issued to Albanians. Many of these emigrants are securing work contracts, especially in countries like Germany, where the permit approval process is faster than it used to be, compared to previous years when many Albanians entered EU countries without proper documentation.
Since 2008, Eurostat reports that around 920,000 Albanians have received first-time residence permits in the EU. This mass emigration is one of the key drivers behind the sharp decline in Albania’s population. The most recent census by INSTAT revealed that the country’s population has decreased by 420,000 people compared to the previous census in 2011, leaving Albania with a current population of just 2.4 million.
Between 2011 and 2023 alone, approximately 660,000 Albanians obtained first-time residence permits in the EU, according to Eurostat. This trend highlights how emigration has profoundly impacted Albania’s demographic landscape.
Residence Permits in Europe: A Growing Trend
Eurostat data reveals that more than 3.7 million first-time residence permits were issued in the EU to non-EU citizens in 2023, representing a 4.7% increase compared to 2022 and the highest number recorded to date.
Employment remained the primary reason for issuing residence permits, accounting for 33.8% (1.3 million) of all permits in 2023. However, this marked a modest decline compared to 2022 (-0.4%, or -4,662 permits). Family reunification was the second most common reason, representing 26.4% (986,453) of all residence permits, a 6.4% increase (+58,943 permits) from 2022.
Other reasons, including international protection, made up a similar proportion at 25.6% (956,646 permits), with a 5.3% increase (+48,406 permits). Education accounted for 14.3% (534,558 permits), the largest overall increase at 13.5% (+63,674 permits).
In 2023, the highest number of first-time residence permits were issued to Ukrainian citizens (307,313), followed by Belarusian (281,279) and Indian citizens (207,966). This surge highlights the broader trend of non-EU migration into the European Union, driven by various factors including employment, family reunification, and international protection.