Irregular immigration in the EU: Facts and Figures

Briefing 24-04-2015

Irregular immigrants are third-country nationals who do not fulfil, or no longer fulfil, the conditions of entry as set out in Article 5 of the Schengen Borders Code or other conditions for entry, stay or residence in that Member State. In contrast, asylum-seekers are persons claiming international protection due to the risk of persecution in their home country. For data on asylum-seekers in the EU, please see our Infographic Asylum in the EU: Facts and Figures. The EU’s legal framework for irregular immigration is scattered over many legal instruments. Those which apply at the point of a migrant’s arrival focus on border management, and prevention of irregular immigration through cooperation with countries of origin and transit. For further information, please see our Briefing EU legal framework on asylum and irregular immigration ‘on arrival’.