Detailed data on the number of migrants residing in Greece, residence permits, migration flows and asylum applications, among others, has been released by the Ministry of Migration and Asylum.

In particular, it is recorded that 748,709 immigrants legally resided in Greece until February 2023, marking a slight decrease compared to six months ago. (In August 2022 the corresponding number was 754,862 people).

Of these, 30% are EU citizens and expatriates, 62% are third-country nationals with a valid residence permit, and 8% are beneficiaries of international protection (refugee status or subsidiary protection) with active Single Type Residence Permits (USPRs).

Regarding the migration flows from Ukraine, due to the Russian invasion, in total, until 28/2/2023, 23,661 online applications have been submitted and 22,279 Temporary Protection Permits have been issued.

Residence permits

The residence permits of third-country nationals valid in February 2023 total 463,177, showing a decrease of 32% compared to February 2022 and 0.46% compared to January 2023.

The top three countries of origin of third-country nationals with valid residence permits are Albania with a percentage of 60.0%, China with 5.0% and followed by Georgia with a percentage of 4.3%.

In February 2023, a total of 15,807 claims were filed (7,370 initial grant and 8,437 renewals) down 19% compared to January 2023 and compared to the corresponding claims filed in February 2022 also down 29%.

Also, 10,232 residence permits were issued, down 6% compared to January 2023 and also down 10% compared to February 2022.

Strong Investor Licenses

The total permanent investor residence permits (initial and renewals) valid in February 2023 amount to 11,884. 10,105 (percentage 85%) concern initial grants and 1,779 (percentage 15%) concern renewals.

The main country of origin of investors in our country are Chinese nationals, at a rate of 62.5%, followed by much smaller numbers by Turkish (6.6%) and Lebanese (4.6%) nationals.

Migration flows

Migratory flows in February 2023 are shown to have decreased by 49% compared to January of the same year, reaching 841.

In particular, in terms of their distribution, there is a 53% decrease in the Outpost in Evros and 49% overall in the islands.

Returns

In the same period, 448 third-country nationals were returned to their countries of origin. In more detail, these are 168 forced returns, 49 voluntary, 226 through the International Organization for Migration as well as five involving unaccompanied minors, thus forming a ratio of departures to arrivals of 53:100.

Inland transport

At the same time, 699 transfers were made from the islands to the mainland, showing an increase of 104%, compared to the corresponding month of 2022.

Residents in ministry structures

In total, those residing in structures of the Ministry of Immigration and Asylum in the Territory for February 2023 amount to 13,798, from 29,071 in February 2022 and 14,766 in January 2023. Of these, 4,438 people resided on the islands, showing a decrease of 8% compared to in January, while 9,622 asylum seekers resided in the hinterland, a number reduced by 5% compared to January 2023.

Looking at the distribution of residents for February 2023 compared to February 2022, there is a 35% decrease in Structures, a 54% increase in Closed Controlled Island Structures, a 75% decrease in the Prison and a 416% increase in K.Y.T. of the hinterland, in which the K.Y.T. Diavata and Malakasa. In relation to January, a 10% decrease is recorded in Structures and a marginal increase of 0.06% in K.Y.T./K.E.D.

Finally, it is underlined that throughout the territory, the residents of the Structures and the K.Y.T./K.E.D. they are on average 0.13% of the population based on the 2021 census and at the same time, in all Regions of the country they are below 0.15% with the exception of the Regions of the North Aegean (1.58%), Epirus ( 0.48%), the South Aegean (0.34%) and Central Greece (0.30%).

Asylum Requests

There is also a decrease in asylum requests, which reach 2,912 for February, with 82% of them referring to initial requests. The decrease reaches a total of 30.5% compared to January and is found both in the initial requests (-31%) and in the later ones (-29%).

At the same time, for February 2023 alone, 148 asylum applications were filed by unaccompanied minors, which is a 42% decrease compared to January 2023.

In the first two months of 2023, the majority of asylum seekers came from Afghanistan (13.8%), Pakistan (13.0%), Palestine (10.1%), Syria (7.3%) and Egypt 6.0%. Of the total of 7,103 asylum requests filed in the first two months of 2023, 76% are men and 24% women. 22% are minors (11.8% are under 13), 60% come from the 18-34 age group and 18% from the 35-64 age group.

Final Acts in first and second grade and pending

In terms of the type of decision, the asylum seekers who have received a positive decision in the first and second degree in the first two months of 2023 amount to a total of 2,249 (Palestine (31.6%), Afghanistan (15.2%), Iraq ( 14.2%), Syria (7.4%) and Somalia (5.5%)). The percentages of men and women amount to 70% and 30% respectively. Also, 29% concern minors, 59% come from the 18-34 age group and 12% from the 35-64 age group.

In particular, in the first two months of 2022, a total of 114 unaccompanied minors have received a positive decision in the first degree, coming from Afghanistan (43%), Somalia (34%) and Syria (6%).

In February 2023, the 3,572 first-degree final acts are broken down into 25% positive decisions, 41% negative and 34% cessation acts, resignations and case filings. As far as second degree actions are concerned, out of the 1,881, 6.5% concern positive decisions, 91.0% negative and 2.5% vacations, resignations and filings.

In terms of backlogs, there is a total reduction of 40% in February 2023 compared to February 2022 (98% reduction in pre-registrations, 39% in first degree decisions and 8% in second degree decisions). In the comparison of February 2023 with January 2023, there is a change in the total pending cases of -5% and in detail the pending cases of pre-registrations showed a reduction of 65%, first grade decisions 3% and second grade decisions 10%

Appeals and Pending

Overall, in terms of appeals, they appear reduced by 8.2% for the first two months of 2023 (2,669 appeals filed) compared to the appeals filed in the first two months of 2022, with the main countries of origin being Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan. The average time for issuing second degree decisions is 90 days from the day of filing and 52 days from the day of examination.

The backlogs that remain until 28/02/2023 amount to 4,434, they concern appeals that were examined from March 2022 to February 2023 (2,581 pending cases) or will be examined until June 2023 (1,853 pending cases) and show a decrease of 10% in relation to January 2023.