In 2025, the European Union issued approximately 3.9 million first-time residence permits to non-EU citizens, the highest figure recorded since data collection began in 2008. This represents a 10.1% increase compared to 2024. Employment was the primary reason for these permits, accounting for 33.6% of the total, followed by family reunification at 28.1% and education at 15.5%. Spain led the list of issuing nations, followed by Germany, Poland, Italy, and France, which together accounted for over 65% of all permits. Regarding nationalities, Ukrainian, Indian, and Moroccan citizens received the highest number of permits. These annual figures, which exclude those under temporary protection, track new authorizations rather than the total population of foreign residents.