EU Issued 6.8% More Study Permits to Foreign Nationals in 2023

Key Takeaways

1. EU residence permits for study purposes increased by 6.8% in 2023, reaching a total of 450,777.
2. Germany issued the most study permits, while Indian nationals were the top recipients.
3. The Netherlands led in intra-corporate transfer permits, with Indians receiving the highest number of these authorisations.

In 2023, EU countries granted 450,777 residence permits to non-EU students and researchers, reflecting a 6.8% rise from the 421,974 permits issued in 2022. According to Eurostat, the EU's statistical office, the number of permits issued for study purposes has risen significantly over the past few years, increasing by 35.9% from 2021, when 331,494 permits were issued.

Indian Nationals Received the Most Study Permits in 2023

In 2023, Indian nationals topped the list of recipients, obtaining 50,308 study and research permits—11.2% of the total. Chinese nationals followed with 46,989 permits (10.4%), and Moroccans received 21,871 permits (4.9%).

The top ten nationalities receiving the most study permits in 2023 included:

- Americans: 20,726 permits (4.6%)
- Turks: 16,972 permits (3.8%)
- Russians: 15,127 permits (3.4%)
- Algerians: 13,321 permits (3%)
- Tunisians: 10,609 permits (2.4%)
- Colombians: 10,289 permits (2.3%)
- Cameroonians: 9,343 permits (2.1%)

These ten countries accounted for 47.8% of all permits issued in 2023.

Germany Issued Nearly a Third of All EU Study Permits in 2023

Germany granted 144,464 study permits to non-EU citizens in 2023, leading the EU in issuing such authorisations. France followed with 116,950 permits (25.9%), and Spain issued 55,436. The Netherlands and Sweden rounded out the top five, with 27,922 and 13,910 permits, respectively. Malta issued the fewest, with fewer than 50 authorisations.

The Netherlands Dominates Intra-Corporate Transfer Permits

In the category of intra-corporate transfers (ICT), the Netherlands accounted for 25.2% of all 10,831 authorisations granted in 2023, issuing 2,725 permits. Germany, Hungary, France, and Spain also issued a significant number of ICT permits. Overall, the EU saw a 2.5% increase in ICT authorisations compared to 2022, with Indian nationals receiving the most (3,886 permits), making up 35.9% of the total. Other major beneficiaries were Chinese, South Korean, British, and American nationals, collectively accounting for 74.1% of all ICT permits.