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Significant decrease of Albanians with residence permits in Greece, 147 thousand less than a year ago

Significant decrease of Albanians with residence permits in Greece, 147 thousand

The Greek Ministry for Immigration and Asylum says that it registered in February of this year about 277 thousand Albanian citizens with regular residence permits in Greece, from about 424 thousand that were registered in February 2022.

According to official data, Albanians now make up 60% of regular foreigners in Greece from 62.7% a year ago.

According to the Greek Ministry for Immigration and Asylum, the residence permits of citizens of third countries valid in February of this year are a total of about 463 thousand, marking a decrease of 32%, compared to February of 2022. The three main countries of origin of third-country nationals with valid residence permits are Albania with 60.0%, China with 5.0%, followed by Georgia with 4.3%, says the Greek Ministry of Immigration.

Significant decrease of Albanians with residence permits in Greece, 147 thousand

In February 2023, a total of 15,807 residence permit applications were submitted, of which 7,370 were for new residence permits and 8,437 for the renewal of residence permits, with a decrease of 29% compared to February 2022. The Greek authorities have issued 10,232 residence permits, with a decrease of 10% compared to February 2022.

According to the Greek Ministry of Immigration and Asylum, the largest number of new residence permits for applicants filed in the first two months of 2023 in Greece was for citizens from Albania, China and Russia.

Meanwhile, about 13,700 citizens from Albania, members of the Greek minority who have been living and working in Greece for years have the "homogeneous status" and make up 68% of about 20,000 people who have this status of residence.

According to immigration analysts, the significant decrease in the number of regular Albanian immigrants in Greece, especially in the space of one year, is related to many factors. According to analysts, a major factor in the decrease in the number of Albanians in Greece is related to a new tendency of Albanian immigrants who worked and lived for years in Greece to emigrate to other European countries.

The new migration of the second generation has become a phenomenon as many young Albanians are now leaving Greece for countries such as England, Germany, the Netherlands and areas of Northern Europe, after difficulties in Greece with employment and low wages. Meanwhile, other factors of the decrease in the number of Albanians with residence permits are related to the procedures for issuing permits which continue to move slowly, while a category of second-generation Albanian immigrants have benefited from Greek citizenship by no longer applying for residence permits. VOA

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