Overview on several European countries

Here you will find some short overviews on the particular situation in several European countries:

Austria > Overview

Chances of getting asylum in Austria depend a lot on your migration history and the preparation of your asylum application. Austria is executing Dublin II and other deportations. Police controls are taking place on trains, in public areas (streets, plazas) as well as in traffic hotspots like train stations. Even though there are strict controls, some people are able to cross through Austria to another country.

Denmark > Overview

Getting residence permit in Denmark is not easy. It is possible to obtain residence permit through work and study, but that require high skills and can be very costly. There is also the possibility of family reunification and residency on the basis of humanitarian reasons (if you are very ill). Apart from this applying for asylum is the only way of getting residence permit in Denmark for people outside the European Union. This overview introduces the current political situation relevant for asylum seekers and undocumented migrants.

France > Overview

As in most European countries, the French government wants to limit legal immigration and access to the right of residence for foreigners. His policy is more restrictive, and the administration tends to go beyond legal restrictions and to put additional barriers in access to rights.

Germany > Overview

Usually refugees or non-EU migrants are able to obtain temporary or permanent residence in Germany by applying for asylum or marriage. It’s more or less impossible – except for a few highly qualified experts and specialists – to get papers concluding a labour contract.

Hungary > Overview

For many refugees and migrants Hungary is a transit country to Central and Northern Europe. Crossing the border (in the east via Ukraine, in the south from Greece via Serbia) a serious risk of illegal push-back (“refoulement”) is given, even if a person applies for asylum. A high percentage tries to continue the journey after having been registered. Many are later deported back to Hungary under the Dublin Regulation. In fact, the recognition rates for single groups (in particular Somalis) tend to be high in comparison to other European countries. This is, however, contrasted by the harsh social conditions.

Spain > Overview

Since 2006 ninety percent less migrants have been coming to Spain than in previous years. This is due to the drastic control at the external borders, as well as to the agreements Spain concluded with African countries to prevent people from immigrating.

Sweden > Overview

Migrants from non-European countries can only get a Swedish residence permit either by asylum application or invoke the rules regarding attachment to close relatives. Since the Labour Immigration Law is very strict it’s almost impossible for unskilled workers coming from outside the European Union to get residence permit.

Ukraine > Overview

For most refugees and migrants from Asia and Africa Ukraine is mainly a transit-station on their way to other European countries. For migrants from Usbekistan or Moldova (and other citiznes of former soviet union) Ukraine is also a country to find labour.

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