Responses to long-term irregularly staying migrants: practices and challenges in the EU and Norway

Long-term irregular stay poses significant challenges for migrants and governments, affecting access to services, social cohesion, public trust and the credibility of migration systems. Addressing it requires balanced, humane and coherent policy approaches.
The publication examines how EMN Member and Observer Countries respond to long-term irregular residence, covering access to basic services, regularization pathways, return strategies and governance structures between 2015 and 2020. It highlights legal uncertainty, data gaps and differing national approaches, alongside promising initiatives at local and national levels. The analysis aims to support evidence-informed policymaking in this sensitive field.