Policy Brief 3: Regular migration from Asia to Europe Administrative obstacles, EU countries’ desirability, and policy recommendations

Based on an analysis of 281 semi-structured interviews conducted with aspiring (re)migrants, the findings of this Policy Brief 3 highlight that certain groups of migrants encounter administrative obstacles, which vary depending on the stage of their migration process, the type of migration, and the countries involved—both in terms of origin and destination within the EU. These obstacles significantly impact migrants’ mobility aspirations and can affect their psychological and emotional well-being.

Additionally, many respondents expressed a preference for English-speaking countries and economically developed Asian countries over EU destinations. Based on these insights, this Policy Brief makes three recommendations:

1. Conduct regular evaluations of the application process and the success rates of applicants;
2. Provide official information in English and ensure it is regularly updated; and
3. Reduce restrictions for regular migrants.