Romania issued 31,000 temporary residency permits for foreigners in the last three years, when it saw a constant level of migration, according to the Romanian Migration Inspectorate.

The main reasons to migrate to Romania were education – for some 3,000 foreigners a year- family reunion or work. The number of foreigners who came to Romania for the last two reasons has however been going down, according to Emil Niculescu, head of the inspectorate.

Romania came 21st among EU countries targeted by migration. UK was the most attractive country, with 600,000 new foreigners arriving in a year.

Moldovans, Turks and Chinese made the biggest group of migrants in Romania between 2011 and 2013. The country also saw a growing number of Syrians, Afghanis and Iraqis.

Romania ranks midway among EU countries targeted by illegal migration. Most illegal migrants in Greece and Turkey want to enter the EU by sea or land, but these exclude Romania’s territory – they go through Bulgaria, Montenegro, and further through Hungary and Austria, according to the Romanian Migration Inspectorate.

editor@romania-insider.com