Glossary
The EMN Glossary – as one of the key products of the EMN - improves comparability by enabling a common understanding and use of terms and definitions relating to asylum and migration. The Glossary draws on a variety of sources, but primarily on the legislation of the EU asylum and immigration acquis, and makes terms available in the majority of EU Member State languages.
The online version is regularly updated and available in various languages.
- BG: събиране на семейство
- CZ: sloučení rodiny
- DE: Familienzusammenführung
- EE: perekonna taasühinemine
- EN: family reunification
- ES: reagrupación familiar
- FI: perheenyhdistäminen
- FR: regroupement familial
- GA: athaontú teaghlaigh
- GR: οικογενειακή επανένωση
- HU: családegyesítés
- IT: ricongiungimento familiare
- LT: šeimos susijungimas
- LV: ģimenes apvienošana / ģimenes atkalapvienošana
- MT: Riunifikazzjoni tal-familja
- NL: gezinshereniging
- NO: familiegjenforening (b) / familiegjenforeining (n)
- PL: łączenie rodzin
- PT: reagrupamento familiar
- RO: re?ntregirea familiei, reunificarea familiei
- SE: familjeåterförening
- SK: zlúčenie rodiny
- SL: združevanje družine
a) the entry into and residence in an EU Member State, in accordance with Council Directive 2003/86/EC (Family Reunification Directive), by family members of a third-country national residing lawfully in that EU Member State (‘sponsor’) in order to preserve the family unit, whether the family relationship arose before or after the entry of the sponsor; or
b) between an union citizen and third-country national established outside the European Union who then subsequently enters the European Union.
2. In FR, ‘réunification familiale’ is only used when referring to family members of beneficiaries of international protection.
Part (b): Developed by EMN
- BG: създаване на семейство
- CZ: sloučení rodiny
- DE: Familienangehöriger
- EE: pere loomise eesmärgil riiki sisenemine (dažniausiai vartojamo išversto termino nėra)
- EN: family member
- ES: Miembro de la familia
- FI: perheenmuodostaminen
- FR: membre de la famille
- GA: foirmiú teaghlaigh
- GR: μέλος οικογένειας
- HU: családalapítás
- IT: componente familiare
- LT: šeimos narys
- LV: ģimenes apvienošana / ģimenes atkalapvienošana
- MT: Membru tal-familja
- NL: gezinslid
- NO: familiedannelse (b) / familiedanning (n)
- PL: założenie rodziny
- PT: membros da familia
- RO: membru de familie
- SE: familjebildning
- SK: založenie rodiny
- SL: ustanovitev družine
In the context of the Family Reunification Directive (Directive 2003/86(EC), a third-country national, as specified in Art. 4 of this Directive (normally members of the nuclear family – i.e. the spouse and the minor children), who has entered the territory of the European Union for the purpose of family reunification.
In the context of the Free Movement Directive (Directive 2004/38 EC):
(a) the spouse;
(b) the partner with whom the union citizen has contracted a registered partnership, on the basis of the legislation of a EU Member State, if the legislation of the host Member State treats registered partnerships as equivalent to marriage and in accordance with the conditions laid down in the relevant legislation of the host Member State;
(c) the direct descendants who are under the age of 21 or are dependants and those of the spouse or partner as defined in point (b);
(d) the dependent direct relatives in the ascending line and those of the spouse or partner as defined in point (b).
In the context of asylum , and in particular Regulation (EU) No 604/2013 (Dublin III Regulation), this means insofar as the family already existed in the country of origin, the following members of the applicant’s family who are present on the territory of the EU Member States:
a) the spouse of the applicant or their unmarried partner in a stable relationship, where the law or practice of the EU Member State concerned treats unmarried couples in a way comparable to married couples under its law relating to third-country nationals;
b) the minor children of couples referred to in the first indent or of the applicant, on condition that they are unmarried and regardless of whether they were born in or out of wedlock or adopted as defined under national law;
c) when the applicant is a minor and unmarried, the father, mother or another adult responsible for the applicant, whether by law or by the practice of the Member State where the adult is present;
d) when the beneficiary of international protection is a minor and unmarried, the father, mother or another adult responsible for them whether by law or by the practice of the Member State where the beneficiary is present.
Family reunification: Recital 9 and Art. 4 of Council Directive 2003/86/EC (Family Reunification Directive)
Free movement Art. 2(2) of Directive 2004/38/EC (Free Movement Directive)
- BG: миграция с цел създаване или събиране на семейство
- CZ: rodinná migrace
- DE: Familienmigration
- EE: pereränne
- EN: family migration
- ES: migración por motivos familiares
- FI: perheperusteinen maahanmuutto
- FR: migration pour des raisons familiales
- GA: imirce teaghlaigh
- GR: οικογενειακή μετανάστευση
- HU: családegyesítési célú migráció / családegyesítés
- IT: migrazione familiare
- LT: šeimos migracija
- LV: ģimenes migrācija
- MT: Migrazzjoni għal raġunijiet ta’ familja
- NL: gezinsmigratie
- NO: familiemigrasjon
- PL: migracja rodzinna
- PT: migração familiar
- RO: migraţia în scopul reîntregirii familiei
- SE: familjemigration
- SK: migrácia z rodinných dôvodov
- SL: družinska migracija
In the EU context, a concept which refers explicitly to family reunification and family formation.
EU context: Developed by EMN
- BG: член на семейство
- CZ: rodinný příslušník
- DE: Familienbildung
- EE: perekonnaliige
- EN: family formation
- ES: formación de la familia
- FI: perheenjäsen
- FR: constitution de la famille
- GA: duine muinteartha
- GR: vertimo nėra
- HU: családtag
- IT: familiare
- LT: šeimos kūrimas
- LV: ģimenes loceklis
- MT: Kompożizzjoni / Tiswira tal-familja
- NL: gezinsvorming
- NO: familiemedlem
- PL: członek rodziny
- PT: reagrupamento familiar
- RO: reîntregirea familiei
- SE: familjemedlem
- SK: rodinný príslušník / člen rodiny
- SL: družinski član
1. This term is specific to some EU Member States, particularly BE, NL, SE. In UK, this relates to the formation of family between a UK national and a third-country national only.
2. In other EU Member States, family formation is covered under family reunification.
Developed by EMN
- BG: семейно ядро
- CZ: jádro rodiny
- DE: Kernfamilie
- EE: tuumikperekond
- EN: nuclear family
- ES: familia nuclear
- FI: ydinperhe
- FR: famille nucléaire
- GA: teaghlach núicléach
- GR: πυρήνας Οικογένειας
- HU: nukleáris család
- IT: famiglia nucleare
- LT: šeimos branduolys
- LV: nukleārā ģimene
- MT: Familja nukleari
- NL: kerngezin
- NO: kjernefamilie
- PL: rodzina nuklearna
- PT: núcleo familiar
- RO: familie nucleară
- SE: kärnfamilj
- SK: užšia rodina
- SL: osnovna družina
The spouse and the minor children of a family.
This definition refers specifically to the context of family reunification only.
- BG: невярна декларация за родителство
- CZ: falešné prohlášení rodičovství
- DE: falsche Erklärung der Elternschaft / falsche Elternschaftsangabe
- EE: põlvnemise kohta valeandmete esitamine
- EN: false declaration of parenthood
- ES: declaraciÓn falsa de paternidad / maternidad
- FI: valheellinen vanhemmuuden ilmoittaminen
- FR: fausse déclaration de parentalité
- GA: bréagdhearbhú tuismíochta
- HU: hamis szülői nyilatkozat
- IT: falsa dichiarazione di filiazione
- LT: melagingas tėvystės pripažinimas
- LV: vecāku statusa viltus reģistrēšana
- MT: Dikjarazzjoni falza ta’ maternità u / jew paternità
- NL: valse ouderschapsverklaring
- NO: falsk vedgåelse av foreldreskap (b) / falsk vedgåing av foreldreskap (n)
- PL: fałszywe oświadczenie o uznaniu rodzicielstwa
- PT: falsas declarações parentesco
- RO: declaraţie de paternitate falsă
- SE: osant intygande om föräldraskap
- SK: falošné prehlásenie rodičovstva
- SL: lažna izjava o starševstvu
- BG: лице на издръжка
- CZ: rodinný příslušník (osoba blízká, osoba závislá)
- DE: zuzugsberechtigter Familienangehöriger
- EE: ülalpeetav
- EN: dependant
- ES: dependiente
- FI: huollettava
- FR: personne à charge
- GA: cleithiúnaí
- GR: συντηρούμενο / εξαρτώμενο μέλος
- HU: eltartott
- IT: persona a carico
- LT: išlaikomas asmuo
- LV: apgādājamais
- MT: Persuna dipendenti
- NL: afhankelijk gezinslid (very narrow: „persoon ten laste”)
- NO: forsørget person (b) / forsørgd person (n)
- PL: osoba pozostająca na utrzymaniu
- PT: dependente / pessoa a cargo
- RO: dependent
- SE: anhörig
- SK: závislá osoba
- SL: vzdrževanec
A person who has filed an application for family reunification and who is granted entry and residence by the Member State to stay with a legally resident family member or other.
- BG: верижна миграция
- CZ: řetězová migrace
- DE: Kettenmigration
- EE: ahelränne
- EN: chain migration
- ES: cadena migratoria
- FI: ketjumaahanmuutto
- FR: migration en chaîne
- GA: imirce shlabhrúil
- GR: αλυσίδα μετανάστευση
- HU: lánc-migráció
- IT: catena migratoria
- LV: ķēdes migrācija
- MT: Katina ta’ migrazzjoni
- NL: kettingmigratie
- NO: kjedemigrasjon
- PL: migracja łańcuchowa
- RO: migratie in lant
- SE: kedjemigration
- SK: reťazová migrácia
- SL: verižna migracija
The practice where those who have settled on a family reunification basis can themselves sponsor further family members, consistent with European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) obligations.
2. Chain migration may also be based on ethnic or family ties with members of the same family migrating at different times, usually with primary wage earners migrating first, followed by secondary or non-wage earners. In countries with more or less liberal regulations on the rights of migrants to family reunification usually in accordance with international conventions, family reunification as an incidence of chain migration explains much of the growth in the total migrant population.
- BG: спонсор
- CZ: osoba usilující o sloučení rodiny / nositel právna na sloučení rodiny
- DE: Zusammenführender / Sponsor
- EE: sponsor
- EN: sponsor
- ES: reagrupante
- FI: perheenkokoaja
- FR: regroupant
- GA: urraitheoir
- GR: συντηρών
- HU: családegyesítő (note: a sponsor only in context of family reunification)
- IT: sponsor
- LT: globėjas
- LV: galvotājs / garantētājs
- MT: Garanti / Sponsor
- NL: gezinshereniger (NL syn.: referent, hoofdpersoon)
- NO: referanseperson / sponsor
- PL: sponsor
- PT: requerente do reagrupamento familiar
- RO: sponsor
- SE: referensperson
- SK: garant
- SL: sponzor / pokrovitelj
In the EU context of family reunification, a third-country national residing lawfully in a Member State and applying, or whose family members apply, for family reunification to be joined with them.
According to this concept, everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of themselves and of their families, including food, clothing, housing and medical care, and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond their control (Art. 25 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights).
- BG: гражданин на трета страна
- CZ: státní přáslušník třetí země
- DE: Drittstaatsangehöriger
- EE: kolmanda riigi kodanik
- EN: third-country national
- ES: nacional de tercer país
- FI: kolmannen maan kansalainen
- FR: ressortissant d’un pays tiers
- GA: náisiúnach tríú tír
- GR: υπήκοος τρίτης χώρας
- HU: harmadik országbeli állampolgár
- IT: cittadino di un paese terzo
- LT: trečiosios šalies pilietis
- LV: trešās valsts pilsonis
- MT: Ċittadin(a) ta’ pajjiż terz
- NL: onderdaan van een derde land (syn. derde lander)
- NO: tredjelandsborger (b) / tredjelandsborgar (n)
- PL: obywatel kraju trzeciego
- PT: nacional de país terceiro
- RO: cetăţean terţ / al unui stat terţ
- SE: tredjelandsmedborgare
- SK: štátny príslušník tretej krajiny
- SL: državljan tretje države
Any person who is not a citizen of the European Union within the meaning of Art. 20(1) of TFEU and who is not a person enjoying the European Union right to free movement, as defined in Art. 2(5) of the Regulation (EU) 2016/399 (Schengen Borders Code).
2. The Migration Statistics Regulation (Regulation (EC) No 862/2007) has a slightly different definition for a third-country national, which considers nationals of NO, IS, LI and CH as third-country nationals. This definition is also applied in Council Directive 2009/50/EC (Blue Card Directive), Directive 2003/86/EC (Family Reunification Directive), Directive 2003/109/EC (Long Term Residents Directive), Directive 2005/71/EC (Researchers Directive) and Directive 2004/114/EC (Students Directive). This definition was considered to be too narrow for use by the EMN.
3. Nationals of Micro-States (Monaco, San Marino, Vatican City) are treated as third-country nationals since, although there are no border controls, there is no formal agreement for them to be 'beneficiaries of the free movement of persons' as defined in the EU acquis. This also means that they cannot be part of the Schengen Agreement.
- BG: миграция
- CZ: migrace
- DE: Migration
- EE: ränne
- EN: migration
- ES: migración
- FI: muuttoliike / siirtolaisuus
- FR: migration
- GA: imirce
- GR: μετανάστευση
- HU: migráció
- IT: migrazione
- LT: migracija
- LV: migrācija
- MT: Migrazzjoni
- NL: migratie
- NO: migrasjon
- PL: migracja
- PT: migração
- RO: migraţie
- SE: migration
- SK: migrácia
- SL: migracija
In the EU context, the action by which a person either:
(i) establishes their usual residence in the territory of an EU Member State for a period that is, or is expected to be, of at least 12 months, having previously been usually resident in another EU Member State or a third country; or
(ii) having previously been usually resident in the territory of an EU Member State, ceases to have their usual residence in that EU Member State for a period that is, or is expected to be, of at least 12 months.
2. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) defines migration as follows: 'movement of a person or a group of persons, either across an international border (international migration), or within a state (internal migration), encompassing any kind of movement of people, whatever its length, composition and causes'. This broad definition covers all forms of migration (voluntrary/forced migration, internal/international migration, long-term/short-term migration), different motives for migration (migration because of political persecution, conflicts, economic problems, environmental degradation or a combination of these reasons or migration in search of better economic conditions or conditions of survival or well-being, or other motives such as familiy reunfication) and irrespective of the means used to migrate (legal/irregular migration). Thus it includes migration of refugees, displaced persons, economic migrants and persons moving for other purposes, including family reunification.
3. Under the UN, the definition 'movements for shorter periods' would not be considered migration.