Specialists in immigration law

We are a network of 20 specialist immigration law firms providing advice to businesses and individuals on EU free movement and other immigration law issues.

About EILN

Members

Belgium-Brussels
Bulgaria-Sofia
Cyprus-Limassol
Denmark-Copenhagen
France-Paris
Germany-Frankfurt Image by Raja Sen
Germany-Ulm
Ireland-Dublin
Italy-Bologna Image by Felix M
Luxembourg
Malta-Valleta
Norway-Oslo
Portugal-Lisbon Image by Jack Niles
Romania-Bucharest
Slovakia-Bratislava
España-Santander Image by Willian Justen de Vasconcellos
Switzerland-Geneve
TheNetherlands-Amsterdam Image by Eirik Skarstein
TheNetherlands-Hertogenbosch
UK-London

About

The European Immigration Lawyers Network (EILN) was established in 2000 to meet the changing needs of business and individuals, their employers and their families in an enlarging European Union.

The success of the European Single Market has dramatically reduced obstacles to cross border movement within the Union. The increasing role of the EU in the fields of economic migration, visas, global mobility, cross-border services, family reunion and asylum, as well as developments in national immigration law in each EU Member States, has created both opportunities and challenges for those seeking EU immigration solutions. Businesses and individuals with complex cross-border issues who want to take advantage of these new possibilities increasingly need specialist advice across multiple jurisdictions. While fewer and fewer problems arise regarding cross border movement of nationals of the Member and EEA States, third country nationals and their family members moving to or within the Union continue to be subject to substantial administrative obstacles. The Network was created to share expertise and to find solutions for clients facing these obstacles.

The objectives of the Network are:

01.

To provide a single source of support for business and individual clients requiring immigration advice and assistance across the European Union

02.

To keep members of the Network up to date on all the changes of law at the European level relevant to immigration practice

03.

To exchange information about national immigration law and practice to enable EILN members to provide the best strategic immigration advice to their clients

Members

The Network is made up of law firms across European states. The participating firms all have an established reputation for immigration law in their own country. Some are smaller firms specialising in immigration and related legal work, while others are full service firms providing legal services in all major fields of law. Each firm is independent and is a regulated professional organisation and a voluntary participant in the Network. The majority of EU Member States are represented. In addition, the Network includes participating firms from Norway, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. The Network Members can provide expert advice to clients whose immigration needs span more than one European country. EILN members meet regularly to discuss questions and developments in law and practice, and hold an annual members' meeting and regular annual conferences.

If you require legal advice on any issue relating to business, individuals, their employers and families within Europe, please contact the EILN member for the particular country or countries concerned.

Belgium

Denmark

Ireland

Malta

Romania

Switzerland

Bulgaria

France

Italy

Norway

Slovakia

The Netherlands

Cyprus

Germany

Luxembourg

Portugal

Spain

United Kingdom

Would you like to join EILN?

Membership of the network is by invitation, but we do consider requests for membership from immigration lawyers working in EU countries where EILN does not currently have any members.

If you wish to be considered for membership, please contact us with full details about your and your firm experience in providing specialist immigration advice. Applications are considered by the EILN Anchor Group and approved by the members, usually at the Annual Meeting of the network. If approved, membership is subject to an annual membership fee, which is calculated based on whether the member is a sole practitioner or part of a small or larger firm.

Events

Open to public

TBC
Geneva, Switzerland

Annual Conference 2027

Annual Meeting 2027

Private - EILN members only

TBC
Geneva, Switzerland

May 2026 - Paris, France
May 2025 - Lisbon, Portugal
May 2024 - Dublin, Ireland
May 2023 - Palermo, Italy
June 2022 - London, United Kingdom
June 2019 - Bratislava, Slovakia
June 2018 - Valleta, Malta
May 2017 - Frankfurt, Germany
May 2016 - Amsterdam, Netherlands
April 2015 - Santander, Spain
May 2014 - Vienna, Austria
April 2013 - London, United Kingdom

June 2012 - Oslo, Norway
May 2011 - Paris, France
June 2010 - Lisbon, Portugal
June 2009 - Dublin, Ireland
May 2008 - Brussels, Belgium
June 2007 - Zurich, Switzerland
May 2006 - Ljubljana, Slovenia
May 2005 - Siracusa, Italy
May 2004 - Amsterdam, Netherlands
May 2003 - Vienna, Austria
May 2002 - London, United Kingdom

Blog

An update on Portuguese immigration rules

Law Amendments According to the latest available data, there are approximately 1.5 million immigrants residing in Portugal. Considering that the estimated total population in Portugal is of around 10.5 million, the number of immigrants represents a relevant part of the population residing in the country. While we can conclude that during the last 6 to 8 years the Portuguese immigration rules were not so demanding, making Portugal a prime destination for various types of immig

Raquel Cuba Martins

3 days ago4 min read

The recognition of the Palestinian State by EU-member States: what are the likely implications for the range of policies that are connected with immigration and asylum?

In 2022 there were between 5.9 and 9.1 million Palestinian refugees, constituting the oldest and largest refugee population in the world. Until now, Palestinians displaced to Europe had to arm themselves with patience for long legal battles in order to obtain refugee or stateless status in many European countries. In most cases, they were unable to benefit from protection as refugees or stateless persons. In recent months, there has been a growing awareness of the refugee and

Cora Maglo

Jan 75 min read

Algerian citizens’ rights to work in France: from a status supposed to be favorable to a specific and limited situation

Algerian citizens have benefited from a specific status to enter, reside and work in France since December 27, 1968. Indeed after the...

Fanny Laredo

Feb 11, 20256 min read

11 JUNE 2026 - EUROPEAN COMMISSION PRESS RELEASE

Pact on Migration and Asylum enters into application on 12 June

Adopted in May 2024, the Pact has overhauled the EU's migration and asylum framework and now forms the centrepiece of the EU's new approach on migration. For the first time, the EU has a comprehensive migration and asylum framework in place, with strong external border protection, fair and firm asylum rules, and a balance between solidarity and responsibility. Read more here.

Country Update 2026: IRELAND

Hiro Ino

Jun 72 min read

Country Update 2026: GERMANY

Daniela Boehme

Jun 74 min read

Country Update 2026: DENMARK

Helle Holm Thomsen

Jun 75 min read

2 3 4 5

Resources

... recommended newsletters

NEMIS Newsletter on European Migration Issues

(SINCE 2010)

NEAIS Newsletter on European Asylum Issues

(SINCE 2012)

NEFIS Newsletter on European Free Movement Issues

(SINCE 2019)

Overview of CJEU judgements and pending cases

(SINCE 2012)

... legislation and related documents

Free movement of EU workers and family members of Citizens of the Union: Legislation and related documents

Article 45 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU)

Workers and the self employed

Directive 2014/54/EU OJ L128/8: On measures facilitating the exercise of rights conferred on workers in the context of freedom of movement for workers

Directive 98/49/EC OJ No L 209; On safeguarding the supplementary pension rights of employed and self-employed persons moving within the Community (25 July 1998)

Directive 2014/50/EU OJ L 128/1: On the acquisition and preservation of supplementary pension rights

Regulation (EU) 492/2011 of on freedom of movement for workers within the Union, codifying Regulation (EEC) 1612/68and its successive modifications (Council Regulations 312/76 and 2434/92, and Article 38(1) of Directive 2004/38/EC) (5 April 2011)

Citizens Directive on family members

Directive 2004/38/EC OJ No L 158: on the right of citizens of the Union and their family members to move and reside freely within the territory of the Member States (29 April 2004)

Directive 2014/54/EU OJ L 128, on measures facilitating the exercise of rights conferred on workers in the context of freedom of movement for workers (29 April 2014)

Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council COM(2009) 313 final : On guidance for better transposition and application of Directive 2004/38/EC on the right of citizens of the Union and their family members to move and reside freely within the territory of the Member States (2 July 2009)

Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions (COM (2013) 837 final — Free movement of EU citizens and their families: Five actions to make a difference (25 November 2013)

Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council COM(2014) 604 final — Helping national authorities fight abuses of the right to free movement: Handbook on addressing the issue of alleged marriages of convenience between EU citizens and non-EU nationals in the context of EU law on free movement of EU citizens (26 September 2014)

Commission Notice C/2023/1392 – Guidance on the right of free movement of EU citizens and their families (22 December 2023)

Access rights of non-EU nationals: EU legislation and related documents

Schengen Borders Code (codified)

Regulation 2016/399 OJ 2016 L 77/1: On the rules governing the movement of persons across borders ( Codification of all previous amendments of the (Schengen) Borders Code )

Practical Handbook for Border Guards (“Schengen Handbook”)

Commission Recommendation, C (2006) 5186 final: Establishing a common "Practical Handbook for Border Guards (Schengen Handbook)" to be used by Member States' competent authorities when carrying out the border control of persons (6 November 2006, amended 2009, 2010, 2012, 2015, 2018)

Entry/Exit System (EES)

Regulation 2017/2226 OJ 2017 L 327/20: Establishing an Entry/Exit System (EES) to register entry and exit data and refusal of entry data of third country nationals crossing the external borders

Commission Implementing Decision 2018/1547 laying down the specifications for the connection of the central access points to the Entry/Exit System (EES) and for a technical solution to facilitate the collection of data by Member States for the purpose of generating statistics on the access to the EES data for law enforcement purposes (15 October 2018)

Commission Implementing Decision 2018/1548 of laying down measures for the establishment of the list of persons identified as overstayers in the Entry-Exit System (EES) and the procedure to make that list available to Member States (15 October 2018)

European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS)

Regulation 2018/1240 OJ 2018 L 236/: Establishing a European Travel Information and Authorisation System

Visa Code

Regulation 810/2009 OJ 2009 L 243/1: Establishing a Community Code on Visas (amended d by Regulation 154/2012 (OJ 2012 L 58/3): On the relation with the Schengen acquis

Visa List II (codified)

Regulation 2018/1806 OJ 2018 L 303/39: Listing the third countries whose nationals must be in possession of visas and those whose nationals are exempt from that requirement (replaces Regulation 539/2001 “Visa List I”)

Residence rights of non-EU nationals: EU legislation and related documents

Highly Skilled Migrants (Blue Card I)

Directive 2009/50 (Blue Card I) OJ 2009 L 155/17: On conditions of entry and residence of TCNs for the purposes of highly qualified employment (implementation date 19 June 2011)

Family Reunification

Directive 2003/86 OJ 2003 L 251/12: On the right of Family Reunification (implementation date 3 October 2005)

COM(2014) 210, 3 April 2014: On guidance for application of Directive 2003/86/EC on the right to family reunification

Intra-Corporate Transferees

Directive 2014/66 OJ 2014 L 157/1: On conditions of entry and residence of TCNs in the framework of an intra-corporate transfer (implementation date 29 November 2016)

Long-Term Residents

Directive 2003/109 OJ 2004 L 16/44: Concerning the status of TCNs who are long-term residents (implementation date 23 Jan. 2006)

Directive 2011/51 OJ 2011 L 132/1 (April 2011): Long-Term Resident status for refugees and persons with subsidiary protection (implementation date 20 May 2013)

Researchers and Students

Directive 2016/801 OJ 2016 L 132/21: On the conditions of entry and residence of Third-Country Nationals for the purposes of research, studies, training, voluntary service, pupil exchange schemes, educational projects and au pairing (implementation date 24 May 2018)

Seasonal Workers

Directive 2014/36 OJ 2014 L 94/375: On the conditions of entry and residence of TCNs for the purposes of seasonal employment (30 September 2016)

Single Permit

Directive 2011/98 OJ 2011 L 343/1: Single Application Procedure: for a single permit for TCNs to reside and work in the territory of a Member State and on a common set of rights for third-country workers legally residing in a Member State S implementation date (implementation date 25 December 2013)

Integration of non-EU nationals

Communication from the Commission COM (2016) 377 final: Action Plan on the integration of third country nationals (7 June 2016)

Sanctions and rights of unauthorized non-EU nationals: EU legislation and related documents

Carrier Sanctions

Directive 2001/51 OJ 2001 L 187/45: Obligation of carriers to return TCNs when entry is refused (Implementation date 11 February 2003)

Employer Sanctions

Directive 2009/52 OJ 2009 L 168/24: Minimum standards on sanctions and measures against employers of illegally staying TCNs (implementation date 20 July 2011)

Returns Directive

Directive 2008/115 OJ 2008 L 348/98: On common standards and procedures in MSs for returning illegally staying third country nationals (implementation date 24 December 2010)

Trafficking Persons

Directive 2011/36 OJ 2011 L 101/1: On preventing and combating trafficking in human beings and protecting its victims (March 2011)

Trafficking Victims

Directive 2004/81 OJ 2004 L 261/19: Residence permits for TCNs who are victims of trafficking in human beings or who have been the subject of an action to facilitate illegal immigration, who cooperate with the competent authorities (29 April 2004)

Unauthorized Entry

Directive 2002/90 OJ 2002 L 328: Facilitation of unauthorised entry, transit and residence (28 November 2002)

Mutual Recognition of Expulsion decisions

Council Directive 2001/40/EC OJ L 149/34: on the mutual recognition of decisions on the expulsion of third country nationals (28 May 2001)

Council Decision 2004/191/EC OJ L 60/55: Setting out the criteria and practical arrangements for the compensation of the financial imbalances resulting from the application of Directive 2001/40/EC on the mutual recognition of decisions on the expulsion of third-country nationals (23 February 2004 )

Returns Directive

Directive 2008/115/EC OJ L 348/98: On common standards and procedures in Member States for returning illegally staying third-country nationals (16 December 2008)

EU Asylum and Temporary protection: Legislation and related documents

Qualification Directive (recast)

Directive 2011/95/EU OJ L337/9: On standards for the qualification of third-country nationals or stateless persons as beneficiaries of international protection, for a uniform status for refugees or for persons eligible for subsidiary protection, and for the content of the protection granted (13 December 2011)

Common Procedures

Directive 2013/32/EU OJ L 180/60: On common procedures for granting and withdrawing international protection (26 June 2013)

Reception Conditions

Directive 2013/33/EU OJ L 180/96: Laying down standards for the reception of applicants for international protection (29 June 2013)

Temporary Protection

Council Directive 2001/55/EC OJ L212/12: On minimum standards for giving temporary protection in the event of a mass influx of displaced persons and on measures promoting a balance of efforts between Member States in receiving such persons and bearing the consequences thereof (20 July 2001)

Eurodac

Regulation 603/2013 OJ L 180/1 the establishment of ‘Eurodac’(26 June 2013)

Dublin III

Regulation 604/2013 OJ l 180/31 establishing the criteria and mechanisms for determining the Member State responsible for examining an application for international protection lodged in one of the Member States by a third-country national or a stateless person (26 June 2013)

Specialists in immigration law

Belgium-Brussels

Bulgaria-Sofia

Cyprus-Limassol

Denmark-Copenhagen

France-Paris

Germany-Frankfurt

Image by Raja Sen

Germany-Ulm

Ireland-Dublin

Italy-Bologna

Image by Felix M

Luxembourg

Malta-Valleta

Norway-Oslo

Portugal-Lisbon

Image by Jack Niles

Romania-Bucharest

Slovakia-Bratislava

España-Santander

Image by Willian Justen de Vasconcellos

Switzerland-Geneve

TheNetherlands-Amsterdam

Image by Eirik Skarstein

TheNetherlands-Hertogenbosch

UK-London

About

Members

Events

Annual Conference 2027

Annual Meeting 2027

Blog

An update on Portuguese immigration rules

The recognition of the Palestinian State by EU-member States: what are the likely implications for the range of policies that are connected with immigration and asylum?

Algerian citizens’ rights to work in France: from a status supposed to be favorable to a specific and limited situation

11 JUNE 2026 - EUROPEAN COMMISSION PRESS RELEASE

Pact on Migration and Asylum enters into application on 12 June

Country Update 2026: IRELAND

Country Update 2026: GERMANY

Country Update 2026: DENMARK

Resources

Free movement of EU workers and family members of Citizens of the Union: Legislation and related documents

Workers and the self employed

Citizens Directive on family members