Migration policy, including procedures on visas and residence permits, plays an important role in enabling the access of non-EU students and researchers into the EU. Migration policy is also crucial to define the rights of non-EU nationals and ensure their fair treatment once they reside in the EU.

Currently, there are specific legal rules at EU level on how students and researchers from outside the EU can come to the EU and move between its Member States if the relevant period of study or research exceeds three months. To some extent these rules cover also school pupils, volunteers and unremunerated trainees.

The European Commission is looking at whether these rules need to be improved and if so, in what way.

This exercise started in 2011 with an assessment of how these rules are implemented (Directive 2004/114/EC; Directive 2005/71/EC) and how they fulfil their potential.

The European Commission is now launching a public consultation on the revision of Students and Researchers Directives open to individuals/organisations all over the world. The corresponding on-line questionnaire is accessible via this link 

The results of the consultation – which will be open for 12 weeks - will feed into the Impact Assessment on the revision of the two Directives.

The deadline to respond is 23 August, however, given the tight time-table for the revision process any responses received within 6-8 weeks from now would be particularly appreciated.