Young women with non-EU backgrounds marry and have children later, primarily due to a rule introduced in 2002. Labeled as the “24-year rule”, it prevents family reunification if the spouse is under 24 years old. They both need to be over 24 to be able to apply for the family reunification resident permit.
- Before the rule was introduced, 8% of the young women (18 to 32 years old) with a non-EU background were married. After the rule was introduced, the percentage dropped to 3%.
