The map showing sanctions against people helping irregular migrants

In most European countries, citizens are not able to offer help to immigrants. It is a punishable offence to help migrants enter the EU, but also to help them remain – for instance by offering them shelter. A 2014 report from the European Union Agency for Fundamental Human Rights (FRA) has assessed the measures in place in different countries to discourage and punish such actions.

Certain punishments are particularly aimed at people offering shelter to migrants (even with a rental contract). As the map taken from the report illustrates, this form of 'help' to migrants is punishable almost everywhere. Ireland and Belgium are the sole exceptions. Punishments often take the form of fines, but in certain cases can be prison sentences. However, several countries have put in place exceptions for attenuating circumstances, for instance if this hospitality has been offered free of charge to family members.