Want To Live In The EU? New Rules Could Make It Easier To Move Between Countries

Rules around long-term residency and moving around the bloc could be simpler from next year.

The EU wants to make it easier for non-EU residents to move around the bloc in the future.

It is also aiming to cut the time you need to live in a member state before gaining long-term residence status from five to three years.

The European Parliament recently said that it was looking to make the changes but governments will need to agree before it can go ahead.

How do you get long-term resident status in the EU?

Non-EU nationals can technically get long-term resident status in the bloc if they have lived legally in an EU country for at least five years. They can’t have left for a consecutive period of more than six months or a total of 10 months over the entire time they have lived there.

They also need to prove that they have health insurance as well as “stable and regular economic resources”. Some countries also require those applying for permanent residence to show they have integrated into the country where they live by completing language skills or cultural knowledge tests.

But most states only issue a national permit rather than an EU-wide one - unless you specifically ask. This can also mean additional checks are required. 

What do the changes mean for non-EU residents?

The European Commission proposed making these rules simpler last year. And this week, MEPs said they wanted to shorten the period non-EU nationals are required to live in the bloc to get residency from five years to three.

They also said that people should be able to combine periods of time lived in different states to make up the total and include time spent studying, doing seasonal work or in temporary protection (like Ukrainian refugees).

EU long-term residents would be able to move to another of the bloc’s member states too without any additional work restrictions or integration checks. Dependent children would also be granted the same status.

But, people who hold a residence permit in an EU country solely because of an investment scheme shouldn’t be eligible for the same treatment, MEPs said.

“Under the new rules, holders of EU long-term resident status will be able to move to a second member state for work or study purposes without additional requirements (such as labour market checks or integration requirements),” according to a statement from the European Parliament’s Civil Liberties Committee.

Will the changes be approved?

MEPs have made their position clear but now EU governments will need to agree and negotiate to finalise the changes to the law.

It is hoped that the new legislation will be completed by February 2024 - before the next European Parliament elections.

But governments could slow the process as the proposition has caused controversy with some political groups who believe immigration issues should be handled nationally.

RECENT NEWS

New Life For Old Jets: How Cabin Refurbishments Deliver On Sustainability As Well As Comfort

As demand for air travel continues to surge, airlines are holding onto their planes for longer and working hard to make ... Read more

People Are Not Props: The Sámi Reindeer Herders Fighting Stereotypes To Build Ethical Tourism

A new wave of positive-impact experiences in northern Finland is finally allowing the Sámi to benefit from the tourism ... Read more

Cyprus Is Funding Desalination Plants For Hotels To Tackle Tourism's Water Shortage Woes

The government will provide €3 million of funding over the next two years to help hotels build their own desalination ... Read more

We Expect Respect: Bali Cracks Down On Naughty Tourists With Strict New Rules

Bali’s mayor has warned that some transgressions could be met with legal consequences. Read more

Fundamental For Tourists Trust: Why Italy Is Cracking Down On Fake Hotel And Restaurant Reviews

Italy’s new rules aim to tackle both mistaken and malicious reviews by requiring proof of a visit and banning incentiv... Read more

Ryanair Launches Prime Subscription Service For Frequent Travellers. Is It Worth It?

While subscription services might save travellers money, they are also a way to persuade more people to fly - which is b... Read more