Workers - residence rights

You have the right to live in any EU country where you work as an employee, a self-employed person or as a posted worker.

If you lose your job

If you lose your job while living in another country, you can still stay there if you are:

  • unable to work temporarily because of illness or accident
  • registered with the relevant authority as being involuntarily unemployed. If you have been employed for less than 1 year before that, you retain the right to equal treatment with nationals for a limited period of at least 6 months.
  • following vocational training. If you are not involuntarily unemployed, the training must be related to your previous job.

Reporting your presence and registering your residence

Some EU countries require you to report your presence to the relevant authorities within a reasonable time after arrival. They may impose a penalty, such as a fine if you fail to do so.

As an employed person in your host country, you should register your residence with the relevant authority (often the town hall or local police station) after the first 3 months. When you register, you will get a registration certificate. This certificate confirms your right to live in your host country.

You will need:

  • a valid identity card or passport
  • certificate of employment or confirmation of recruitment from your employer
  • (if self-employed) proof of your status as self-employed

You don't need to provide other documents.

Permanent residence

If you have lived legally, meeting the conditions to stay in another EU country, for a continuous period of 5 years you automatically acquire the right of permanent residence there. This means that you can stay in the country as long as you want.

Your continuity of residence is not affected by:

  • temporary absences (less than 6 months per year)
  • longer absences for compulsory military service
  • one absence of 12 consecutive months, for important reasons such as pregnancy and childbirth, serious illness, work, vocational training or a posting to another country

You can lose your right to permanent residence if you live outside the country for more than 2 consecutive years.

Permanent residence before 5 years

You may qualify for permanent residence in under 5 years in any of the following situations:

  • if you retire and have worked in the country for the last year, or have lived there continuously for 3 years
  • if you stop working because you are no longer able to work and have lived in the country continuously for 2 years
  • if you stop working because you are no longer able to work due to an accident at work or occupational illness. In this case, you have the right to remain regardless of how long you have lived in the country prior to the accident or illness
  • if you start working in another EU country as a cross-border worker - you must return to your place of residence at least once a week - but have worked in the country where you want to obtain permanent residence for 3 years continuously beforehand.

Can you be deported or requested to leave?

You may live in the other EU country as long as you continue to meet the conditions for residence. If you no longer meet these requirements, the national authorities may require you to leave.

In exceptional cases, your host country can deport you on grounds of public policy or public security - but only if it can prove you represent a serious threat.

The deportation decision or the request to leave must be given to you in writing. It must state all the reasons for your deportation and specify how you can appeal and by when.

FAQs

EU legislation

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Last checked: 04/08/2023
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