Students

As EU nationals, your husband or wife and your (grand)children may stay in another EU country with you under the same conditions that apply to you.

Check rights, conditions and formalities:

• workers/pensioners
• students

Your spouse and (grand)children, as EU nationals,  may live in your new EU country with you under the same conditions that apply to EU nationals:

Check rights, conditions and formalities:

• workers/pensioners
• students

If your spouse and dependent (grand)children do not meet the these conditions (for example, you study and your spouse stays at home with your baby), they may still stay in with you in your new EU country as your family members if you:

• are enrolled in an approved educational establishment
• have sufficient income for your whole family to live without needing income support
• have comprehensive health insurance for your whole family in the new country.

Registration

Your spouse and (grand)children, as EU nationals, may stay in another EU country with you under the same administrative conditions that apply to EU nationals.

Check conditions and formalities for:

• workers/pensioners
• students

If they stay as your family members, your spouse and dependent (grand)children will need the following documents to get a registration certificate:

• valid national identity card or passport
• your registration certificate or other proof of your residence in the country
• proof of the family relationship (e.g. marriage or birth certificate).
• for (grand)children, proof they are dependent on you.

No other documents may be requested.

If you have problems getting a registration certificate for your family members, you can call on our assistance service.

Their registration certificate should be issued immediately and cost no more than nationals pay for identity cards.

It should be valid indefinitely. It does not have to be renewed, but you may need to report any change of address to the local authorities.

Equal treatment

During their stay, they should be treated as nationals of the country, notably as regards access to employment, pay, benefits facilitating access to work, enrolment in schools etc.

Some EU countries may decide not to give students and their families a maintenance grant for studies until they qualify for permanent residence.

Request to leave / expulsion

Your spouse and (grand)children may live in another EU country as long as they continue to meet the conditions for residence. If they no longer do so, the national authorities may require them to leave.

In exceptional cases, your new country can decide to expel them on grounds of public policy or public security but only if it can prove they represent a very serious threat.

The expulsion decision or request to leave must be given to them in writing. They must state all the grounds, and specify how they can appeal and by when.

As EU nationals, your spouse and (grand) children can acquire the automatic right of permanent residence if they have lived legally in the other country for 5 years continuously, under the same conditions that apply to you.

This means that they can stay there as long as they want – even if they don't work or need income support. They should enjoy the same rights, benefits and advantages as nationals.

Check rights, conditions and formalities for:

• workers/pensioners
• students