Students

As an EU national, you have the right to study in another EU country. If you stay there for less than 3 months, all you will need is a valid identity card or passport.

In many EU countries, you need to carry a national identity card or passport at all times.

In these countries, you could be fined or temporarily detained if you leave these documents at home - but you cannot be expelled just for this.

Reporting your presence

Some EU countries require you to report your presence within a reasonable period of time after arrival and may impose a penalty, such as a fine, if you fail to do so.

Before you go to another country, please check the deadlines and relevant conditions for reporting your presence there with the national authorities.

All you need is your identity card or passport. You should not have to pay any fees.

If you are staying in a hotel, it is usually enough to fill in a special form - the hotel will take care of the rest.

In some EU countries, failure to report your presence might result in a fine, but you cannot be expelled just for this.

Equal treatment

During your stay, you should be treated as a national of the country, notably as regards access to employment, pay, benefits facilitating access to work, enrolment in schools etc.

Even if you are staying as a tourist, you should not, for example, have to pay higher fees to visit museums or when buying transport tickets, etc.

Expulsion

Your new country can, in exceptional cases, decide to expel you on grounds of public policy, public security or public health - but only if it can prove you represent a serious threat.

The expulsion decision must be given to you in writing. It must state all the grounds and specify how you can appeal and by when.

You have the right to live in any EU country for the duration of your studies if you:

• are enrolled in an approved educational establishment
• have sufficient income (from any source) to live without needing income support
• have comprehensive health insurance cover there.

National authorities may not require your income to be above the level that would qualify you for basic income support.

You could lose your right to stay in the country if you finish your studies and cannot prove you are in work or still have sufficient resources to support yourself.

Registration

During the first 3 months of your stay in your new country, you cannot be required to register (to get a document confirming your right to stay) but can do so if you wish.

After 3 months in your new country, you may be required to register with the relevant authority (often the town hall or local police station).

To get a registration certificate, you will need:

• valid identity card or passport
• proof of enrolment at an approved educational establishment
• proof of comprehensive health insurance
• declaration that you have sufficient resources to support yourself (resources may come from your parents, spouse, etc.).

You do not need to provide any other documents.

When you register, you will get a registration certificate. The certificate confirms your right to live in your new country; it states your name and address and the registration date.

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

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

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

Equal treatment

During your stay, you should be treated as a national of the country, notably as regards access to employment, pay, benefits facilitating access to work, enrolment in schools etc.

Request to leave / expulsion

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

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

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

If you have lived legally in another EU country for 5 years continuously - as a student - 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 a 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.

Permanent residence document

This is different from the registration certificate which is compulsory in some countries. The permanent residence document is not compulsory. It confirms your right to live in the country where you now live permanently, without any conditions.

This means that the authorities may no longer require you to prove that you have a job, sufficient resources, health insurance, and so on. The permanent residence document can be handy when dealing with the authorities or for administrative formalities.

If you ask the authorities for a permanent residence document, they must issue it as soon as possible and for no more than nationals pay for identity cards. If they don't, you can call on our assistance service.

The document should be valid indefinitely and does not have to be renewed.

To get one, you must submit proof you have been living in the country for 5 years – for example a valid registration certificate issued when you arrived.

Equal treatment

During your permanent stay, you enjoy the same rights, benefits and advantages as nationals, under the same conditions.

Expulsion

In exceptional cases, the country where you live can decide to expel you on grounds of public policy or public security but only if it can prove you represent a very serious threat.

The expulsion decision must be given to you in writing. It must state all the grounds, and specify how you can appeal and by when.