Post
by tt » Sat Dec 17, 2005 2:04 pm
I think gani99 is referring to the EU Directive 2003/109/EC of 25 November 2003 concerning the status of third-country nationals who are long-term residents, which must be implemented by 23 Jan 2006.
Denmark, UK and Ireland HAVE opted out of this.
The Directive allows for the other EU countries to issue long-term residence permits to you once you have legally resided (as a third-country ie non-EU national) in one of those EU countries for 5 years (and you will be known as a 'long-term resident'). With this, you can legally reside (and work) in another of those EU countries. In a sense, you will be able to transfer your residency rights from one EU country to another, without restrictions. That is, long-term residents will receive a resident permit that is standard for all Member States, valid for ten years and renewable automatically.
I'm not sure whether this is the EU introducing another form of Residence Permit, (a 'long-term residence permit'), or it is referring to the already existing Residence Permits of those EU countries (are they all 5 years in those EU countries already? - in contrast, the Residence Permit in the UK is a vignette/sticker in the passport, and might represent 4 years, with the ILR sticker later representing some other period of years?)
So, the reference to that other EU Directive - DIRECTIVE 2004/38/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 29 April 2004 on the right of citizens of the Union and their family members to move and reside Freely within the territory of the Member States - which John refers to may not be so relevant, as the 5 years there refers to EU Citizens and their dependents.