EU - long term stay questions

[eliza3]

We hold Australian passports with no rights to EU citizenship etc via conveniently born parents or grandparents. We would like to live in an EU country(s) for extended periods if possible - 6 months plus. We would not expect to work and would be able to prove we had income to support ourselves. We can go to most EU countries 3 - 6 months without a visa but my considerable research has not really answered some questions and am hoping someone has done this.

Is any country easier than another to do this?
is it possible to do remotely /initially or do you go in on short term visa and then apply?
would it be relatively easy for us to rent something - rent then visa or vice versa?
Is it easier to keep going in and out under the shorter visa period?

many thanks in advance

[tt]

I know of many Australians (and Canadians, Americans and so on) who remain in a country (eg Prague, Czech Rep) for years, based on the short term 90 day visafree period. What happens is they leave and re-enter the country every 90 days or so.

The disadvantage of this is that you would never get official residence status, with all the benefits that that would bring, nor be able to work, but then again, it looks as if you don't want to. Also, there's the long-running issue of whether the country involved will finally say enough is enough and stop this practice, and ensure you get a Residence Permit.

What happens in the UK in this respect, by the way? The Czech Rep doesn't do anything at the moment, nor Hungary, and many of the Schengen countries (basically all the old "Western" EU countries on the continent) don't have border controls and there is occasional difficulty with the checking of stamps and so on.

The major advantage of getting a Residence Permit in one of the EU countries (but not the UK, Ireland or Denmark) is that after 5 years, you will qualify for a Permanent Residence Permit, which you will then be able to use right across the EU (minus the UK, Ireland and Denmark) - and you will eligible to reside in any of those countries too from then on.

Applying for Residence Permits initially normally have to be done outside the country concerned, but that could be done in the neighbouring country, for example.

Rents and so on are obviously cheaper in places like Prague and Budapest.

[JAJ]

The major advantage of getting a Residence Permit in one of the EU countries (but not the UK, Ireland or Denmark) is that after 5 years, you will qualify for a Permanent Residence Permit, which you will then be able to use right across the EU (minus the UK, Ireland and Denmark) - and you will eligible to reside in any of those countries too from then on.

It usually makes more sense to become a naturalised citizen in the country of your choice - if you choose well, you'll find an EU/EEA state that doesn't have overly strict naturalisation requirements and allows dual citizenship.

"Hopping" from one country to another, even if you can keep permanent residence, may mean you are not entitled to get citizenship anywhere. EU member states are not obliged to offer citizenship to anyone, so they all make their own rules.

[scrudu]

This option really depends on your ages, but you may be eligible to apply for a Working Holiday Visa. These visas are available in the UK and Ireland for those under 30 (?). They are meant to allow work, but it is not stipulated. They are valid for 12 months and are available to Australian citizens