EU Unveils Fresh Immigration Guidelines for Non-EU Citizens

The European Union (EU) has recently amended its immigration regulations for nationals of non-member countries, stipulating that they must maintain legal and continuous residence in an EU member state for at least five years. This requirement is in conjunction with national long-term resident schemes.

These regulations, discussed and decided upon by EU member states during a meeting of the Council’s permanent representatives committee, establish the negotiating mandate for the revision of the EU long-term resident’s directive. It is worth noting that “InfoStride News” has gathered this information.

Third-country nations, which are countries or territories not part of the European Union or whose citizens don’t enjoy the EU’s right to free movement, include Nigeria as a prominent example.

The directive outlines specific criteria for third-country nationals to attain EU long-term resident status. According to the Council’s position, these individuals can accumulate residence periods of up to two years in other member states to meet the required five-year threshold. However, certain types of legal residence permits, such as EU Blue Cards or permits for highly qualified employment, are accepted for residency in another member state.

Applicants for long-term resident status are expected to demonstrate stable resources, possess sickness insurance, and may need to fulfill integration conditions. While this status is permanent, it can be revoked if the individual has not maintained their primary residence in the EU for a specified period.

EU long-term residents enjoy intra-EU mobility rights, allowing them to move and reside in other EU countries for work or studies, subject to specific conditions. They are entitled to equal treatment with EU nationals in various areas, including employment, education, and tax benefits.

As of 2020, more than ten million third-country nationals held long-term or permanent residence permits out of the 23 million legally residing in the EU. The proposed update aims to address issues such as underutilization, complexity in acquisition conditions, and barriers to intra-EU mobility rights.

The Council’s negotiating mandate paves the way for discussions with the European Parliament to finalize the legal text. This collaborative effort seeks to streamline and enhance the long-term resident status process for third-country nationals, fostering a more integrated and inclusive approach to immigration within the EU.