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Permanent Right of Residence — EU/EEA Citizen

GermanyFree movement

Explore the five recorded questions, answers and sources for this pathway.

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Which citizenship, status or regional agreement creates the person's right to move/reside?

The right derives from citizenship of another EU Member State (non-German), EEA nationality, or UK nationality with Withdrawal Agreement rights.

See recorded sources

Under which circumstances can the person reside: worker, self-employed, student, jobseeker, self-funded person or another recognised basis?

The person may reside as a worker or for vocational training; as a jobseeker (up to six months, longer only with continued search and a genuine chance of being hired); as an established self-employed person; as a provider or recipient of services; as a non-economically active person under section 4; or as anyone who has acquired a permanent right of residence.

See recorded sources
  • https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/freiz_gg_eu_2004/BJNR198600004.html
    1. Unionsbürger, die sich als Arbeitnehmer oder zur Berufsausbildung aufhalten wollen, 1a. Unionsbürger, die sich zur Arbeitsuche aufhalten, für bis zu sechs Monate und darüber hinaus nur, solange sie nachweisen können, dass sie weiterhin Arbeit suchen und begründete Aussicht haben, eingestellt zu werden, 2. Unionsbürger, wenn sie zur Ausübung einer selbständigen Erwerbstätigkeit berechtigt sind (niedergelassene selbständige Erwerbstätige), 3. Unionsbürger, die, ohne sich niederzulassen, als selbständige Erwerbstätige Dienstleistungen im Sinne des Artikels 57 des Vertrages über die Arbeitsweise der Europäischen Union erbringen wollen (Erbringer von Dienstleistungen), wenn sie zur Erbringung der Dienstleistung berechtigt sind, 4. Unionsbürger als Empfänger von Dienstleistungen, 5. nicht erwerbstätige Unionsbürger unter den Voraussetzungen des § 4,
  • https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/freiz_gg_eu_2004/BJNR198600004.html
    7. Unionsbürger und ihre Familienangehörigen, die ein Daueraufenthaltsrecht erworben haben.

What entry, registration or residence-document formalities remain?

On application, the permanent right of residence is certified without delay. The foreigners authority may require the conditions of the right to be made credible three months after entry; the information can be submitted at the residents' registration office when registering.

See recorded sources

Which non-member-country family members can accompany or join, and what broad rights do they receive?

Family members of the EU citizen have the right of entry and residence when accompanying or joining them. Non-EU family members acquire the permanent right after five years of continuous lawful residence with the EU citizen; family members residing with an EU citizen who acquired the permanent right early also have it. The official source does not state which family members qualify.

See recorded sources

When do permanent/long-term rights arise and what continuity, absence or retention conditions matter?

After five years of continuous lawful residence, EU citizens have a permanent right of residence independent of the other conditions. Workers/self-employed can acquire it earlier, e.g. after at least three years' continuous residence and 12 months' work on reaching 65 or early retirement, or on permanent incapacity. Continuity is not affected by absences up to six months a year, military service, or one absence up to 12 consecutive months for an important reason; absence for a non-temporary reason of more than two consecutive years causes loss.

See recorded sources

These are the answers currently recorded in the catalogue. A missing or partial answer is not an eligibility decision.

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