N-PE — Permanent residence — EU citizen

As an EU national, you automatically acquire the right of permanent residence in another EU country if you have lived there legally for a continuous period of 5 years.

Directive on the right of citizens of the Union and their family members to move and reside freely within the territory of the Member States

To get a document certifying your right of permanent residence, you must submit proof that you have been living legally in the country for 5 years. You need to send various supporting documents with your application, depending on your situation (employed, self-employed, jobseeker, pensioner, student). This could include the registration certificate you received when you arrived in the country evidence that you've been living there, such as utility bills and rental contracts other evidence such as payslips, bank statements, tax returns that prove you've been working, studying, self-employed, self-sufficient or looking for work.

The permanent residence document is not compulsory. It is not the same as the registration certificate, which is compulsory in many countries. However, the permanent residence document can be useful when dealing with administrative formalities e.g. you will no longer be required to prove to the authorities that you have a job, sufficient resources, health insurance, and so on.

The authorities must issue the permanent residence document as soon as possible and they cannot charge you more than nationals pay for their identity cards. If they do charge you more, you can call on our assistance services.The document is automatically renewable without any conditions, though its length of validity may differ depending on the country.

The same rights apply to your EU family members. They are also entitled to a permanent residence document in the country where they have resided with you legally for a continuous period of 5 years. Read more on the right to reside in the EU of your family members and how to get permanent residence for your non-EU family members.

If you fulfil this requirement, you can apply for a permanent residence document, which confirms your right to live in the country permanently without any conditions.

In some specific cases, you may apply for permanent residence before 5 years. Check if you qualify. Losing the right of permanent residence You can lose your right to permanent residence if you live outside the country for more than 2 consecutive years.

If you have lived legally, meeting the conditions to stay in another EU country for a continuous period of 5 years, you automatically acquire the right of permanent residence there. This means that you can stay in the country as long as you want, you are entitled to be treated as a national of that country and you enjoy more protection against deportation. You can apply for a document certifying permanent residence. Your continuity of residence is not affected by: temporary absences (less than 6 months per 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. You can lose your right to permanent residence if you live outside the country for more than 2 consecutive years.