EEA/Swiss permanent residence certificate

There are 27 countries in the European Union.

The EEA is composed of all EU member states as well as the following: Iceland Liechtenstein Norway. The EEA extends the single market to all 31 member states and allows nationals of participating countries to travel freely between them. Switzerland is not part of the EEA, but has an agreement that extends the single market to include it.

Under Regulation 14 of the Regulations of 2015, an EEA national who is entitled to remain permanently in the State as an EEA national may apply to the Minister for Justice for a permanent residence certificate.

(1) a continuous period of five years or more while engaged in employment, self -employment, the pursuit of a course of study, involuntary unemployment, or the possession of sufficient resources under the European Communities (Free Movement of Persons) Regulations 2015, as amended, or the European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) (Citizens’ Rights) Regulations 2020 or (2) a continuous period of more than three years in the following circumstances:a. the EEA national or United Kingdom national has reached pensionable age, as defined by the Social Welfare Acts, or has taken early retirement, and b. at the time of reaching pensionable age or taking early retirement, the EEA national or United Kingdom national has resided continuously in the State for more than three years and has been engaged in employment or self-employment in the State for at least the previous twelve months. or (3) a continuous period of more than two years if the EEA national or United Kingdom national has ceased to be engaged in employment or self-employment in the State as a result of permanent incapacity for work or (4) a continuous period for less than five years if the EEA national or United Kingdom national has been permanently incapacity from work as a result of an accident at work or an occupational illness entitling the EEA national or United Kingdom national to a pension or other benefit payable in whole or in part by the State.

To apply for a Permanent Residence Certificate: Use Form EUTR2 Read Explanatory leaflet for Form EUTR2 before completing and sending us your application Use Form Annex A if you need additional space for previous residential addresses over the past five years Use Form Annex B if you need additional space for details of work or study activities over the past five years Use Form Annex C to record details of your spouse, civil partner, child or carer as required

A non-EEA national family member of an EEA or United Kingdom national should not submit their application for Permanent Residence Card on Form EUTR2 but instead should apply on the relevant form (Form EUTR3)

a family member of a Union citizen referred to in subparagraph ( a ), who is not a national of a Member State and who has resided with the Union citizen in the State in conformity with these Regulations for a continuous period of 5 years.

(8) A permanent residence card shall be valid for a period of 10 years and shall be renewable upon application to the Minister, which application shall be made before the expiration of the permanent residence card.

(6) Where a Union citizen is entitled to remain permanently in the State pursuant to paragraph (1) or (3), a family member of the Union citizen, irrespective of the family members nationality, may reside permanently in the State where he or she is residing with the Union citizen.

You have lived in Ireland for a continuous period of five years or more You have complied with all regulations during your time here The Permanent Residence Certificate is valid for ten years

(5) For the purposes of these Regulations, continuity of residence in the State shall not be affected by— ( a ) temporary absences not exceeding 6 months in a 12 month period, ( b ) absences of a longer duration for compulsory military service, ( c ) one absence of a maximum of 12 consecutive months for important reasons such as pregnancy and childbirth, serious illness, study or vocational training, or a posting in a Member State or a third country.

(8) A permanent residence certificate shall cease to be valid where the person to whom it has been issued— ( a ) has been absent from the State for a period exceeding 2 consecutive years, or ( b ) is removed from the State pursuant to a removal order or is the subject of an exclusion order.