Labour migration: improving legal opportunities to work in the EU | Themes

EU long-term resident status

EU long-term resident status allows non-EU citizens who have legally resided in the EU for five consecutive years to reside and work in the EU for an indefinite period. It has been introduced in 2003 as a means of better integrating non-EU citizens. Once granted, the person can move and work within the EU.

To be eligible for EU long-term resident status, non-EU citizens must prove that they are able to support themselves and their family financially. Once an application is submitted, national authorities have six months to make a decision. An application can be rejected on grounds of security or public order, but not on economic grounds.

If the application is approved, the non-EU citizen will be granted a five-year residence permit that will be automatically renewed. Recognised long-term residents are entitled to equal treatment with nationals in areas such as employment, education and social security.

THE EU long-term resident status laws do not apply to Denmark and Ireland.

Recognising migrants’ qualifications in the EU

In 2019, around 48% of highly skilled migrants were in low- or medium-skilled jobs, compared to only 20% of EU citizens. The most common occupation is cleaner or domestic help, while 62% of computer programming companies and 43% of construction companies report labour shortages.

In 2021 resolutionMEPs have called for EU rules to recognise the qualifications of migrant workers in a faster, fairer and more rational way across the EU.

In November 2023, the Commission issued a recommendation that countries should seek to reduce barriers to the recognition of skills and qualifications that prevent people from migrating legally to the country in question.