Definition
Permanent residency (also known as settlement or long-term resident status) is an indefinite authorisation for a non-citizen to live in a country without time restriction. It typically grants near-citizen rights including unrestricted employment, access to welfare, and family reunification, while stopping short of citizenship. In the EU, Directive 2003/109/EC establishes the Long-Term Residents permit (LTR-EC) after five years of lawful residence. Individual member states have their own national permanent residence categories, such as Germany's Niederlassungserlaubnis. Permanent residents with EU long-term resident status may also move and work in other EU member states.
Official name
Niederlassungserlaubnis (Germany) / Carte de résident (France)
Official sources
Related terms
Aufenthaltstitel
The German term for a residence title — the physical or digital document confirming a non-EU national's legal right to reside in Germany.
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EU Blue Card
Blaue Karte EU
An EU-wide work and residence permit for highly qualified non-EU workers. Requires a job offer meeting a minimum salary threshold and recognised qualifications.
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Residence Permit
An official document or authorisation that entitles a non-citizen to legally reside in a country for a specified period, often but not always including the right to work.
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Third-Country National
TCN
A person who is not a citizen of the EU, EEA, or Switzerland — the primary applicant group for European work and residence permits.
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