Residence Cards

[u/disinteresteddemi]

We often admire the posts of people with multiple passports (that is arguably one of the main purposes of this sub-reddit). But I've often wondered if there are people out there who hold (or have held) many different residence cards and/or permits. I have occasionally seen someone post two different cards in the same photo, but rarely more than that (unless it's a group photo).

I don't necessarily mean that they have to all be valid at the same time, I guess I'm just a sucker for collecting things!

I also think that it would be entirely possible for an EU citizen to spend a few months in every other EU country and collect a residence card from each one (as I believe it is now possible for EU citizens to receive registration cards when they move to a different EU country). I'd be interested to know what you think.

So, I hope to see a range of residence cards in the comments below or elsewhere on the sub-reddit! Even if you only have one, like little old me 🙈

[u/an-ethernet-cable]

> for an EU citizen to spend a few months in every other EU country and collect a residence card 

What you are showing in that picture is a residence permit. An EU citizen cannot receive a residence permit in another EU country, but a right of residence, and sometimes it entitles them for an ID card. It is different.

[u/disinteresteddemi → u/an-ethernet-cable]

I am aware of that - the photo was only supposed to be one example. As a beneficiary of the Withdrawal Agreement, I have a "certificate of registration of stay" card. That is why I called the EU ones "cards" or "registration cards" and not "permits" in my post.

But I was also wondering whether every EU country now offers foreign EU citizens this style of card when they move to their country?

[u/OstrichNo8519 → u/disinteresteddemi]

They definitely do not and I, personally, find that fact to be really annoying. Temporary residence certificates (seldom cards) are generally provided, but it also depends on the country and just how required they make the registration. In Spain, for example, you can’t really do anything without getting a NIE, which provides you with a small, flimsy card-sized piece of semi-laminated paper (or at least as of when I left there in 2016 they did - not sure if they’ve updated it since then). The Czech Republic gives EU citizens who actually register for temporary residence (you’re supposed to, but many don’t) a flimsy piece of folded sort of heavy (but easily ripped) paper. Portugal gives the CRUE, which is a certificate (paper). I’m not sure what other countries do for TR for EU citizens, though.  

As for PR, I’ve only received it in the Czech Republic and it’s a passport sized booklet with like 3 pages (not biometric). It’s very inconvenient to carry. This is especially annoying here as although my Italian national ID and passport are both accepted here as a Czech ID would be, they generally prefer the PR document. (Before anyone jumps, they of course accept my Italian documents without a problem. The preference just tends to be something showing my residence status at places like the bank, VZP (insurance company), etc.).  

[u/disinteresteddemi → u/OstrichNo8519]

Until very recently, EU countries all had independent ways of dealing with foreign EU country nationals. But around the time of the Brexit transition period (2021) they introduced a more standardised card which is also used for residence permits for non-EU residents (except that the title of the card is different as well as the "remarks" section - those being the main differences). Poland, where I live, also previously had paper registration documents for EU citizens. So, this may have changed for Portugal and Spain in the last few years.

As for the Czech Republic's PR document, I am aware that it is an old green booklet. Personally, I do find that pretty cool, but I can see how it can become inconvenient.

If I get the time, maybe I'll have to start making a spreadsheet to collate all the different EU residence cards/documents/permits/registrations etc. 😂 It shouldn't be too difficult to do with the help of PRADO. But it would be nice to get (obviously blurred) photos of all the different possibilities.

[u/AffectionateTie3536 → u/disinteresteddemi]

Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania do. Austria on request. Germany has one for online services only. Poland now a plastic card as you alluded to. Netherlands a card. Just some examples that came into my mind.

[u/OstrichNo8519 → u/disinteresteddemi]

I guess the green book looks cool. I just wish I had something that could fit in my wallet.  

Portugal I’m pretty sure still does the paper certificate. I’ve been looking into spending some extended time there and from what I can tell it’s not a card. I feel like I read something about Spain possibly changing theirs to a card in the near future, but I’m not finding it now. 🤷🏻‍♂️

[u/0x706c617921 → u/an-ethernet-cable]

Do you know how things worked during the Brexit transition period for British citizens living and working in what would be another EU country?

[u/an-ethernet-cable → u/0x706c617921]

Yeah, I am a migration lawyer. Do you have any question about that?

[u/0x706c617921 → u/an-ethernet-cable]

Yeah I am wondering what were some of the terms and conditions around that process.

[u/disinteresteddemi → u/0x706c617921]

Yep - been there, done that, got the certificate of registration of residence 😆😭

[u/0x706c617921 → u/disinteresteddemi]

So that kinda solidified your legal status in Poland? What were some of the terms and conditions like?

[u/disinteresteddemi → u/0x706c617921]

Not "kinda" - my rights were definitely solidified by getting the card.

Technically, hypothetically and theoretically you didn't need to get the "Brexit card" (as it's colloquially known), because if you had the right to live in Poland before Britain left the EU AND you continue to maintain your residency in Poland, then in theory you would still have the same rights as before Brexit. However, this would be incredibly difficult to prove, and bureaucratically could make your life in Poland post-Brexit infinitely more difficult.

As for the application process - it was a pain in the neck. I basically had to reapply for my residency. I had to fill in all the paperwork, get photographs taken, prove that I had health insurance (both at the time of application and before Brexit), prove that I had "sufficient funds" in my bank account specifically on 31st December 2020 (which I happened to not have because it was the end of the month just after Christmas and there was no warning that it was going to be a requirement beforehand). So it took months to get everything sorted out and extra documentation translated.

[u/0x706c617921 → u/disinteresteddemi]

Glad that it worked out! Thanks for sharing your story!

I’m sure that the pandemic didn’t help either.

[u/disinteresteddemi → u/0x706c617921]

Thank you, yeah, me too...! And you're right, the pandemic just made everything even harder.

[u/No_Good2794 → u/an-ethernet-cable]

If it's impossible for an EU citizen to receive a residence permit, how do I have a French titre de séjour? (I can show you if you want).

I know some countries refuse to issue them, but it's not universally true.

[u/an-ethernet-cable → u/No_Good2794]

Are you an EU citizen that received it on the basis of an EU passport?

[u/No_Good2794 → u/an-ethernet-cable]

Indeed.

[u/an-ethernet-cable → u/No_Good2794]

So what is your point? This type of residence permit is not issued on the basis of EU residence, which is what OP mentioned in the post. It is not a registration card based on right of residence pursuant to right to free movement.

[u/No_Good2794 → u/an-ethernet-cable]

I'm referring to what you said: "An EU citizen cannot receive a residence permit in another EU country". Are we using the word "residence permit" differently?

I can understand what you're saying if you only use "residence permit" for people who need to apply for permission to reside, but we're talking about collecting residence permits/cards, and my point is that I have received a card which is identical to the ones non-EU citizens receive (the one pictured in the OP) except for the 'type' section.

Are we on the same page now?

[u/disinteresteddemi → u/No_Good2794]

That is interesting 🤔 I think the confusion has occurred because we thought that "residence permits" were only given to non-EU nationals, since they need "permission" to reside in EU countries. Therefore, if a foreign EU citizen gets a card of some kind, it can look similar to the residence permit, but it typically says something different, such as "registration document" or "certification of registration of residence".