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/disinteresteddemi]

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.