Master prompt
EU mobility + Long-Term Residence (LTR-EU) advisory (Directive 2003/109/EC)
Map intra-EU mobility for residence permit holders, EU Long-Term Residence status after 5 years, and pathway to permanent settlement + naturalisation across member states.
EUEU mobilityLong-Term ResidenceDirective 2003/109/ECPermanent residenceNaturalisation
[CLIENT_NAME] holds [CURRENT_PERMIT_TYPE] in [CURRENT_EU_COUNTRY] from [PERMIT_START_DATE]; total EU residence [TOTAL_EU_RESIDENCE]. Map mobility + Long-Term Residence + naturalisation.
§1 — EU LONG-TERM RESIDENCE (LTR-EU) STATUS
Directive 2003/109/EC — EU Long-Term Resident:
Eligibility:
(a) 5 years of LEGAL residence in EU member state immediately before application
(b) Stable + regular income to support self + family
(c) Health insurance
(d) Language proficiency (member states require; varies)
(e) Integration (where required by national law)
What counts toward 5 years:
• Residence permits under national law (work, family, etc.)
• EU Blue Card time (counts across member states under post-2021 recast)
• Some study permit time (national variations)
• Asylum: time pending decision typically not counted; granted asylum status time counts
What does NOT count:
• Diplomatic / international organisation permits
• Tolerated stay (Duldung etc.)
• Time on short Schengen visas
• Time outside EU (absences > 6 months typically interrupt; > 12 months may reset)
For [CLIENT_NAME] with [PERMIT_START_DATE] + [TOTAL_EU_RESIDENCE]:
• If ≥ 5 years legal residence: ELIGIBLE
• If less: continue accumulating; track absences
§2 — LTR-EU APPLICATION (AT CURRENT MEMBER STATE)
Application via national authority in [CURRENT_EU_COUNTRY]:
A. Country-specific application form:
• Portugal: AIMA application
• Spain: Residencia de Larga Duración-UE form
• Italy: Permesso di Soggiorno UE per soggiornanti di lungo periodo
• Netherlands: IND application
• France: Carte de résident de longue durée — UE
• Germany: Erlaubnis zum Daueraufenthalt-EU (§9a AufenthG)
B. Documents:
• Passport biographical page
• All prior residence permits (full history)
• Local registration (Anmeldung / Empadronamiento / etc.)
• Income evidence (last 3-5 years tax declarations + recent pay slips)
• Stable employment / business evidence
• Health insurance certificate
• Language certificate at required level (verify per member state):
— Germany: B1 German
— France: A2 French (oral) for LTR
— Portugal: A2 Portuguese
— Spain: typically A2 Spanish + integration test
— Italy: A2 Italian
— Netherlands: A2 / NT2 / various
• Integration certificate / course (where required)
• Criminal record certificate from country of origin + any country lived in 12+ months past 10 years
• Lease / accommodation evidence (5-year history preferred)
C. Application fee (varies):
• Germany: EUR 113-147 // verify
• France: EUR 269 // verify
• Italy: EUR 100-200 // verify
• Portugal: EUR 53 // verify
• Spain: EUR 22 // verify
D. Processing: 4-6 months typical
E. Authorization if local immigration lawyer represented
§3 — LTR-EU BENEFITS
Once granted:
• Permanent residence status (no expiry — but card renewable every 5-10 years; status itself permanent)
• Equal treatment with nationals on:
— Employment + working conditions
— Education + training (with restrictions)
— Social security + social assistance
— Tax benefits
— Access to goods + services
— Freedom of association
• Mobility to OTHER EU member states for work / study / self-employment (Directive 2003/109 Chapter III)
• Cannot lose status easily — only on long absences (12+ months out of EU) or serious crime
§4 — INTRA-EU MOBILITY FOR LTR-EU HOLDERS
Under Directive 2003/109 Chapter III:
• LTR-EU holder may move to another EU member state for work, study, family
• Apply within 3 months of arrival in second member state
• Second member state must grant residence permit (subject to public policy / labour market access)
• Simplified procedure compared to first-time application
• Family members may also move
For Stay in current state if different from [CURRENT_EU_COUNTRY]:
• Plan: apply for residence in new state with LTR-EU status as basis
• Maintain LTR-EU in [CURRENT_EU_COUNTRY] (can lose if absent > 6 years from EU OR 6 years from first member state — rules vary)
§5 — INTRA-EU MOBILITY FOR EU BLUE CARD HOLDERS (BEFORE LTR-EU)
Directive 2021/1883:
• Short-term mobility (12+ months on Blue Card): work in second state for ≤ 90 days
• Long-term mobility (18+ months): new Blue Card in second state
• Cumulative time across states counts toward LTR-EU 5-year clock
§6 — NATURALISATION PATHWAYS (after LTR-EU)
Each member state has own naturalisation rules:
• Germany: 5 years legal residence + B1 + integration (3 if married to German); dual citizenship now allowed (2024 reform)
• France: 5 years legal residence + B1 + integration; dual citizenship allowed
• Italy: 10 years legal residence (4 EU; 3 stateless; 2 for spouses of Italians); dual citizenship allowed
• Spain: 10 years (2 for Latin American + Ibero-American countries' nationals); dual citizenship limited
• Portugal: 5 years legal residence + A2 + integration; dual citizenship allowed
• Netherlands: 5 years legal residence + A2 + integration; dual citizenship restricted (must renounce in most cases)
§7 — PATHWAY MAP FOR [CLIENT_NAME]
Based on [TOTAL_EU_RESIDENCE] + A2 + Apply for LTR-EU at 5 years:
If [TOTAL_EU_RESIDENCE] < 5 years:
• Continue accumulating legal residence
• Maintain language progression
• Plan LTR-EU application at 5-year mark
• Apply for renewals of current permit on schedule
If [TOTAL_EU_RESIDENCE] ≥ 5 years + A2 meets requirement:
• Apply for LTR-EU now
• Maintain residence + employment
• Plan naturalisation at member-state-specific threshold
If Apply for LTR-EU at 5 years mentions moving:
• For Blue Card holders: intra-EU mobility under Directive 2021/1883
• For non-Blue-Card holders: apply for new permit in target state (cumulative time toward LTR-EU)
§8 — RED FLAGS
• Absences > 6 months without good reason: break continuity for LTR-EU
• Tax non-compliance: scrutinised in LTR-EU + citizenship applications
• Language not at required level: refused or deferred
• Integration deficiencies (criminal record, social-assistance dependency): refused
• Member state's specific national rules: verify before application
§9 — POST-LTR-EU ACTIONS
• Permanent residence card issued
• Update employer + tax authority + insurance + bank
• Plan naturalisation timing
• Mobility planning if intent to move
End with: "DRAFT EU LTR + mobility advisory — for [CURRENT_EU_COUNTRY]-specific immigration lawyer review. Verify current Directive 2003/109/EC national implementation + naturalisation rules. Some member states (Germany 2024, Italy reforms) have evolved; cross-check current rules + language requirements. LTR-EU is a strong status — permanent, EU-mobility, less revocable than national permits. Plan 5-year residence clock + language progression in parallel."Unlock the vault to see the full prompt