In recent years, as immigration policies in traditional major immigration countries such as the United States, Australia, and Canada have continued to tighten, simple, fast, and convenient European property investment immigration has emerged as a dark horse in the immigration industry, attracting a steady stream of clients. EU Long-Term Resident status and the national permanent residence of an EU member state are actually two different concepts. It is important not to confuse them, as immigrants with different statuses enjoy different benefits. So, what exactly is the difference between EU Long-Term Resident status and the national permanent residence of an EU member state?
National Permanent Residence of an EU Member State
National permanent residence in the EU refers to the status granted by an EU member state to citizens of non-EU countries who meet the statutory conditions, in accordance with the provisions of that country's foreign residence or immigration laws. Examples include the property investment immigration policies of Cyprus and Greece.
A permanent resident of a specific EU member state generally enjoys the same rights, benefits, and obligations as citizens of that country (with the exception of politically related rights such as the right to vote and stand for election).
Benefits for Children's Education under National Permanent Residence
Children of holders of this status enjoy the same treatment as citizens of the country when studying in the country that issued the national permanent residence status.
It must be noted that holding permanent residence in one EU country does not grant you the same treatment as a citizen when studying in other EU countries. However, you may enjoy a different kind of advantage.
For example, even if you hold national permanent residence in Cyprus, when you go to study in Germany, although you cannot enjoy the tuition rates of local citizens, you are still considered a "relative" in a sense. Possessing permanent residence in an EU country offers a significant advantage compared to applying directly as a Chinese international student (including in terms of admission quotas and tuition fees).
Only by holding citizenship of an EU country or EU Long-Term Resident status can one enjoy the tuition rates of local citizens when studying in any EU country.
How to Obtain National Permanent Residence in an EU Country
Most EU countries do not have direct permanent residence immigration programs. Most countries issue temporary residence permits, typically valid for one year initially and renewable annually; some countries issue two-year residence permits initially, which are renewed after two years for a validity of two or three years.
These countries generally stipulate that one can apply for national permanent residence after five years. Most countries require that you reside in the country for no less than six months per year during those five years. The conditions for this national permanent residence are slightly less stringent than the requirement for EU Long-Term Residence, which mandates that one must not be absent from the EU territory for more than 10 months in total over the five-year period.
However, as mentioned earlier, EU countries such as Cyprus and Greece have direct permanent residence immigration programs, which can be processed as long as the application conditions are met. (Please refer to the actual policies of the relevant institutions at the time of application.)
EU Long-Term Resident Status
An EU Long-Term Resident, or Long-term resident of EC, is a status issued by EU member states following the 2003 EU Long-Term Residence Directive, which has been transposed into national law by member states. Holders of this status issued by any EU country have the right to freely settle, work, conduct business, and study in other EU countries.
Holders of this status enjoy the same tuition rates as local citizens when studying in any EU country, without having to pay the international student tuition rates applicable to non-EU citizens.
Nature of EU Long-Term Resident Status
This status represents the right to long-term residence within the EU, along with the right to work, study, and conduct business within the EU. Although the name is "long-term resident of EC," EU legislation explicitly states that the nature of this status is "permanent." It also stipulates that while the nature of the EU Long-Term Resident status is that of an EU permanent resident, it must be renewed every five years.
Although it needs to be renewed every five years, the regulations state that this renewal must be "automatic." While an application is required in advance, it is relatively simple and convenient.
How to Obtain EU Long-Term Resident Status
Any EU country has the right to issue EU Long-Term Resident status. According to EU law, the condition for issuance is five years of legal residence in an EU country (residence based on studies does not count, even if it reaches five years). Whether you hold legal residence status or national permanent residence status in an EU country, you must have completed five years of legal residence before you can apply for EU Long-Term Resident status.
The specific requirement for applying for EU Long-Term Residence is that within these five years, you must not have been absent from the EU for more than 10 months in total, and no single absence from the EU may exceed six months.
Of course, after five years, if you meet the conditions for both national permanent residence and EU long-term residence, you can decide which status to apply for. It must be noted that in the immigration or foreign residence laws of many EU countries, there is no concept of permanent residence. In such countries, if you meet the conditions for EU long-term residence (residence duration and language proficiency) after five years of residence, you can apply directly for EU long-term residence, and with that status, you naturally have the right to reside permanently in that country.