If you have an immediate family member who is an EU citizen, then you may join them in the EU country in which they reside. To do so, you must be able to prove that you are closely related and (in certain cases) dependent on them.
Family members of EU citizens enjoy many of the same rights as nationals of the host EU country, including residency, work, access to healthcare and social security benefits, etc.
Who Is an EU Citizen?
Citizens of the following countries are EU citizens:
- Austria
- Belgium
- Bulgaria
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- Ireland
- Italy
- Latvia
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Netherlands
- Poland
- Portugal
- Romania
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
Although Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland are not EU members, they are connected to the European Union through the EEA (European Economic Area) and EFTA (European Free Trade Association). As such, citizens of these countries enjoy the same rights as EU citizens.
Who Is a Family Member of an EU Citizen?
You are considered a close family member of an EU citizen if:
- You are the spouse or registered partner of an EU citizen.
- You are the dependent, unmarried, child (under the age of 21) of an EU citizen.
- You are the parent of an EU citizen who is under the age of 21 and relies on you for support.
- You are the child, grandchild, or another descendant of an EU citizen, and are dependent on the EU citizen because you cannot meet your basic needs.
- You are the parent, grandparent, or another ancestor of an EU citizen, and are dependent on the EU citizen for your basic needs.
- You are the dependent immediate relative (child, parent, etc) of an EU citizen’s spouse.
Requirements to Join a Family Member in the EU
If your family member is legally working and earning income in the EU, then there are no additional requirements to meet, as long as you provide proof of your relationship, and they are capable of financially supporting you.
If your family member is a pensioner/retiree in the EU, they must be able to prove that:
- They can support you financially, without relying on income support.
- You and any other family member will have adequate health insurance.
If your family member is a student in an EU country, you can join them, provided they meet the following criteria:
- They are registered in an approved educational institution
- They can support you financially, without relying on income support.
- You and any other family member will have adequate health insurance.
Rights of the Family Members of EU Citizens
As an immediate family member of an EU citizen, you have the right to join your family member in the EU country in which they live. Once you are granted permission, you will enjoy the same rights as your family member, in terms of work, residence, social benefits, access to work and education, and the right to equal pay.
Specific entry requirements will depend on your nationality.
Entering the EU as a Family Member
If you are from a country whose citizens do not need a Schengen visa, you can travel directly to the EU.
If you are from a country whose citizens need a Schengen visa, you must apply for an entry visa, depending on how long you intend to stay in the EU. You must apply for a Schengen visa if you will stay for less than three months, and a national visa if you will stay longer than three months.
EU countries that have not joined the Schengen Agreement will have a different entry visa policy (Ireland, and Cyprus).
Establishing Residency in an EU Country
If you plan to stay in the EU longer than three months, you need a residence permit card. You can apply for a residence card after you enter the EU county where you will live, at the local city hall, an immigration office, or the police authorities.
You need the following documents to apply for a residence card as a family member of an EU citizen:
- You and your EU family member’s valid passports.
- The residence certificate of the EU national family member (or other proof of residing in the EU country).
- Proof of family relationship (e.g. a marriage or birth certificate).
- Proof of being in a long-term relationship, if you are unmarried partners.
- Proof of dependence, if you are the child, grandchild, parent, or grandparent of an EU national.
- Proof you are dependent on the EU national due to health problems, which require someone to take care of you.
The application process for an EU residence card can take up to six months. During this time, you are allowed to stay in the EU, even if your initial entry visa expires.
Learn more about how to become an EU citizen by exploring the EU Citizenship Pathways guide on VisaGuide.World.
Working in the EU
As a family member of an EU citizen, you can freely work in the EU country which issued your residence permit card. You do not have to apply for a work permit, and you will be treated in the same way as nationals of that country, in terms of taxes and social security benefits.
You cannot work in the EU if you do not have a residence permit.
Studying in the EU
Once you have your residence permit, you can study in any educational institution in the EU country which issued it. For example, if you have a German residence permit, you can study at any German university or school.
However, to study in another EU country, you must apply for a residence permit for that other country.
Traveling to Another EU country
After you receive your residence card as a family member of an EU citizen, you can freely travel to any other EU country. You can travel as a tourist for up to three months in a six-month period.
Moving to Another EU Country
You cannot use the residence card issued by one EU country to move to another EU country. You will have to apply for a residence card in that country as well (provided that you meet the required conditions). For example, if you are married to a French citizen, and are admitted to a university in Germany, you will have to apply for a German student residence permit.
If you are dependent on your spouse or family member, they may also have to move with you.
Permanent Residence for Family Members of EU Citizens
As a family member of an EU citizen, you can apply for permanent residence after five years of living in the EU country. If you receive a permanent residency card, it will be valid for ten years and is renewed automatically, without you having to meet additional requirements.
Permanent residency grants you more security in an EU country, even if your family situation changes (e.g. you get a divorce).
If the Family Situation Changes
If your family situation changes after you have already obtained permanent residence in the host EU country, then you may still continue to live there. In certain cases, you may also continue to live there even before you obtain permanent residence:
- If your family member dies: If your EU family member dies before you acquire permanent residence, you may continue to stay in the host EU country only if you had already been living there for at least one year prior to their death
- If you get a divorce: If you and your EU spouse divorce before you can obtain permanent residency, you may continue to live in your host EU country only if:
- You had already been living there for at least one year prior to your divorce.
- You and your spouse were married for at least three years before filing for divorce.
- You have custody of your minor children or you have the right of access to them.