Council Directive 2003/109/EC on the status of long-term resident third-country nationals (the Long-Term Residence Directive) is the main EU legislative instrument supporting the integration of third-country nationals residing in EU Member States. It provides long-term migrants with security of residence and grants them rights similar to those of EU citizens.

The EU LTR permit is underused, as most Member States issue national LTR permits, FRA’s research and previous findings show. However, only EU long-term resident status provides the right to move and reside in other EU Member States. It also grants more extended protection against expulsion and, in some Member States, more equal treatment rights than national LTR permits do. From a fundamental rights perspective, the EU LTR permit should therefore be promoted and made more attractive.

This report concludes inter alia that:

• Member States should increase their efforts to inform third-country nationals of the existence and conditions of EU long-term resident status. They should also promote the issuance of corresponding permits.
   
• The residence and income requirements are the key barriers preventing third-country nationals from successfully applying for EU long-term resident status. Revising the Long-Term Residence Directive to include a more flexible approach to the calculation of the five years required could reduce this difficulty.
   
• Reducing administrative complexities and arbitrariness faced by migrants when applying for the EU LTR permit would facilitate access to a secure residence status and enhance mobility to other EU Member States.
   
• As the right to intra-EU mobility is the main advantage of EU long-term resident status over national LTR permits, barriers to intra-EU mobility should be removed.

For further information, please visit this webpage and read the full report above.