EU, EEA and Swiss free movement

Freedom of movement

No visa or permit. Stays beyond three months require registration on the Central Register of Foreign Nationals and an NIE.

Who it is for. EU, EEA and Swiss citizens and their family members.

Researched, not independently verifiedhigh confidenceReviewed 20 September 2026

Fact

Income required: Not stated
Savings required: Not stated
Investment required: None
Application fee: Not stated
Processing time: Not stated
Permission lasts: —
Permanent residence: After 5 years
Citizenship: After 10 years

Remote work allowedLocal employment allowedFamily can join

Apply through the authority, not through us: immigration-portal.ec.europa.eu

Sources

Researched, not independently verifiedhigh confidenceReviewed 20 September 2026

Check this against

Directive 2004/38/EC — right of Union citizens and their family members to move and reside freely (opens in a new tab)European Union (EUR-Lex) · Supranational authority

Reference dataset, compiled 20 September 2026. This is a compiled reference dataset. Every figure is drawn from official material and cited, but no record has been signed off by a named editor working through the review console, so nothing here is marked verified. Immigration rules change without notice and consulates apply them differently. Check the linked authority before you act on anything. This site is not legal advice.