European Union - Residence Permit for Self-Sufficiency

Hi,

I have been trying to find information about this for a while now but it is more difficult than I thought, so my hope is that some of you on this board will know at least the detail of some country.

What I am trying to find out is the minimum requirements to get a Residence Permit for Self-Sufficiency (for a European citizen). The only country that I have been able to find out myself is Bulgaria.

Bulgaria: €8 000/annum. (although another source says €3 000)

Does anyone know about the rest of EU, and perhaps even the European countries outside of EU?

Hi, I dont think there is a definitive number, it varies from state to state, based on the member states standard. The fine line is that you need to support yourself without being a burden to the state.

Since you asked, the benchmark I personally would suggest is the minimum pension scale of the host member state. I had done this for Norway, which was around 18000 NOK per month at that time shown over a year. you could also look in to the minimum income required for a specific member state. for example, in Netherlands, for a couple (EU+non EU), when the EU citizen is employed. it is around 1650e per month.

There really isn't an exact number to honest, The above are just to give you an idea of what to expect.

Thank you gokulatti, it gives me some idea of what to expect. It seems to be as you say, that there isn't any definite numbers set by the governments.

Do you (or anyone else) know if a property in one European country can be used as an asset for self-sufficiency to get residence permit in another? For example I have an apartment in the Netherlands and I wish to apply for Residence Permit for Self-Sufficiency in Germany.

In our bank I believe we might hold about €10 000. If it is like you said, based on either minimum pension/income level of the country, we would be "limited to" Eastern Europe mainly I would assume. Northern Europe would have a much higher minimum level and most of Western Europe would be difficult as well I believe.

Does anyone know of any countries that might be in our "reach"? Looking at the list I found below of minimum wages in Europe, Group 1 and Group 2 countries should be no problem.

http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics ... 017_I.xlsx

Country
Min. wages EUR per month

Group 1
Bulgaria
112
Romania
139
Lithuania
232
Latvia
230
Czech Republic
300
Hungary
272
Croatia (¹)
380
Slovakia
241
Poland
313
Estonia
278

Group 2
Portugal
497
Greece
794
Malta
617
Slovenia
539
Spain
700

Group 3
United Kingdom
1,242
France
1,280
Germany (²)
1,498
Belgium
1,310
Netherlands
1,335
Ireland
1,462
Luxembourg
1,570

your situation is a little confusing for me, you ask residence permit for a European citizen. EU citizens do not need a residence permit/card in any other member state they merely need a registration certificate only if their stay is over 3 months for which they should be exercising their treaty right i.e. self sufficient included.

maybe if you could tell more, you might more inputs from people.

The source of funds could be anything really you only need to show documentation that you are self sufficient. In my case we just went to the bank and got a loan and then showed that funds as money we would be using for living expenses, which we showed for a year.

Sorry, it might have been a bit confusing.

You are right, I would be required to get a Certificate for EU Citizen, not a Residence Permit. My wife however is a non-EU citizen, and would need a Residence Permit for a family member of an EU Citizen (or something of that sort).

In my case we just went to the bank and got a loan and then showed that funds as money we would be using for living expenses

I suppose then that you also have a job in Norway? For us this option would be difficult since neither of us have a job in EU.

Myself I work from home, remotely, with the office which is located in Asia. So my salary is not paid out to any European bank. My wife does not have a job.

So our situation is as followed. We have no income in any EU-country, we have an apartment as asset in one of the European countries (Bulgaria) and we have about €10 000 in our Bulgarian bank account.

Do you know anyone that has lived in any of the "Group 2"- or "Group 3"-countries under Self-Sufficiency?

gokulatti wrote:So our situation is as followed. We have no income in any EU-country, we have an apartment as asset in one of the European countries (Bulgaria) and we have about €10 000 in our Bulgarian bank account.

As I see it, being in almost similar predicament, If I were you I would loan some more funds from family or friends (if possible) and break the 1 year funds threshold (use your judgement) somehow for a specific eu state. I think you are confusing the minimum wages for minimum income required to run a joint household as a couple, here for Netherlands https://ind.nl/en/Pages/income.aspx

I believe this is the benchmark they look for. however in context of directive 2004/38, there is no definitive xxx number that is required because then that gives immigration authorities, a reason to deny an application based on xxx which is against the sole purpose of directive 2004/38 and TFEU.

This could be very a useful explanation (see page 43)
https://www.freemovement.org.uk/wp-cont ... ciency.pdf

Thanks, those links contains some good information. We will explore our options and see where it leads us.

We had hoped for a more simple guideline, e.g. a minimum amount of € for country X etc. But as you say that's not the case, seems to be no definite required numbers.

Italy: on the following link there is a chart with the moint needed
http://www.understandingitaly.com/livin ... dency.html

France: click on "Ressources Suffisantes", the amounts are there

https://www.service-public.fr/particuli ... its/F12017


Estonia: Inactive citizens (pensioners, self-sufficient persons) don't need to submit any proof of sufficient resources

http://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/re ... dex_en.htm


Luxembourg: written in french but you can use google translate to get an idea:
Une personne bénéficiant d'une pension ne peut se déclarer comme inactif que si elle dispose d'une pension au moins égale au revenu minimum garanti ou d'une pension d'au minimum 500 euros si elle est logée gratuitement

http://www.guichet.public.lu/citoyens/f ... index.html


Bulgaria: Inactive citizens (pensioners, self-sufficient persons) must present the following documents as proof of sufficient resources:

Proof that they receive a pension and that they have a bank account in Bulgaria
Proof that they are financially independent - this is considered as having a monthly income equal to the national minimum wage per month.
http://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/re ... dex_en.htm


Malta: Economic Self-Sufficiency

This criterion requires that such individuals show that they are able to provide for themselves and for their accompanying dependants by being financially stable and not being in need of any financial support from the Maltese government. The current thresholds for EU/EEA nationals are set at a minimum capital of €14,000 or a weekly income of €92.32 for single persons, and at a capital of at least €23,300 or a weekly income of €108.63 for married couples. Moreover, an extra €8.15 is required per any added dependent.

http://www.mondaq.com/x/241876/general+ ... +Residence


Slovenia: family reunion or other reasons – sufficient means of subsistence (in establishing these, the personal circumstances of EEA citizens are taken into account whereas their monthly amount may not be below the level set for obtaining financial social aid in accordance with the act regulating social care) and adequate health insurance

http://www.mnz.gov.si/en/services/slove ... u_and_eea/
FINANCIAL SOCIAL ASSISTANCE

Pursuant to the Social Security Act, financial social assistance provides the users with means for meeting minimum needs in the amount guaranteeing their subsistence. Subsistence is considered to be provided if the entitled person receives income, after deduction of taxes and compulsory social security contributions, amounting to the minimum income.

From 1. 8. 2016 the basic minimum income amounts to EUR 292,56

http://www.mddsz.gov.si/en/areas_of_wor ... ssistance/



Czech Republic: Have a look at the amount of the subsistence minimum and the costs of housing on the following link. Should give you an idea

http://www.mvcr.cz/mvcren/article/proof ... dence.aspx


Portugal: A declaration on oath that you have sufficient resources

http://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/re ... dex_en.htm


Liechtenstein:

http://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/re ... dex_en.htm


Romania: have a look at 1.2.Residency based means of support and click on proof of the existence of support for the amounts

http://igi.mai.gov.ro/en/content/citizens-eu-eea



Will update if i find anymore info. Hope that helps

Norway: Requirements

You have enough money to support yourself and any family members you will bring with you to Norway. If you are single, you must normally have at least NOK 179 748 per year before tax. If you have family members who you support, you must have more money than this. The money can for example be money in a bank account or a pension.
You must hold a European Health Insurance Card (external website) or have private medical insurance

https://www.udi.no/en/want-to-apply/the ... a#link-882

Belgium: on the following link under "ressources insuffisante" you will find the amounts considered to be enough not to become a burden on the state and rely on social aid

http://www.vivreenbelgique.be/5-la-prot ... r-les-cpas

Cyprus: the following link concerning the guaranteed minimum income and housing allowance should give you an idea

http://infocyprus.com/citizen/families- ... -allowance

Finland:
If you are not employed or self-employed, registering the right of residence requires that you have sufficient funds for yourself and for your family members to live in Finland. You are not required to have a specific amount of money. Your personal circumstances are taken into account when considering the income requirement.

http://www.migri.fi/eu_registration/prime101_en.aspx

However i would use the amount of basic social assistance as a guideline which you can find at the link at the bottom
http://www.kela.fi/web/en/social-assist ... sic-amount

Austria:

Adequate means of subsistence
The applicant must have fixed and regular own income enabling him/her to cover his/her living costs without resorting to welfare aid from local authorities. At the time of application the regular monthly income must be equal to the amount of the standard rates of the General Social Insurance Act (ASVG).

For singles: €889.84
For couples: €1,334.17
For each child additionally €137.30

http://www.migration.gv.at/en/types-of- ... residence/

@ luobin, where are you guys at these days? Have you worked something out? Just curious. Please share

AJ101 wrote: ↑

Thu Sep 21, 2017 7:24 am

@ luobin, where are you guys at these days? Have you worked something out? Just curious. Please share

We still haven't moved yet, but our current plan is to relocate to Ireland.

We contacted an Irish immigration service whom told us that we needed "income of €1 600 per month or €17 000 savings in our bank", and this should cover our family's residence.

flyboy wrote:

Thanks for the list, great sources!

@ luobin ... you guys also looking at possible tax implications?

luobin wrote: ↑

Tue Oct 03, 2017 7:51 pm

AJ101 wrote: ↑

Thu Sep 21, 2017 7:24 am

@ luobin, where are you guys at these days? Have you worked something out? Just curious. Please share

We still haven't moved yet, but our current plan is to relocate to Ireland.

We contacted an Irish immigration service whom told us that we needed "income of €1 600 per month or €17 000 savings in our bank", and this should cover our family's residence.

flyboy wrote:

Thanks for the list, great sources!

Can you please share the official response letter ?

Welcome to ireland i'm on sufficient funds here but we have an income of 2000€ per month for the couple

1) Hello Everyone,

Would you please help, I am an EU citizen (Irish) and I am moving to Spain and I want to use my Treaty Rights to join my mum (she is non EU). I am going to live in Spain as a self-sufficient. To apply for the residence for me and for my mum (she is dependent) I need to show enough funds on my bank account. Does anybody know which period of time these funds should cover? One year or 5 years (as resident card will be given for 5 years) or any other period?

2) @gokulatti, as far as I understood you had similar situation, and you showed the funds for one year, would you please tell did you get a card for 5 years, but funds should cover only one year?

Thank you.