What is Residence permit?
Official authorization to live in a country for longer than a short-stay visa allows, usually tied to a purpose such as work, study, family, or independent income.
Also searched as: residence card, temporary residence.
A residence permit is what turns a long-stay visa into the right to actually settle: you typically enter on a national (long-stay) visa, then register locally and receive a residence card. Permits are usually renewable and can accumulate toward permanent residence.
Requirements, validity and renewal rules are country-specific, and the permit's category (work, study, family, self-sufficient) determines what you may and may not do.
Reviewed July 2026. General information, not legal, tax or immigration advice — always verify current official requirements.
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