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34
T H E P R I M E R U S P A R A D I G M
Living and Working in Europe
Once established in the European Union
(EU) as a foreign entrepreneur, does the
EU single market, with its free movement
of labor, work for you, too? Of course,
EU citizens are free to live and work in
any EU Member State. However, non-EU
citizens often require a residence and
work permit to be allowed to work in the
EU legally. Most residence permits are
valid in one EU Member State only. In this
article, I will discuss the permits required
by entrepreneurs and their employees to
stay and work in the EU.
Please keep in mind that as a Dutch
lawyer, I can only advise on European
and Dutch migration law and on entry
of foreign nationals to the Netherlands.
The same goes for migration lawyers in
other EU Member States. Thus, members
of the International Society of Primerus
Law Firms are ideally suited to advise
non-European companies that intend to
expand across the continent.
EU/European Economic Area
(EEA) and Swiss Nationals
Nationals of EU/EEA Member States
and Switzerland, as well as their family
members (regardless of their nationality),
in principle, only need a valid passport
to enter and reside in any other Member
State, provided that they do not constitute
a danger to public order, public security
or public health, and are able to support
Europe, Middle East & Africa ­ Netherlands
themselves. If they do so, they are free
to work in the Netherlands. They have
lawful residence on the basis of the
treaties concerned. Those who want to
stay for more than three months must
register their domicile with the municipal
personal records database. After five years
of continuous stay in another Member
State, EU/EEA/Swiss nationals can apply
for a document certifying "permanent
residence as an EU/EEA/Swiss national."
Non-EU/EEA/Swiss Nationals
Non-EU/EEA/Swiss nationals (in the
following referred to as "foreigners") who
wish to stay in the Netherlands for more
than three months need a Dutch residence
Ynze Kliphuis is a senior lawyer at Russell
Advocaten B.V. He is an experienced lawyer who
serves as outside corporate counsel to foreign
and domestic businesses, as well as embassies
and consulates. He deals with all aspects of
international business immigration, real estate
and rent.
Russell Advocaten B.V.
Reimersbeek 2
Amsterdam, Netherlands 1082 AG
+31 20 301 55 55 Phone
ynze.kliphuis@russell.nl
russell.nl
Ynze Kliphuis