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Revising the EU Long-Term Resident Directive: What the 2023 Proposal Means for Portugal
The proposed 2023 revision to the EU Long-Term Resident Directive introduces greater mobility across member states and allows aggregating residence periods accumulated in multiple EU countries.
On 13 November 2023, the European Parliament and Council advanced negotiations on a revised Long-Term Resident (LTR) Directive, with consolidated texts published on EUR-Lex outlining intended changes. While not yet in force, the 2023 documents mark the most substantial reform to EU long-term residence rules since 2003.
The proposed reform introduces greater mobility across EU member states, reducing barriers for third-country nationals who wish to move from one EU country to another for work or study. It also permits counting certain periods of legal residence accumulated in multiple EU countries toward the five-year requirement for long-term resident status.
For foreign nationals living in Portugal—especially Americans, Brazilians, British, Israelis and Canadians who plan to build a long-term life in Europe—these changes could be transformative once adopted. Individuals who begin their residence journey in Portugal may later find it easier to relocate to another EU country without restarting their legal residency clock.
The LTR status coexists with Portuguese permanent residence and citizenship pathways. For many expatriates, it may become an additional safety net, offering more flexibility for careers that involve mobility within Europe.
Because the proposal is not yet enacted law, applicants must continue to follow current Portuguese rules. However, this 2023 revision effort signals a shift toward more unified and migrant-friendly EU-wide integration rules.
Official source: EUR-Lex, documentation of the proposed revision to the Long-Term Resident Directive, 13 November 2023 (https://eur-lex.europa.eu)