EU long-term residence permit and labor mobility within the European Union

The EU long-term residence permit for long-term residents is one of the most important tools for the integration of non-EU citizens who are stably resident in a Member State. This residence title not only guarantees greater legal stability, but also offers opportunities for mobility within the European Union, including the possibility of moving to another country for work reasons. However, the concrete ways of exercising this right vary from one State to another and require some preliminary checks. 

Mobility within the European Union

A non-EU citizen holding an EU long-term residence permit issued in Italy may move freely within EU countries, even for stays longer than 90 days. However, this does not mean that they are automatically authorized to work in the destination country.

Each Member State retains the authority to regulate access to its own labor market. For this reason, anyone intending to move for professional reasons must first check the required procedures, which may include specific authorizations or the issuance of a new residence permit.

It is always advisable to contact the competent offices in the destination country, although in many cases the practice is that the new State issues a work residence permit according to its own rules, without cancelling the original long-term permit.

Working in Italy with a long-term permit issued by another EU State

Italy also allows entry and employment for non-EU citizens holding an EU long-term residence permit issued by another Member State. If the stay is for work reasons and exceeds 90 days, the person concerned must first obtain a clearance (nulla osta) issued by the Single Immigration Desk (Sportello Unico per l’Immigrazione) competent for the place where the work activity will be carried out.

Since 2024, these clearances are no longer subject to the numerical limits of the “decreto flussi,” which represents a major simplification in access to employment for this category of foreigners. After the clearance is issued, the foreign citizen may apply for a residence permit for work at the competent Police Headquarters (Questura).

What happens to the original EU long-term residence permit

The issuance of a new work residence permit in Italy does not automatically lead to the revocation of the EU long-term residence permit issued by the Member State of origin. The Italian Questura does not withdraw the previous document, and the foreigner continues to hold long-term resident status in the first country.

This status can only be lost in specific situations, such as:

• absence from the territory of the European Union for twelve consecutive months;
• absence from the Member State that issued the permit for a prolonged period (generally six years);
• acquisition of long-term resident status in another Member State, such as Italy.

A permit that promotes professional mobility

The EU long-term residence permit is an important tool for promoting labor mobility within the European Union. Although it does not completely eliminate administrative procedures, it allows non-EU citizens who are stably resident to move more easily between Member States and access new professional opportunities.

To avoid problems or delays, it is always advisable to check in advance the rules of the destination country and verify whether additional documents are required. In this way, mobility within the European Union can take place smoothly and without bureaucratic complications.

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The content of this article is intended to provide general information on the topic. For doubts or specific cases, it is advisable to seek specialized legal advice tailored to your particular situation.

Article written by Alessia Ajelli, Managing Associate of LCA Studio Legale, Italian lawyer specialized on Italian immigration and citizenship law, and Paolo Grassi, Trainee of LCA Studio Legale.