US citizen retiring in Sweden?

USA Citizen Living in Sweden Wants to Work in Other EU Countries: What's Needed?

• BACKGROUND: I have been living in Sweden with my Swedish fiancée since January 2006. Our wedding date is in August. After we are married I need to find a job, hopefully in the UK, Netherlands, Luxembourg or one of the other EU countries. Before I came to Sweden I applied for and received a "permanent residence permit." I place "permanent residence permit" in quotes because I think it might have to be renewed every three years even though it says permanent (something I read on a website but not sure if accurate). I am quite certain that I can work in Sweden with this residence permit, but I am not sure about the other EU countries (I know it may depend country by country). So, assuming that I have the "permanent residence permit" that I say I have and with me holding you harmless and releasing you from any liability from a wrong or incomplete answer, the questions is: PRE-QUESTION NOTE: If you need or want to pick one country as an example, please use the Netherlands since I have a job lead there right now. Other primary countries of interest are UK and Luxembourg. QUESTION (please provide links / references to sources): 1) Can I work in Sweden with my Swedish residence permit or do I need a separate work permit? 2) Can I work in any other EU countries with my Swedish residence permit or do I need a separate work permit(s)? Which ones, if any, can I work in with my existing residence permit? 3) If I need additional permits, where and how do I get them? Just a single one for EU or need for each additional country? 4) Can I apply for and get the work permit(s) before I get a job or do I need a job offer to get the permit? This is a chicken and egg thing, as it might be hard to get a work permit without a job offer and hard to get a job offer without a permit. 5) Understanding my citizenship, residency, existing permit, and desire to work in the Netherlands or another EU country, are you aware of any additional info I should be asking about? Like my favorite war criminal, Donald Rumsfeld, says, As we know, There are known knowns. There are things we know we know. We also know There are known unknowns. That is to say We know there are some things We do not know. But there are also unknown unknowns, The ones we don't know We don't know. Final note: I know this is more like a $100 question (or even more?) but I am unemployed, hoping to remedy the situation. Thank you in advance for any assistance you can offer.

• Answer:

  Congratulations (to upcoming marriage and good news) ---------------- Good news are (generally stated) that permanent residents of a EU country and fiances of EU citizens are treated as EU citizens - that is will. Devil is in the details: you may eligible both ways (as a fiance, and a resident or EU country) but if you change status (marry) your visa based on former status become invalid instantly, and new visa may have unpleasant requirements (like applyimg from the outside) Here an example such 'catch-ya-s' for UK, : "Fiancé/e of an UK Citizen, permanent resident or EU Citizen The requirements for immigration to UK as a Fiancé/e?s are very similar to the rules for married couples. You may wish to consider very carefully whether it is best to marry first and then apply for entry as this will avoid the necessity of making a fiance/e application and then a second application to remain as a spouse. However, please note that it is no longer possible for most visitors to change status to a spouse visa. The basic requirements for immigration to UK are as follows.." http://www.workpermit.com/uk/fiance.htm Specific countries ------------------- Holland In mid June,[ 2003] the EU ministers of Justice and Home Affairs decided in Luxembourg that a non-EU citizen who legally resides in one of the 15 EU states for a minimum of five years, shall be eligible for a (local) permanent residence permit. For this, the non-EU person will have to prove that (s)he has sufficient financials means, has adequate health insurance, and has successfully passed an integration course. And here is the real good news: the permanent residence permit entitles the holder to move to another EU country following a (relatively easy) standard procedure. In both EU countries, the holder of the permanent residence permit will enjoy approximately the same rights as regular EU citizens. http://www.expatica.com/source/site_article.asp?subchannel_id=6&story_id=124&name=The+Lowlands+and+Europe+ UK Can my (EU citizen's) family work in the United Kingdom? Yes, your family can work in the United Kingdom and they do not need a work permit. http://www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk/applying/eeaeunationals Official (all-EU) and otherwise unreadable regulations ---------------- thre are four groups and three phases * 6 (giving only 48 cases) - and improvement over 25*12 pairs of 25 countries *6 cases for 6 types of people; 6 are possible answers to three questions: Are you [ 1)resident of 2)fiance of 3) spouse of ] a EU citizen) groups "EU-25 Member States" means all Member States forming part of the EU after 1 May 2004 "EU-15 Member States" means all Member States forming part of the EU before 1 May 2004. "EU-10 Member States" means all States that joined the EU on 1 May 2004. "EU-8 Member States" means all EU-10 Member States except for Malta and Cyprus. First phase The first phase of the transitional arrangements started on 1 May 2004 and ended on 30 April 2006. Second phase 2006 - 2009 Summary: ---------- None of the EU-8 Member States have thus far resorted to the safeguard procedure, which would mean that EC law on free moment of workers continues to apply among the EU-8 Member States. http://ec.europa.eu/employment_social/free_movement/enlargement_en.htm So, in practical terms, you can start looking for a job, and select date of mariage so that it will not interfere with whatever specific situation yoe will be in. I will give you $60 credit for the poetry, and feel free to ask for clarification. Hedgie