Residence permit cards to be introduced in May
All EU countries must introduce residence permit cards no later than 20 May this year. The cards will replace the current permit stickers for a residence permit and maintain the same security standard as passport documents.
The aim of the residence permit cards, or UT card, is to be more secure than the current permit stickers. The cards will therefore have a chip with the holder's biometrics in the form of a photograph and prints from two fingers.
The UT cards will have the same format as normal bank cards. They will be issued for all forms of residence permit. Every card will have the label ‘RESIDENCE PERMIT´ in the language of the issuing country. The cards will be valid for a maximum of five years.
The EU countries have jointly decided that a UT card will be introduced and the rules for the cards are the same across the EU. Both a passport and a UT card will have to be shown at a passport check. The photographs and fingerprints will not be stored in a special registry, but will simply be read with the help of the chip.
The old permit stickers will be gradually replaced, and all stickers must be replaced by 1 May 2015 at the latest. Until then, the old permit stickers will be valid for the period shown on the sticker.
The UT cards will have the same format as normal bank cards. They will be issued for all forms of residence permit. Every card will have the label ‘RESIDENCE PERMIT´ in the language of the issuing country. The cards will be valid for a maximum of five years.
The same rules across the EU
The EU countries have jointly decided that a UT card will be introduced and the rules for the cards are the same across the EU. Both a passport and a UT card will have to be shown at a passport check. The photographs and fingerprints will not be stored in a special registry, but will simply be read with the help of the chip.
The old permit stickers will be gradually replaced, and all stickers must be replaced by 1 May 2015 at the latest. Until then, the old permit stickers will be valid for the period shown on the sticker.
Page updated: 2011-01-31
Migrationsverket
