Background:

The new Dutch government is preparing to review the validity period of permits issued to beneficiaries of international protection. As part of their review proposal, they want to include an overview of the current validity period of residence permits for beneficiaries of international protection in other EMN Member and Observer Countries.

Respondents:

24 EMN Member Countries (including BE) provided a public answer to this ad hoc query.

Findings:

A preliminary analysis of the results of the ad hoc query shows that :

Regarding the validity period of residence permits for refugees:

• The majority of responding EMN Member Countries grant refugees an initial residence permit valid for 3 to 5 years. In some responding EMN Member Countries, the residence permits have a shorter validity period (e.g., 6 months in IT), while in others, they have a longer validity period (e.g., 10 years in FR, in SI and also in CZ).
   
• In the majority of responding EMN Member Countries, the subsequent residence permit for refugees has the same validity period as the first residence permit. In BE, for example, the person who is recognised as a refugee and who initially received a card A (limited stay), valid for 5 years subsequently receives a card B (unlimited stay), also valid for 5 years (and renewed without conditions). 

Regarding the validity period of residence permits for beneficiaries of subsidiary protection:

• The majority of responding EMN Member Countries grant an initial residence permit valid for 1 to 3 years to beneficiaries of subsidiary protection. In BE, the beneficiary of subsidiary protection is issued a card A (limited stay) valid for 1 year. A few EMN Member Countries grant residence permits with a longer validity period, for example, 4 years (e.g., FI, FR) or 5 years (e.g., ES, IT, NL).
   
• In the majority of responding EMN Member Countries, the subsequent residence permit for beneficiaries of subsidiary protection is issued for two to five years. In BE, the card A valid for 1 year, initially issued to beneficiaries of subsidiary protection, is renewed for 2 years. In FR, the subsequent residence permit for beneficiaries of subsidiary protection is issued for 10 years.

Please note that in HU, beneficiaries of international protection receive an identity document, similar to Hungarian citizens, and not a residence permit.

For further details, please read the compilation of answers attached above.