Foreign nationals holding temporary residence permits can now apply for permanent residence as soon as they complete the required qualifying period, following a procedural change that took effect on June 11, 2026.
Previously, eligible applicants generally had to wait until their temporary residence permit approached its renewal or expiry period before submitting a permanent residence application.
Under the revised rules, applicants can submit their application immediately after satisfying the required residence period, regardless of how much time remains on their existing temporary permit.
The qualifying periods themselves remain unchanged. Most work permit holders must complete four years, while EU Blue Card holders and researchers qualify after three years, provided they meet all other existing requirements.
Once permanent residence is approved, an applicant’s temporary residence permit may be withdrawn and replaced with the permanent permit.
The amendment does not create a new route to permanent residence or relax existing eligibility requirements. Instead, it changes the timing of applications by removing the requirement to coordinate them with temporary permit renewals.
The change is expected to reduce the likelihood that eligible foreign nationals will need to renew temporary permits while waiting to apply for permanent status. It may also allow them to access the rights and benefits associated with permanent residence sooner.
Employers could also benefit from greater flexibility in workforce and immigration planning, as permanent residence applications will no longer have to be timed around employees’ temporary permit expiry dates.