I separate "residency rights" given by a given citizenship into two categories, where they exist:

1. "Core" residency rights are the right live in THAT country. Core residency rights are not dependent on treaty, agreement or membership of the country in a union.

Example: You become a citizen of Croatia, so you have indefinite right of residency in Croatia.

Citizenship in Croatia offers core residency right in Croatia.

2. "Satellite" residency rights are the right to live in ANOTHER country.

Example: You become a citizen of Croatia. Croatia is a member of the EU, so you have the right of residency in another EU country such as Czechia.

Therefore, Croatian citizenship offers core residency right in Croatia and satellite residency right in Czechia (as well as other EU countries).

I differentiate because the satellite residency right is less robust of a residency right over time.

This satellite residency is vulnerable to at least four MORE future potential changes over time (both are vulnerable to the very collapse/dissolution of the country of citizenship) than the core residency right:

1. Croatia's continued membership in the EU;

2. Czechia's continued membership in the EU;

3. Material change to Article 21 of the TFEU;

4. Czechia's restraint from unlawful restriction/prohibition of EU citizens' residency in Czechia.

Any of these four events occurring would end the Croatian's practical residency right in Czechia while leaving it untouched in Croatia.

Therefore, the phrase "Citizenship in an EU country offers right of residency in any EU country" while generally correct, offers a low definition view of the mobility asset and residency rights.

The same type of evaluation can be made of any country that offers residency rights in another country whether by treaty, membership in a union, or otherwise.

Most people aren't aware of these differences or what they mean, which is why I started using the two terms to declare the differences and draw some attention to them.

#residency #dualcitizenship #freedomofmovement #coreresidency #satelliteresidency