European Union citizens have the right to stay in another member state subject to certain conditions and limits. Citizens may stay in another member state on holiday, if sent by an employer or if offering services as a self-employed person.

Citizens may live permanently in another member state if employed or self-employed there and, if retired, having been employed or self-employed there. Students and retired people may reside in another member state only if they have sufficient financial resources and health insurance to ensure that they will not be a burden on the social security system in the host state.

European Union citizens have the right to remain in another member state for a reasonable period of time while looking for work. In the absence of a formal definition of a "reasonable time", most member states permit non-national citizens to remain on their territory for a period of six months while seeking employment. A citizen cannot be requested to leave the host member state if he/she can prove that they are still genuinely looking for work and that they have a real prospect of finding a job.