EN Official Journal of the European Union L 132/21

DIRECTIVE (EU) 2016/801 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL

of 11 May 2016

on the conditions of entry and residence of third-country nationals for the purposes of research, studies, training, voluntary service, pupil exchange schemes or educational projects and au pairing

(recast)

THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular points (a) and (b) of Article 79(2) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,

After transmission of the draft legislative act to the national parliaments,

Having regard to the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee (1),

Having regard to the opinion of the Committee of the Regions (2),

Acting in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure (3),

Whereas:

(1) A number of amendments are to be made to Council Directives 2004/114/EC (4) and 2005/71/EC (5). In the interests of clarity, those Directives should be recast.

(2) This Directive should respond to the need identified in the implementation reports on Directives 2004/114/EC and 2005/71/EC to remedy the identified weaknesses, to ensure increased transparency and legal certainty and to offer a coherent legal framework for different categories of third-country nationals coming to the Union. It should therefore simplify and streamline the existing provisions for those categories in a single instrument. Despite differences between the categories covered by this Directive, they also share a number of characteristics which makes it possible to address them through a common legal framework at Union level.

(3) This Directive should contribute to the Stockholm Programme's aim of approximating national legislation on the conditions for entry and residence of third-country nationals. Immigration from outside the Union is one source of highly skilled people, and students and researchers are in particular increasingly sought after. They play an important role in forming the Union's key asset, human capital, and in ensuring smart, sustainable and inclusive growth, and therefore contribute to the achievement of the objectives of the Europe 2020 Strategy.

(4) The implementation reports on Directives 2004/114/EC and 2005/71/EC pointed out certain insufficiencies, mainly in relation to admission conditions, rights, procedural safeguards, students' access to the labour market during their studies and intra-EU mobility provisions. Specific improvements were also considered necessary regarding the optional categories of third-country nationals. Subsequent wider consultations have also highlighted the need for better job-seeking possibilities for researchers and students and better protection of au pairs who are not covered by Directives 2004/114/EC and 2005/71/EC.

(5) For the gradual establishment of an area of freedom, security and justice, the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) provides for measures to be adopted in the fields of asylum, immigration and the protection of the rights of third-country nationals.

(6) This Directive should also aim at fostering people-to-people contacts and mobility, as important elements of the Union's external policy, notably vis-à-vis the countries of the European Neighbourhood Policy or the Union's strategic partners. It should allow for a better contribution to the Global Approach to Migration and Mobility and its Mobility Partnerships which offer a concrete framework for dialogue and cooperation between the Member States and third countries, including in facilitating and organising legal migration.

(7) Migration for the purposes set out in this Directive should promote the generation and acquisition of knowledge and skills. It constitutes a form of mutual enrichment for the migrants concerned, their country of origin and the Member State concerned, while strengthening cultural links and enhancing cultural diversity.

(8) This Directive should promote the Union as an attractive location for research and innovation and advance it in the global competition for talent and, in so doing, lead to an increase in the Union's overall competitiveness and growth rates while creating jobs that make a greater contribution to GDP growth. Opening the Union up to third-country nationals who may be admitted for the purpose of research is also part of the Innovation Union flagship initiative. Creating an open labour market for Union researchers and for researchers from third countries was also affirmed as a key aim of the European Research Area, a unified area in which researchers, scientific knowledge and technology circulate freely.

(9) It is appropriate to facilitate the admission of third-country nationals applying for the purpose of carrying out a research activity through an admission procedure which does not depend on their legal relationship with the host research organisation and by no longer requiring a work permit in addition to an authorisation. This procedure should be based on collaboration between research organisations and the immigration authorities in Member States. It should give the former a key role in the admission procedure with a view to facilitating and speeding up the entry of third-country nationals applying for the purpose of carrying out a research activity in the Union while preserving Member States' prerogatives with respect to immigration policy. Research organisations, which Member States should have the possibility to approve in advance, should be able to sign either a hosting agreement or a contract with a third-country national for the purpose of carrying out a research activity. Member States should issue an authorisation on the basis of the hosting agreement or the contract if the conditions for entry and residence are met.

(10) As the efforts to be made to achieve the target of investing 3 % of GDP in research largely concern the private sector, this sector should be encouraged, where appropriate, to recruit more researchers in the years to come.

(11) In order to make the Union more attractive for third-country nationals wishing to carry out a research activity in the Union, their family members, as defined in Council Directive 2003/86/EC (6), should be allowed to accompany them and benefit from intra-EU mobility provisions. Those family members should have access to the labour market in the first Member State and, in the case of long-term mobility, in the second Member States, except in exceptional circumstances such as particularly high levels of unemployment where Member States should retain the possibility to apply a test demonstrating that the post cannot be filled from within the domestic labour market for a period not exceeding 12 months. With the exception of derogations provided for in this Directive, all the provisions of Directive 2003/86/EC should apply, including grounds for rejection or withdrawal or refusal of renewal. Consequently, residence permits of family members could be withdrawn or their renewal refused if the authorisation of the researcher they are accompanying comes to an end and they do not enjoy any autonomous right of residence.

(12) Where appropriate, Member States should be encouraged to treat doctoral candidates as researchers for the purposes of this Directive.

(13) Implementation of this Directive should not encourage a brain drain from emerging or developing countries. Measures to support researchers' reintegration into their countries of origin should be taken in partnership with the countries of origin with a view to establishing a comprehensive migration policy.

(14) In order to promote Europe as a whole as a world centre of excellence for studies and training, the conditions for entry and residence of those who wish to come to the Union for these purposes should be improved and simplified. This is in line with the objectives of the agenda for the modernisation of Europe's higher education systems, in particular within the context of the internationalisation of European higher education. The approximation of the Member States' relevant national legislation is part of this endeavour. In this context and in line with the Council conclusions on the modernisation of higher education (7), the term ‘higher education’ encompasses all tertiary institutions which may include, inter alia, universities, universities of applied science, institutes of technology, grandes écoles, business schools, engineering schools, IUTs, colleges of higher education, professional schools, polytechnics and academies.

(15) The extension and deepening of the Bologna Process launched through the Bologna Joint Declaration of the European Ministers of Education of 19 June 1999 has led to more comparable, compatible and coherent systems of higher education in participating countries but also beyond them. This is because Member States have supported the mobility of students and higher education institutions have integrated it in their curricula. This needs to be reflected through improved intra-EU mobility provisions for students. Making European higher education attractive and competitive is one of the objectives of the Bologna Declaration. The Bologna Process led to the establishment of the European Higher Education Area. Its three-cycle structure with easily readable programmes and degrees as well as the introduction of qualifications frameworks have made it more attractive for third-country nationals to study in Europe.

(16) The duration and other conditions of preparatory courses for students covered by this Directive should be determined by Member States in accordance with their national law.

(17) Evidence of acceptance of a third-country national by a higher education institution could include, among other possibilities, a letter or certificate confirming enrolment.

(18) Third-country nationals who apply to be admitted as trainees should provide evidence of having obtained a higher education degree within the two years preceding the date of their application or of pursuing a course of study in a third country that leads to a higher education degree. They should also present a training agreement which contains a description of the training programme, its educational objective or learning components, its duration and the conditions under which the trainee will be supervised, proving that they will benefit from genuine training and not be used as normal workers. In addition, host entities may be required to substantiate that the traineeship does not replace a job. Where specific conditions already exist in national law, collective agreements or practices for trainees, Member States should be able to require third-country nationals who apply to be admitted as trainees to meet those specific conditions.

(19) Trainee employees who come to work in the Union in the context of an intra-corporate transfer are not covered by this Directive, as they fall under the scope of Directive 2014/66/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council (8).

(20) This Directive should support the aims of the European Voluntary Service to develop solidarity, mutual understanding and tolerance among young people and the societies they live in, while contributing to strengthening social cohesion and promoting young people's active citenship. In order to ensure access to the European Voluntary Service in a consistent manner across the Union, Member States should apply the provisions of this Directive to third-country nationals applying for the purpose of European Voluntary Service.

(21) Member States should have the possibility to apply the provisions of this Directive to school pupils, volunteers other than those under the European Voluntary Service and au pairs, in order to facilitate their entry and residence and ensure their rights.

(22) If Member States decide to apply this Directive to school pupils, they are encouraged to ensure that the national admission procedure for teachers exclusively accompanying pupils within the framework of a pupil exchange scheme or an educational project is coherent with the procedure for school pupils provided for in this Directive.

(23) Au pairing contributes to fostering people-to-people contacts by giving third-country nationals an opportunity to improve their linguistic skills and develop their knowledge of and cultural links with the Member States. At the same time, third-country national au pairs could be exposed to risks of abuse. In order to ensure fair treatment of au pairs and address their specific needs, it should be possible for Member States to apply the provisions of this Directive regarding the entry and residence of au pairs

(24) If third-country nationals can prove that they are in receipt of resources throughout the period of their stay in the Member State concerned that derive from a grant, a fellowship or a scholarship, a valid work contract, a binding job offer or a financial undertaking by a pupil exchange scheme organisation, an entity hosting trainees, a voluntary service scheme organisation, a host family or an organisation mediating au pairs, Member States should take such resources into account in assessing the availability of sufficient resources. Member States should be able to lay down an indicative reference amount which they regard as constituting ‘sufficient resources’ that might vary for each one of the respective categories of third-country nationals.

(25) Member States are encouraged to allow the applicant to present documents and information in an official language of the Union, other than their own official language or languages, determined by the Member State concerned.

(26) Member States should have the possibility to provide for an approval procedure for public or private research organisations or both wishing to host third-country national researchers or for higher education institutions wishing to host third-country national students. This approval should be in accordance with the procedures set out in the national law or administrative practice of the Member State concerned. Applications to approved research organisations or higher education institutions should be facilitated and should speed up the entry of third-country nationals coming to the Union for the purpose of research or studies.

(27) Member States should have the possibility to provide for an approval procedure for respective host entities wishing to host third-country national pupils, trainees or volunteers. Member States should have the possibility to apply this procedure to some or all of the categories of the host entities. This approval should be in accordance with the procedures set out in the national law or administrative practice of the Member State concerned. Applications to approved host entities should speed up the entry of third-country nationals coming to the Union for the purpose of training, voluntary service or pupil exchange schemes or educational projects.

(28) If Member States establish approval procedures for host entities, they should be able to decide to either allow admission only through approved host entities or to establish an approval procedure while also allowing admission through non-approved host entities.

(29) This Directive should be without prejudice to the right of Member States to issue authorisations for the purpose of studies, research or training other than those regulated by this Directive to third-country nationals who fall outside its scope.

(30) Once all the general and specific conditions for admission are fulfilled, Member States should issue an authorisation, within specified time limits. If a Member State issues residence permits only on its territory and all the conditions of this Directive relating to admission are fulfilled, the Member State should grant the third-country national concerned the requisite visa and should ensure that the competent authorities effectively cooperate for that purpose. In the event that the Member State does not issue visas, it should grant the third-country national concerned an equivalent permit allowing entry.

(31) Authorisations should mention the status of the third-country national concerned. It should be possible for Member States to indicate additional information in paper format or store it in electronic format, provided this does not amount to additional conditions.

(32) The different periods of duration of the authorisations under this Directive should reflect the specific nature of the stay of each category of third-country nationals covered by this Directive.

(33) Member States should have the right to determine that the total duration of residence of students does not exceed the maximum duration of studies, as provided for in national law. In this respect, the maximum duration of studies could also include, if provided for by the national law of the Member State concerned, the possible extension of studies for the purpose of repeating one or more years of studies.

(34) It should be possible for Member States to charge applicants for handling applications for authorisations and notifications. The level of the fees should not be disproportionate or excessive in order not to constitute an obstacle to the objectives of this Directive.

(35) The rights granted to third-country nationals falling under the scope of this Directive should not depend on the form of the authorisation each Member State issues.

(36) It should be possible to refuse admission for the purposes of this Directive on duly justified grounds. In particular, it should be possible to refuse admission if a Member State considers, on the basis of an assessment of the facts in an individual case and taking into account the principle of proportionality, that the third-country national concerned is a potential threat to public policy, public security or public health.

(37) The objective of this Directive is not to regulate the admission and residence of third-country nationals for the purpose of employment and it does not aim to harmonise national laws or practices with respect to workers' status. It is possible, nevertheless, that in some Member States specific categories of third-country nationals covered by this Directive are considered to be in an employment relationship on the basis of national law, collective agreements or practice. Where a Member State considers third-country national researchers, volunteers, trainees or au pairs to be in an employment relationship, that Member State should retain the right to determine volumes of admission of the category or categories concerned in accordance with Article 79(5) TFEU.

(38) Where a third-country national researcher, volunteer, trainee or au pair applies to be admitted to enter into an employment relationship in a Member State, it should be possible for that Member State to apply a test demonstrating that the post cannot be filled from within the domestic labour market.

(39) As regards students, volumes of admission should not apply since, even if they are allowed to work during their studies in accordance with the conditions provided for in this Directive, they seek admission to the territory of the Member States to pursue as their main activity a full-time course of study which could encompass a compulsory training.

(40) Where, after having been admitted to the territory of the Member State concerned, a researcher, volunteer, trainee or au pair applies to renew the authorisation to enter into or continue to be in an employment relationship in the Member State concerned, with the exception of a researcher who continues the employment relationship with the same host entity, it should be possible for that Member State to apply a test demonstrating that the post cannot be filled from within the domestic labour market.

(41) In case of doubts concerning the grounds of the application for admission, Member States should be able to carry out appropriate checks or require evidence in order to assess, on a case by case basis, the applicant's intended research, studies, training, voluntary service, pupil exchange scheme or educational project or au pairing and fight against abuse and misuse of the procedure set out in this Directive.

(42) Where the information provided is incomplete, Member States should inform the applicant within a reasonable period of the additional information that is required and set a reasonable deadline for providing it. Where additional information has not been provided within that deadline, the application could be rejected.

(43) National authorities should notify the applicant of the decision on the application. They should do so in writing as soon as possible and at the latest within the period specified in this Directive.

(44) This Directive aims to facilitate intra-EU mobility for researchers and students, inter alia by reducing the administrative burden related to mobility in several Member States. For this purpose, this Directive sets up a specific intra-EU mobility scheme whereby a third-country national who holds an authorisation for the purpose of research or studies issued by the first Member State is entitled to enter, stay and carry out part of the research activity or studies in one or several second Member States in accordance with the provisions governing mobility under this Directive.

(45) In order to enable researchers to move easily from one research organisation to another for the purpose of research, their short-term mobility should cover stays in second Member States for a period of up to 180 days in any 360-day period per Member State. Long-term mobility for researchers should cover stays in one or several second Member States for a period of more than 180 days per Member State. Family members of researchers should be entitled to accompany the researcher during mobility. The procedure for their mobility should be aligned to that of the researcher they accompany.

(46) As regards students who are covered by Union or multilateral programmes or an agreement between two or more higher education institutions, in order to ensure continuity of their studies, this Directive should provide for mobility in one or several second Member States for a period of up to 360 days per Member State.

(47) Where a researcher or a student moves to a second Member State on the basis of a notification procedure and a document is necessary to facilitate access to services and rights, it should be possible for the second Member State to issue a document to attest that the researcher or the student is entitled to stay on the territory of that Member State. Such a document should not constitute an additional condition to benefit from the rights provided for in this Directive and should only be of a declaratory nature.

(48) While the specific mobility scheme established by this Directive should set up autonomous rules regarding entry and stay for the purpose of research or studies in Member States other than the one that issued the initial authorisation, all the other rules governing the movement of persons across borders as laid down in the relevant provisions of the Schengen acquis should continue to apply.

(49) Where the authorisation is issued by a Member State not applying the Schengen acquis in full and the researcher, his or her family members or the student, in the framework of intra-EU mobility, crosses an external border within the meaning of Regulation (EU) 2016/399 of the European Parliament and of the Council (9), a Member State should be entitled to require evidence proving that the researcher or the student is moving to its territory for the purpose of research or studies or that the family members are moving to its territory for the purpose of accompanying the researcher in the framework of mobility. In addition, in case of crossing of an external border within the meaning of Regulation (EU) 2016/399, the Member States applying the Schengen acquis in full should consult the Schengen information system and should refuse entry or object to the mobility for persons for whom an alert for the purpose of refusing entry or stay, as referred to in Regulation (EC) No 1987/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council (10), has been issued in that system.

(50) This Directive should allow second Member States to request that a researcher or a student, who moves on the basis of an authorisation issued by the first Member State and does not or no longer fulfils the conditions for mobility, leaves their territory. Where the researcher or the student has a valid authorisation issued by the first Member State, the second Member State should be able to request that researcher or student to go back to the first Member State in accordance with Directive 2008/115/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (11). Where the mobility is allowed by the second Member State on the basis of the authorisation issued by the first Member State and that authorisation is withdrawn or has expired during the period of mobility, it should be possible for the second Member State to either decide to return the researcher or the student to a third country, in accordance with Directive 2008/115/EC, or request without delay the first Member State to allow re-entry of the researcher or student to its territory. In this latter case, the first Member State should issue the researcher or student with a document allowing re-entry to its territory.

(51) Union immigration policies and rules, on the one hand, and Union policies and programmes favouring mobility of researchers and students at Union level, on the other hand, should complement each other more. When determining the period of validity of the authorisation issued to researchers and students, Member States should take into account the planned mobility to other Member States, in accordance with the provisions on mobility. Researchers and students covered by Union or multilateral programmes that comprise mobility measures or agreements between two or more higher education institutions should be entitled to receive authorisations covering at least two years, provided that they fulfil the relevant admission conditions for that period.

(52) In order to allow students to cover part of the cost of their studies and, if possible, to gain practical experience, they should be given, during their studies, access to the labour market of the Member State where the studies are undertaken, under the conditions set out in this Directive. Students should be allowed to work a certain minimum amount of hours as specified in this Directive for that purpose. The principle of access for students to the labour market should be the general rule. However, in exceptional circumstances, Member States should be able to take into account the situation of their national labour markets.

(53) As part of the drive to ensure a well-qualified workforce for the future, students who graduate in the Union should have the possibility to remain on the territory of the Member State concerned for the period specified in this Directive with the intention to identify work opportunities or to set up a business. Researchers should also have that possibility upon completion of their research activity as defined in the hosting agreement. In order to be issued a residence permit for that purpose, students and researchers may be asked to provide evidence in accordance with the requirements of this Directive. Once Member States issue them such a residence permit, they cease to be considered as researchers or students within the meaning of this Directive. Member States should be able to check, after a minimum time period established in this Directive, if they have a genuine chance of being employed or of launching a business. This possibility is without prejudice to other reporting obligations provided for in national law for other purposes. The authorisation issued for the purpose of identifying work opportunities or setting up a business should not grant any automatic right of access to the labour market or to set up a business. Member States should retain their right to take into consideration the situation of their labour market when the third-country national, who was issued an authorisation to remain on the territory for the purpose of job searching or to set up a business, applies for a work permit to fill a post.

(54) The fair treatment of third-country nationals covered by this Directive should be ensured in accordance with Article 79 TFEU. Researchers should enjoy equal treatment with nationals of the Member State concerned as regards Article 12(1) and (4) of Directive 2011/98/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council (12) subject to the possibility for that Member State to limit equal treatment in the specific cases provided for in this Directive. Directive 2011/98/EU should continue to apply to students, including the restrictions provided for in that Directive. Directive 2011/98/EU should apply to trainees, volunteers and au pairs when they are considered to be in an employment relationship in the Member State concerned. Trainees, volunteers and au pairs, when they are not considered to be in an employment relationship in the Member State concerned, as well as school pupils, should enjoy equal treatment with nationals of the Member State concerned as regards a minimum set of rights as provided for in this Directive. This includes access to goods and services, which does not cover study or vocational grants or loans.

(55) Equal treatment as granted to researchers and students, as well as trainees, volunteers and au pairs when they are considered to be in an employment relationship in the Member State concerned, includes equal treatment in respect of those branches of social security listed in Article 3 of Regulation (EC) No 883/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council (13). This Directive does not harmonise the social security legislation of Member States. It is limited to applying the principle of equal treatment in the field of social security to the third-country nationals falling within its scope. In addition, this Directive does not grant rights in relation to situations which lie outside the scope of Union law, such as in relation to family members residing in a third country. That should not affect, however, the right of survivors who derive rights from third-country nationals falling under the scope of this Directive, where applicable, to receive survivors' pensions when residing in a third country.

(56) In many Member States, the right to family benefits is conditional upon a certain connection with that Member State since the benefits are designed to support a positive demographic development in order to secure the future work force in that Member State. Therefore, this Directive should not affect the right of a Member State to restrict, under certain conditions, equal treatment in respect of family benefits when the researcher and the accompanying family members are staying temporarily in that Member State.

(57) In the event of mobility between Member States, Regulation (EU) No 1231/2010 of the European Parliament and of the Council (14) applies. This Directive should not confer more rights than those already provided for in existing Union law in the field of social security for third-country nationals who have cross-border interests between Member States.

(58) This Directive should be applied without prejudice to more favourable provisions contained in Union law and applicable international instruments.

(59) The residence permits provided for in this Directive should be issued by the competent authorities of the Member State using the uniform format as laid down in Council Regulation (EC) No 1030/2002 (15).

(60) Each Member State should ensure that adequate and regularly updated information is made available to the general public, notably on the internet, concerning the host entities approved for the purposes of this Directive and the conditions and procedures for admission of third-country nationals to the territory of the Member States for the purposes of this Directive.

(61) This Directive respects the fundamental rights and observes the principles recognised by the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, in accordance with Article 6 of the Treaty on European Union (TEU).

(62) Member States should give effect to the provisions of this Directive without discrimination on the basis of sex, race, colour, ethnic or social origin, genetic features, language, religion or belief, political or any other opinions, membership of a national minority, property, birth, disability, age or sexual orientation.

(63) In accordance with the Joint Political Declaration of 28 September 2011 of Member States and the Commission on explanatory documents (16), Member States have undertaken to accompany, in justified cases, the notification of their transposition measures with one or more documents explaining the relationship between the components of a directive and the corresponding parts of national transposition instruments. With regard to this Directive, the legislator considers the transmission of such documents to be justified.

(64) Since the objective of this Directive, namely to determine the conditions of entry and residence of third-country nationals for the purposes of research, studies, training and European Voluntary Service, as mandatory provisions, and pupil exchange, voluntary service other than the European Voluntary Service or au pairing, as optional provisions, cannot be sufficiently achieved by the Member States and can rather, by reason of its scale or effects, be better achieved at Union level, the Union may adopt measures, in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity as set out in Article 5 TEU. In accordance with the principle of proportionality as set out in that Article, this Directive does not go beyond what is necessary to achieve that objective.

(65) In accordance with Articles 1 and 2 and Article 4a(1) of Protocol No 21 on the position of the United Kingdom and Ireland in respect of the area of freedom, security and justice, annexed to TEU and TFEU, and without prejudice to Article 4 of that Protocol, those Member States are not taking part in the adoption of this Directive and are not bound by it or subject to its application.

(66) In accordance with Articles 1 and 2 of the Protocol No 22 on the position of Denmark annexed to TEU and TFEU, Denmark is not taking part in the adoption of this Directive and is not bound by it or subject to its application.

(67) The obligation to transpose this Directive into national law should be confined to those provisions which represent a substantive amendment as compared to Directives 2004/114/EC and 2005/71/EC. The obligation to transpose the provisions which are unchanged arises under those Directives.

(68) This Directive should be without prejudice to the obligations of the Member States relating to the time limits for transposition into national law and the dates of application of the Directives set out in Annex I, Part B,

HAVE ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE:

CHAPTER I

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1

Subject matter

This Directive lays down:

(a) the conditions of entry to, and residence for a period exceeding 90 days in, the territory of the Member States, and the rights, of third-country nationals, and where applicable their family members, for the purpose of research, studies, training or voluntary service in the European Voluntary Service, and where Member States so decide, pupil exchange schemes or educational projects, voluntary service other than the European Voluntary Service or au pairing;

(b) the conditions of entry and residence, and the rights, of researchers, and where applicable their family members, and students, referred to in point (a), in Member States other than the Member State which first grants the third-country national an authorisation on the basis of this Directive.

Article 2

Scope

1. This Directive shall apply to third-country nationals who apply to be admitted or who have been admitted to the territory of a Member State for the purpose of research, studies, training or voluntary service in the European Voluntary Service. Member States may also decide to apply the provisions of this Directive to third-country nationals who apply to be admitted for the purpose of a pupil exchange scheme or educational project, voluntary service other than the European Voluntary Service or au pairing.

2. This Directive shall not apply to third-country nationals:

(a) who seek international protection or who are beneficiaries of international protection in accordance with the Directive 2011/95/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council (17) or who are beneficiaries of temporary protection in accordance with the Council Directive 2001/55/EC (18) in a Member State;

(b) whose expulsion has been suspended for reasons of fact or of law;

(c) who are family members of Union citizens who have exercised their right to free movement within the Union;

(d) who enjoy long-term resident status in a Member State in accordance with Council Directive 2003/109/EC (19);

(e) who enjoy, together with their family members, and irrespective of their nationality, rights of free movement equivalent to those of citizens of the Union under agreements either between the Union and its Member States and third countries or between the Union and third countries;

(f) who come to the Union as trainee employees in the context of an intra-corporate transfer under Directive 2014/66/EU;

(g) who are admitted as highly qualified workers in accordance with Council Directive 2009/50/EC (20).

Article 3

Definitions

For the purposes of this Directive, the following definitions apply:

(1) ‘third-country national’ means a person who is not a citizen of the Union within the meaning of Article 20(1) TFEU;

(2) ‘researcher’ means a third-country national who holds a doctoral degree or an appropriate higher education qualification which gives that third-country national access to doctoral programmes, who is selected by a research organisation and admitted to the territory of a Member State for carrying out a research activity for which such qualification is normally required;

(3) ‘student’ means a third-country national who has been accepted by a higher education institution and is admitted to the territory of a Member State to pursue as a main activity a full-time course of study leading to a higher education qualification recognised by that Member State, including diplomas, certificates or doctoral degrees in a higher education institution, which may cover a preparatory course prior to such education, in accordance with national law, or compulsory training;

(4) ‘school pupil’ means a third-country national who is admitted to the territory of a Member State to follow a recognised, state or regional programme of secondary education equivalent to level 2 or 3 of the International Standard Classification of Education, in the context of a pupil exchange scheme or educational project operated by an education establishment in accordance with national law or administrative practice;

(5) ‘trainee’ means a third-country national who holds a degree of higher education or is pursuing a course of study in a third country that leads to a higher education degree and who is admitted to the territory of a Member State for a training programme for the purpose of gaining knowledge, practice and experience in a professional environment;

(6) ‘volunteer’ means a third-country national who is admitted to the territory of a Member State to participate in a voluntary service scheme;

(7) ‘voluntary service scheme’ means a programme of practical solidarity activities, based on a scheme recognised as such by the Member State concerned or the Union, pursuing objectives of general interest for a non-profit cause, in which the activities are not remunerated, except for reimbursement of expenses and/or pocket money;

(8) ‘au pair’ means a third-country national who is admitted to the territory of a Member State to be temporarily received by a family in order to improve his or her linguistic skills and knowledge of the Member State concerned in exchange for light housework and taking care of children;

(9) ‘research’ means creative work undertaken on a systematic basis in order to increase the stock of knowledge, including knowledge of man, culture and society, and the use of this stock of knowledge to devise new applications;

(10) ‘research organisation’ means any public or private organisation which conducts research;

(11) ‘education establishment’ means a public or private secondary education establishment recognised by the Member State concerned or whose courses of study are recognised in accordance with national law or administrative practice on the basis of transparent criteria and which participates in a pupil exchange scheme or educational project for the purposes set out in this Directive;

(12) ‘educational project’ means a set of educational actions developed by a Member State's education establishment in cooperation with similar establishments in a third country, with the purpose of sharing cultures and knowledge;

(13) ‘higher education institution’ means any type of higher education institution recognised or considered as such in accordance with national law which, in accordance with national law or practice, offers recognised higher education degrees or other recognised tertiary level qualifications, whatever such establishments may be called, or any institution which, in accordance with national law or practice, offers vocational education or training at tertiary level;

(14) ‘host entity’ means a research organisation, a higher education institution, an education establishment, an organisation responsible for a voluntary service scheme or an entity hosting trainees to which the third-country national is assigned for the purposes of this Directive and which is located in the territory of the Member State concerned, irrespective of its legal form, in accordance with national law;

(15) ‘host family’ means a family temporarily receiving an au pair and sharing its daily family life in the territory of a Member State on the basis of an agreement concluded between that family and the au pair;

(16) ‘employment’ means the exercise of activities covering any form of labour or work regulated under national law or applicable collective agreements or in accordance with established practice for or under the direction or supervision of an employer;

(17) ‘employer’ means any natural person or any legal entity, for or under the direction or supervision of whom or which the employment is undertaken;

(18) ‘first Member State’ means the Member State which first issues a third-country national an authorisation on the basis of this Directive;

(19) ‘second Member State’ means any Member State other than the first Member State;

(20) ‘Union or multilateral programmes that comprise mobility measures’ means programmes funded by the Union or by Member States promoting mobility of third-country nationals in the Union or in the Member States participating in the respective programmes;

(21) ‘authorisation’ means a residence permit or, if provided for in national law, a long-stay visa issued for the purposes of this Directive;

(22) ‘residence permit’ means an authorisation issued using the format laid down in Regulation (EC) No 1030/2002 entitling its holder to stay legally on the territory of a Member State;

(23) ‘long-stay visa’ means an authorisation issued by a Member State as provided for in Article 18 of the Schengen Convention (21) or issued in accordance with the national law of Member States not applying the Schengen acquis in full;

(24) ‘family members’ means third-country nationals as defined in Article 4(1) of Directive 2003/86/EC.

Article 4

More favourable provisions

1. This Directive shall be without prejudice to more favourable provisions of:

(a) bilateral or multilateral agreements concluded between the Union or the Union and its Member States and one or more third countries; or

(b) bilateral or multilateral agreements concluded between one or more Member States and one or more third countries.

2. This Directive shall be without prejudice to the right of Member States to adopt or maintain provisions that are more favourable to the third-country nationals to whom this Directive applies with respect to point (a) of Article 10(2) and Articles 18, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 34 and 35.

CHAPTER II

ADMISSION

Article 5

Principles

1. The admission of a third-country national under this Directive shall be subject to the verification of documentary evidence attesting that the third-country national meets:

(a) the general conditions laid down in Article 7; and

(b) the relevant specific conditions in Article 8, 11, 12, 13, 14 or 16.

2. Member States may require the applicant to provide the documentary evidence referred to in paragraph 1 in an official language of the Member State concerned or in any official language of the Union determined by that Member State.

3. Where all the general conditions and relevant specific conditions are fulfilled, the third-country national shall be entitled to an authorisation.

Where a Member State issues residence permits only on its territory and all the admission conditions laid down in this Directive are fulfilled, the Member State concerned shall issue the third-country national with the requisite visa.

Article 6

Volumes of admission

This Directive shall not affect the right of a Member State to determine, in accordance with Article 79(5) TFEU, the volumes of admission of third-country nationals referred to in Article 2(1) of this Directive, with the exception of students, if the Member State concerned considers that they are or will be in an employment relationship. On that basis, an application for authorisation may either be considered inadmissible or be rejected.

Article 7

General conditions

1. As regards the admission of a third-country national under this Directive, the applicant shall:

(a) present a valid travel document, as determined by national law, and, if required, an application for a visa or a valid visa or, where applicable, a valid residence permit or a valid long-stay visa; Member States may require the period of validity of the travel document to cover at least the duration of the planned stay;

(b) if the third-country national is a minor under the national law of the Member State concerned, present a parental authorisation or an equivalent document for the planned stay;

(c) present evidence that the third-country national has or, if provided for in national law, has applied for sickness insurance for all risks normally covered for nationals of the Member State concerned; the insurance shall be valid for the duration of the planned stay;

(d) provide evidence, if the Member State so requires, that the fee for handling the application provided for in Article 36 has been paid;

(e) provide the evidence requested by the Member State concerned that during the planned stay the third-country national will have sufficient resources to cover subsistence costs without having recourse to the Member State's social assistance system, and return travel costs. The assessment of the sufficient resources shall be based on an individual examination of the case and shall take into account resources that derive, inter alia, from a grant, a scholarship or a fellowship, a valid work contract or a binding job offer or a financial undertaking by a pupil exchange scheme organisation, an entity hosting trainees, a voluntary service scheme organisation, a host family or an organisation mediating au pairs.

2. Member States may require the applicant to provide the address of the third-country national concerned in their territory.

Where the national law of a Member State requires an address to be provided at the time of application and the third-country national concerned does not yet know the future address, Member States shall accept a temporary address. In such a case, the third-country national shall provide his or her permanent address at the latest at the time of the issuance of an authorisation pursuant to Article 17.

3. Member States may indicate a reference amount which they regard as constituting ‘sufficient resources’ as referred to under point (e) of paragraph (1). The assessment of the sufficient resources shall be based on an individual examination of the case.

4. The application shall be submitted and examined either when the third-country national concerned is residing outside the territory of the Member State to which the third-country national wishes to be admitted or when the third-country national is already residing in that Member State as holder of a valid residence permit or long-stay visa.

By way of derogation, a Member State may accept, in accordance with its national law, an application submitted when the third-country national concerned is not in possession of a valid residence permit or long-stay visa but is legally present in its territory.

5. Member States shall determine whether applications are to be submitted by the third-country national, by the host entity, or by either of the two.

6. Third-country nationals who are considered to pose a threat to public policy, public security or public health shall not be admitted.

Article 8

Specific conditions for researchers

1. In addition to the general conditions laid down in Article 7, as regards the admission of a third-country national for the purpose of research, the applicant shall present a hosting agreement or, if provided for in national law, a contract, in accordance with Article 10.

2. Member States may require, in accordance with national law, a written undertaking from the research organisation that, in the event that a researcher remains illegally in the territory of the Member State concerned, that research organisation is responsible for reimbursing the costs related to the stay and return incurred by public funds. The financial responsibility of the research organisation shall end at the latest six months after the termination of the hosting agreement.

Where the right of residence of the researcher is extended in accordance with Article 25, the responsibility of the research organisation referred to in the first subparagraph of this paragraph shall be limited until the starting date of the residence permit for the purpose of job-searching or entrepreneurship.

3. A Member State which has established an approval procedure for research organisations in accordance with Article 9 shall exempt applicants from presenting one or more of the documents or evidence referred to in paragraph 2 of this Article or in points (c), (d) or (e) of Article 7(1) or in Article 7(2), where the third-country nationals are to be hosted by approved research organisations.

Article 9

Approval of research organisations

1. Member States may decide to provide for an approval procedure for public and/or private research organisations wishing to host a researcher under the admission procedure laid down in this Directive.

2. The approval of the research organisations shall be in accordance with procedures set out in the national law or administrative practice of the Member State concerned. Applications for approval by research organisations shall be made in accordance with those procedures and be based on their statutory tasks or corporate purposes as appropriate and on evidence that they conduct research.

The approval granted to a research organisation shall be for a minimum period of five years. In exceptional cases, Member States may grant approval for a shorter period.

3. A Member State may, among other measures, refuse to renew or decide to withdraw the approval where:

(a) a research organisation no longer complies with paragraph 2 of this Article, Article 8(2) or Article 10(7);

(b) the approval has been fraudulently acquired; or

(c) a research organisation has signed a hosting agreement with a third-country national fraudulently or negligently.

Where an application for renewal has been refused or where the approval has been withdrawn, the organisation concerned may be banned from reapplying for approval for a period of up to five years from the date of publication of the decision on non-renewal or withdrawal.

Article 10

Hosting agreement

1. A research organisation wishing to host a third-country national for the purpose of research shall sign a hosting agreement with the latter. Member States may provide that contracts containing the elements referred to in paragraph 2 and, where applicable, paragraph 3 shall be considered equivalent to hosting agreements for the purposes of this Directive.

2. The hosting agreement shall contain:

(a) the title or purpose of the research activity or the research area;

(b) an undertaking by the third-country national to endeavour to complete the research activity;

(c) an undertaking by the research organisation to host the third-country national for the purpose of completing the research activity;

(d) the start and end date or the estimated duration of the research activity;

(e) information on the intended mobility in one or several second Member States if the mobility is known at the time of application in the first Member State.

3. Member States may also require the hosting agreement to contain:

(a) information on the legal relationship between the research organisation and the researcher;

(b) information on the working conditions of the researcher.

4. Research organisations may sign hosting agreements only if the research activity has been accepted by the relevant instances in the organisation, after examination of:

(a) the purpose and estimated duration of the research activity, and the availability of the necessary financial resources for it to be carried out;

(b) the third-country national's qualifications in the light of the research objectives, as evidenced by a certified copy of the qualifications.

5. The hosting agreement shall automatically lapse if the third-country national is not admitted or when the legal relationship between the researcher and the research organisation is terminated.

6. Research organisations shall promptly inform the competent authority of the Member State concerned of any occurrence likely to prevent implementation of the hosting agreement.

7. Member States may provide that, within two months of the date of expiry of the hosting agreement concerned, the research organisation shall provide the competent authorities designated for that purpose with confirmation that the research activity has been carried out.

8. Member States may determine in their national law the consequences of the withdrawal of the approval or the refusal to renew the approval for the existing hosting agreements, concluded in accordance with this Article, as well as the consequences for the authorisations of the researchers concerned.

Article 11

Specific conditions for students

1. In addition to the general conditions laid down in Article 7, as regards the admission of a third-country national for the purpose of studies, the applicant shall provide evidence:

(a) that the third-country national has been accepted by a higher education institution to follow a course of study;

(b) if the Member State so requires, that the fees charged by the higher education institution have been paid;

(c) if the Member State so requires, of sufficient knowledge of the language of the course to be followed;

(d) if the Member State so requires, that the third-country national will have sufficient resources to cover the study costs.

2. Third-country nationals who automatically qualify for sickness insurance for all risks normally covered for the nationals of the Member State concerned as a result of enrolment at a higher education institution shall be presumed to meet the condition laid down in point (c) of Article 7(1).

3. A Member State which has established an approval procedure for higher education institutions in accordance with Article 15 shall exempt applicants from presenting one or more of the documents or evidence referred to in points (b), (c) or (d) of paragraph 1 of this Article or in point (d) of Article 7(1) or in Article 7(2), where the third-country nationals are to be hosted by approved higher education institutions.

Article 12

Specific conditions for school pupils

1. In addition to the general conditions laid down in Article 7, as regards the admission of a third-country national for the purpose of a pupil exchange scheme or an educational project, the applicant shall provide evidence:

(a) that the third-country national is neither below the minimum nor above the maximum age or grade set by the Member State concerned;

(b) of acceptance by an education establishment;

(c) of participation in a recognised, state or regional programme of education in the context of a pupil exchange scheme or educational project operated by an education establishment in accordance with national law or administrative practice;

(d) that the education establishment, or, insofar as provided for by national law, a third party accepts responsibility for the third-country national throughout the stay in the territory of the Member State concerned, in particular as regards study costs;

(e) that the third-country national will be accommodated throughout the stay by a family, in a special accommodation facility within the education establishment or, insofar as provided for by national law, in any other facility meeting the conditions set by the Member State concerned and selected in accordance with the rules of the pupil exchange scheme or educational project in which the third-country national is participating.

2. Member States may limit the admission of school pupils participating in a pupil exchange scheme or educational project to nationals of third countries which offer the same possibility for their own nationals.

Article 13

Specific conditions for trainees

1. In addition to the general conditions laid down in Article 7, as regards the admission of a third-country national for the purpose of training, the applicant shall:

(a) present a training agreement, which provides for a theoretical and practical training, with a host entity. Member States may require that such training agreement is approved by the competent authority and that the terms upon which the agreement has been based meet the requirements established in national law, collective agreements or practices of the Member State concerned. The training agreement shall contain: (i) a description of the training programme, including the educational objective or learning components; (ii) the duration of the traineeship; (iii) the placement and supervision conditions of the traineeship; (iv) the traineeship hours; and (v) the legal relationship between the trainee and the host entity;

(b) provide evidence of having obtained a higher education degree within the two years preceding the date of application or of pursuing a course of study that leads to a higher education degree;

(c) provide evidence, if the Member State so requires, that during the stay the third-country national will have sufficient resources to cover the training costs;

(d) provide evidence, if the Member State so requires, that the third-country national has received or will receive language training so as to acquire the knowledge needed for the purpose of the traineeship;

(e) provide evidence, if the Member State so requires, that the host entity accepts responsibility for the third-country national throughout the stay in the territory of the Member State concerned, in particular as regards subsistence and accommodation costs;

(f) provide evidence, if the Member State so requires, that, if the third-country national is accommodated throughout the stay by the host entity, the accommodation meets the conditions set by the Member State concerned.

2. Member States may require the traineeship to be in the same field and at the same qualification level as the higher education degree or the course of study referred to in point (b) of paragraph 1.

3. Member States may require the host entity to substantiate that the traineeship does not replace a job.

4. Member States may require, in accordance with national law, a written undertaking from the host entity that, in the event that a trainee remains illegally in the territory of the Member State concerned, that host entity is responsible for reimbursing the costs related to the stay and return incurred by public funds. The financial responsibility of the host entity shall end at the latest six months after the termination of the training agreement.

Article 14

Specific conditions for volunteers

1. In addition to the general conditions laid down in Article 7, as regards the admission of a third-country national for the purpose of voluntary service, the applicant shall:

(a) provide an agreement with the host entity or, insofar as provided for by national law, another body responsible in the Member State concerned for the voluntary service scheme in which the third-country national is participating. The agreement shall contain: (i) a description of the voluntary service scheme; (ii) the duration of the voluntary service; (iii) the placement and supervision conditions of the voluntary service; (iv) the volunteering hours; (v) the resources available to cover the third-country national's subsistence and accommodation costs and a minimum sum of money as pocket money throughout the stay; and (vi) where applicable, the training the third-country national will receive to help perform the voluntary service;

(b) provide evidence, if the Member State so requires, that, if the third-country national is accommodated throughout the stay by the host entity, the accommodation meets the conditions set by the Member State concerned;

(c) provide evidence that the host entity or, insofar as provided for by national law, another body responsible for the voluntary service scheme has subscribed to a third-party insurance policy;

(d) provide evidence, if the Member State so requires, that the third-country national has received or will receive a basic introduction to the language, history, political and social structures of that Member State.

2. Member States may determine a minimum and maximum age limit for third-country nationals who apply to be admitted to a voluntary service scheme without prejudice to the rules under the European Voluntary Service.

3. Volunteers participating in the European Voluntary Service shall not be required to present evidence under point (c) and, where applicable, point (d) of paragraph 1.

Article 15

Approval of higher education institutions, education establishments, organisations responsible for a voluntary service scheme or entities hosting trainees

1. For the purposes of this Directive, Member States may decide to provide for an approval procedure for higher education institutions, education establishments, organisations responsible for a voluntary service scheme or entities hosting trainees.

2. The approval shall be in accordance with procedures set out in the national law or administrative practice of the Member State concerned.

3. Where a Member State decides to establish an approval procedure in accordance with paragraphs 1 and 2, it shall provide clear and transparent information to the host entities concerned about, inter alia, the conditions and criteria for approval, its period of validity, the consequences of non-compliance, including possible withdrawal and non-renewal, as well as any sanction applicable.

Article 16

Specific conditions for au pairs

1. In addition to the general conditions laid down in Article 7, as regards the admission of a third-country national for the purpose of au pairing, the third-country national shall:

(a) provide an agreement between the third-country national and the host family defining the third-country national's rights and obligations as an au pair, including specifications about the pocket money to be received, adequate arrangements allowing the au pair to attend courses and the maximum hours of family duties;

(b) be between the age of 18 and 30. In exceptional cases, Member States may allow the admission of a third-country national, as an au pair, who is above the maximum age limit;

(c) provide evidence that the host family or an organisation mediating au pairs, insofar as provided for by national law, accepts responsibility for the third-country national throughout the stay in the territory of the Member State concerned, in particular with regard to living expenses, accommodation and accident risks.

2. Member States may require the third-country national who applies to be admitted as an au pair to provide evidence:

(a) of basic knowledge of the language of the Member State concerned; or

(b) of having secondary education, professional qualifications or, where applicable, of fulfilling the conditions to exercise a regulated profession, as required by national law.

3. Member States may determine that the placement of au pairs shall only be carried out by an organisation mediating au pairs under the conditions defined in national law.

4. Member States may require the members of the host family to be of different nationality than the third-country national who applies to be admitted for the purpose of au pairing and not to have any family links with the third-country national concerned.

5. The maximum number of hours of au pair duties per week shall not exceed 25 hours. The au pair shall have at least one day per week free from au pair duties.

6. Member States may set a minimum sum of money as pocket money to be paid to the au pair.

CHAPTER III

AUTHORISATIONS AND DURATION OF RESIDENCE

Article 17

Authorisations

1. When the authorisation is in the form of a residence permit, Member States shall use the format laid down in Regulation (EC) No 1030/2002 and shall enter the term ‘researcher’, ‘student’, ‘school pupil’, ‘trainee’, ‘volunteer’ or ‘au pair’ on the residence permit.

2. When the authorisation is in the form of a long-stay visa, Member States shall enter a reference stating that it is issued to the ‘researcher’, ‘student’, ‘school pupil’, ‘trainee’, ‘volunteer’ or ‘au pair’ under the heading ‘remarks’ on the visa sticker.

3. For researchers and students coming to the Union in the framework of a specific Union or multilateral programme that comprises mobility measures, or an agreement between two or more recognised higher education institutions, the authorisation shall make a reference to that specific programme or agreement.

4. When the authorisation for long-term mobility is issued to a researcher in the form of a residence permit, Member States shall use the format laid down in Regulation (EC) No 1030/2002 and enter ‘researcher-mobility’ on the residence permit. When the authorisation for long-term mobility is issued to a researcher in the form of a long-stay visa, Member States shall enter ‘researcher-mobility’ under the heading ‘remarks’ on the visa sticker.

Article 18

Duration of authorisation

1. The period of validity of an authorisation for researchers shall be at least one year, or for the duration of the hosting agreement where this is shorter. The authorisation shall be renewed if Article 21 does not apply.

The duration of the authorisation for researchers who are covered by Union or multilateral programmes that comprise mobility measures shall be at least two years, or for the duration of the hosting agreement where this is shorter. If the general conditions laid down in Article 7 are not met for the two years or for the whole duration of the hosting agreement, the first subparagraph of this paragraph shall apply. Member States shall retain the right to verify that the grounds for withdrawal set out in Article 21 do not apply.

2. The period of validity of an authorisation for students shall be at least one year, or for the duration of studies where this is shorter. The authorisation shall be renewed if Article 21 does not apply.

The duration of the authorisation for students who are covered by Union or multilateral programmes that comprise mobility measures or by an agreement between two or more higher education institutions shall be at least two years, or for the duration of their studies where this is shorter. If the general conditions laid down in Article 7 are not met for the two years or for the whole duration of the studies, the first subparagraph of this paragraph shall apply. Member States shall retain the right to verify that the grounds for withdrawal set out in Article 21 do not apply.

3. Member States may determine that the total time of residence for studies shall not exceed the maximum duration of studies as defined in national law.

4. The period of validity of an authorisation for school pupils shall be for the duration of the pupil exchange scheme or the educational project where this is shorter than one year, or for a maximum of one year. Member States may decide to allow the renewal of the authorisation once for the period necessary to complete the pupil exchange scheme or the educational project if Article 21 does not apply.

5. The period of validity of an authorisation for au pairs shall be for the duration of the agreement between the au pair and the host family where this is shorter than one year, or for a maximum period of one year. Member States may decide to allow the renewal of the authorisation once for a maximum period of six months, after a justified request by the host family, if Article 21 does not apply.

6. The period of validity of an authorisation for trainees shall be for the duration of the training agreement where this is shorter than six months, or for a maximum of six months. If the duration of the agreement is longer than six months, the duration of the validity of the authorisation may correspond to the period concerned in accordance with national law.

Member States may decide to allow the renewal of the authorisation once for the period necessary to complete the traineeship if Article 21 does not apply.

7. The period of validity of an authorisation for volunteers shall be for the duration of the agreement referred to in point (a) of Article 14(1) where this is shorter than one year, or for a maximum period of one year. If the duration of the agreement is longer than one year, the duration of the validity of the authorisation may correspond to the period concerned in accordance with national law.

8. Member States may determine that, in case the validity of the travel document of the third-country national concerned is shorter than one year or shorter than two years in the cases referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2, the period of validity of the authorisation shall not exceed the period of validity of the travel document.

9. Where Member States allow entry and residence during the first year on the basis of a long-stay visa, an application for a residence permit shall be submitted before the expiry of the long-stay visa. The residence permit shall be issued if Article 21 does not apply.

Article 19

Additional information

1. Member States may indicate additional information in paper format or store such information in electronic format, as referred to in Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 1030/2002 and point (a) 16 of the Annex thereto. This information may relate to the residence and, in cases covered by Article 24 of this Directive, the economic activities of the student and include in particular the full list of Member States that the researcher or student intends to go to in the framework of mobility or relevant information on a specific Union or multilateral programme that comprises mobility measures or an agreement between two or more higher education institutions.

2. Member States may also provide that the information referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article shall be indicated on the long-stay visa, as referred to in point 12 of the Annex to Council Regulation (EC) No 1683/95 (22).

CHAPTER IV

GROUNDS FOR REJECTION, WITHDRAWAL OR NON-RENEWAL OF AUTHORISATIONS

Article 20

Grounds for rejection

1. Member States shall reject an application where:

(a) the general conditions laid down in Article 7 or the relevant specific conditions laid down in Articles 8, 11, 12, 13, 14 or 16 are not met;

(b) the documents presented have been fraudulently acquired, or falsified, or tampered with;

(c) the Member State concerned only allows admission through an approved host entity and the host entity is not approved.

2. Member States may reject an application where:

(a) the host entity, another body as referred to in point (a) of Article 14(1), a third party as referred to in point (d) of Article 12(1), the host family or the organisation mediating au pairs has failed to meet its legal obligations regarding social security, taxation, labour rights or working conditions;

(b) where applicable, the terms of employment as provided for in national law or collective agreements or practices in the Member State concerned are not met by the host entity or host family that will employ the third-country national;

(c) the host entity, another body as referred to in point (a) of Article 14(1), a third party as referred to in point (d) of Article 12(1), the host family or the organisation mediating au pairs has been sanctioned in accordance with national law for undeclared work or illegal employment;

(d) the host entity was established or operates for the main purpose of facilitating the entry of third-country nationals falling under the scope of this Directive;

(e) where applicable, the host entity's business is being or has been wound up under national insolvency laws or no economic activity is taking place;

(f) the Member State has evidence or serious and objective grounds to establish that the third-country national would reside for purposes other than those for which he or she applies to be admitted.

3. Where a third-country national applies to be admitted to enter into an employment relationship in a Member State, that Member State may verify whether the post in question could be filled by nationals of that Member State or by other Union citizens, or by third-country nationals lawfully residing in that Member State, in which case it may reject the application. This paragraph shall apply without prejudice to the principle of preference for Union citizens as expressed in the relevant provisions of the relevant Acts of Accession.

4. Without prejudice to paragraph 1, any decision to reject an application shall take account of the specific circumstances of the case and respect the principle of proportionality.

Article 21

Grounds for withdrawal or non-renewal of an authorisation

1. Member States shall withdraw or, where applicable, refuse to renew an authorisation where:

(a) the third-country national no longer meets the general conditions laid down in Article 7, except for Article 7(6), or the relevant specific conditions laid down in Articles 8, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16 or the conditions laid down in Article 18;

(b) the authorisation or the documents presented have been fraudulently acquired, or falsified, or tampered with;

(c) the Member State concerned only allows admission through an approved host entity and the host entity is not approved;

(d) the third-country national is residing for purposes other than those for which the third-country national was authorised to reside.

2. Member States may withdraw or refuse to renew an authorisation where:

(a) the host entity, another body as referred to in point (a) of Article 14(1), a third party as referred to in point (d) of Article 12(1), the host family or the organisation mediating au pairs has failed to meet its legal obligations regarding social security, taxation, labour rights or working conditions;

(b) where applicable, the terms of employment as provided for in national law or collective agreements or practices in the Member State concerned are not met by the host entity or host family employing the third-country national;

(c) the host entity, another body as referred to in point (a) of Article 14(1), a third party as referred to in point (d) of Article 12(1), the host family or the organisation mediating au pairs has been sanctioned in accordance with national law for undeclared work or illegal employment;

(d) the host entity was established or operates for the main purpose of facilitating the entry of third-country nationals falling under the scope of this Directive;

(e) where applicable, the host entity's business is being or has been wound up under national insolvency laws or no economic activity is taking place;

(f) with regard to students, the time limits imposed on access to economic activities under Article 24 are not respected or a student does not make sufficient progress in the relevant studies in accordance with national law or administrative practice.

3. In the event of withdrawal, when assessing the lack of progress in the relevant studies, as referred to in point (f) of paragraph 2, a Member State may consult with the host entity.

4. Member States may withdraw or refuse to renew an authorisation for reasons of public policy, public security or public health.

5. Where a third-country national applies for renewal of the authorisation to enter into or continue to be in an employment relationship in a Member State, with the exception of a researcher who continues the employment relationship with the same host entity, that Member State may verify whether the post in question could be filled by nationals of that Member State or by other Union citizens, or by third-country nationals who are long-term residents in that Member State, in which case they may refuse to renew the authorisation. This paragraph shall apply without prejudice to the principle of preference for Union citizens as expressed in the relevant provisions of the relevant Acts of Accession.

6. Where a Member State intends to withdraw or not renew the authorisation of a student in accordance with points (a), (c), (d) or (e) of paragraph 2, the student shall be allowed to submit an application to be hosted by a different higher education institution for an equivalent course of study in order to enable the completion of the studies. The student shall be allowed to stay on the territory of the Member State concerned until the competent authorities have taken a decision on the application.

7. Without prejudice to paragraph 1, any decision to withdraw or refuse to renew an authorisation shall take account of the specific circumstances of the case and respect the principle of proportionality.

CHAPTER V

RIGHTS

Article 22

Equal treatment

1. Researchers shall be entitled to equal treatment with nationals of the Member State concerned as provided for in Article 12(1) and (4) of Directive 2011/98/EU.

2. Member States may restrict equal treatment as regards researchers:

(a) under point (c) of Article 12(1) of Directive 2011/98/EU, by excluding study and maintenance grants and loans or other grants and loans;

(b) under point (e) of Article 12(1) of Directive 2011/98/EU, by not granting family benefits to researchers who have been authorised to reside in the territory of the Member State concerned for a period not exceeding six months;

(c) under point (f) of Article 12(1) of Directive 2011/98/EU, by limiting its application to cases where the registered or usual place of residence of the family members of the researcher for whom he or she claims benefits lies in the territory of the Member State concerned;

(d) under point (g) of Article 12(1) of Directive 2011/98/EU by restricting access to housing.

3. Trainees, volunteers and au pairs, when they are considered to be in an employment relationship in the Member State concerned, and students shall be entitled to equal treatment with nationals of the Member State concerned as provided for in Article 12(1) and (4) of Directive 2011/98/EU subject to the restrictions provided for in paragraph 2 of that Article.

4. Trainees, volunteers, and au pairs, when they are not considered to be in an employment relationship in the Member State concerned, and school pupils shall be entitled to equal treatment in relation to access to goods and services and the supply of goods and services made available to the public, as provided for by national law, as well as, where applicable, in relation to recognition of diplomas, certificates and other professional qualifications in accordance with the relevant national procedures.

Member States may decide not to grant them equal treatment in relation to procedures for obtaining housing and/or services provided by public employment offices in accordance with national law.

Article 23

Teaching by researchers

Researchers may, in addition to research activities, teach in accordance with national law. Member States may set a maximum number of hours or of days for the activity of teaching.

Article 24

Economic activities by students

1. Outside their study time and subject to the rules and conditions applicable to the relevant activity in the Member State concerned, students shall be entitled to be employed and may be entitled to exercise self-employed economic activity, subject to the limitations provided for in paragraph 3.

2. Where necessary, Member States shall grant students and/or employers prior authorisation in accordance with national law.

3. Each Member State shall determine the maximum number of hours per week or days or months per year allowed for such an activity, which shall not be less than 15 hours per week, or the equivalent in days or months per year. The situation of the labour market in the Member State concerned may be taken into account.

Article 25

Stay for the purpose of job-searching or entrepreneurship for researchers and students

1. After the completion of research or studies, researchers and students shall have the possibility to stay on the territory of the Member State that issued an authorisation under Article 17, on the basis of the residence permit referred to in paragraph 3 of this Article, for a period of at least nine months in order to seek employment or set up a business.

2. Member States may decide to set a minimum level of degree that students shall have obtained in order to benefit from the application of this Article. That level shall not be higher than level 7 of the European Qualifications Framework (23).

3. For the purpose of stay referred to in paragraph 1, Member States shall, upon an application by the researcher or the student, issue a residence permit to that third-country national in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1030/2002 where the conditions laid down in points (a), (c), (d) and (e) of Article 7(1), Article 7(6) and, where applicable, in Article 7(2) of this Directive are still fulfilled. Member States shall require, for researchers, a confirmation by the research organisation of the completion of the research activity or, for students, evidence of having obtained a higher education diploma, certificate or other evidence of formal qualifications. Where applicable, and if the provisions of Article 26 are still met, the residence permit provided for in that Article shall be renewed accordingly.

4. Member States may reject an application under this Article where:

(a) the conditions laid down in paragraph 3 and, where applicable, paragraphs 2 and 5 are not met,

(b) the documents presented have been fraudulently acquired, or falsified, or tampered with.

5. Member States may require that the application under this Article of the researcher or the student and, where applicable, the members of the researcher's family shall be submitted at least 30 days before the expiry of the authorisation issued under Article 17 or 26.

6. If the evidence of having obtained a higher education diploma, certificate or other evidence of formal qualifications or the confirmation by the research organisation of the completion of the research activity are not available before the expiry of the authorisation issued under Article 17, and all other conditions are fulfilled, Member States shall allow the third-country national to stay on their territory in order to submit such evidence within a reasonable time in accordance with national law.

7. After a minimum of three months from the issuance of the residence permit under this Article by the Member State concerned, the latter may require third-country nationals to prove that they have a genuine chance of being engaged or of launching a business.

Member States may require that the employment the third-country national is seeking or the business he or she is in the process of setting up corresponds to the level of research or of studies completed.

8. If the conditions provided for in paragraph 3 or 7 are no longer fulfilled, Member States may withdraw the residence permit of the third-country national and, where applicable, his or her family members in accordance with national law.

9. Second Member States may apply this Article to researchers and, where applicable, the members of the researcher's family or students who reside or have resided in the second Member State concerned in accordance with Article 28, 29, 30 or 31.

Article 26

Researchers' family members

1. For the purpose of allowing researchers' family members to join the researcher in the first Member State or, in the case of long-term mobility, in the second Member States, Member States shall apply the provisions of Directive 2003/86/EC with the derogations laid down in this Article.

2. By way of derogation from Article 3(1) and Article 8 of Directive 2003/86/EC, the granting of a residence permit to family members shall not be made dependent on the requirement of the researcher having reasonable prospects of obtaining the right of permanent residence and having a minimum period of residence.

3. By way of derogation from the last subparagraph of Article 4(1) and Article 7(2) of Directive 2003/86/EC, the integration conditions and measures referred to therein may only be applied after the persons concerned have been granted a residence permit.

4. By way of derogation from the first subparagraph of Article 5(4) of Directive 2003/86/EC, residence permits for family members shall be granted by a Member State, if the conditions for family reunification are fulfilled, within 90 days from the date on which the complete application was submitted. The competent authority of the Member State concerned shall process the application for the family members at the same time as the application for admission or for long-term mobility of the researcher, in case where the application for the family members is submitted at the same time. The residence permit for family members shall be granted only if the researcher is issued an authorisation under Article 17.

5. By way of derogation from Article 13(2) and (3) of Directive 2003/86/EC, the duration of validity of the residence permit of family members shall end, as a general rule, on the date of expiry of the authorisation of the researcher. This shall include, where applicable, authorisations issued to the researcher for the purpose of job-searching or entrepreneurship in accordance with Article 25. Member States may require the period of validity of the travel documents of family members to cover at least the duration of the planned stay.

6. By way of derogation from the second sentence of Article 14(2) of Directive 2003/86/EC, the first Member State or, in the case of long-term mobility, the second Member States shall not apply any time limit in respect of access for family members to the labour market, except in exceptional circumstances such as particularly high levels of unemployment.

CHAPTER VI

MOBILITY BETWEEN MEMBER STATES

Article 27

Intra-EU mobility

1. A third-country national who holds a valid authorisation issued by the first Member State for the purpose of studies in the framework of a Union or multilateral programme that comprises mobility measures or of an agreement between two or more higher education institutions, or for the purpose of research may enter and stay in order to carry out part of the studies or research in one or several second Member States on the basis of that authorisation and a valid travel document under the conditions laid down in Articles 28, 29 and 31 and subject to Article 32.

2. During the mobility referred to in paragraph 1, researchers may, in addition to research activities, teach and students may, in addition to their studies, work, in one or several second Member States in accordance with the conditions laid down in Articles 23 and 24 respectively.

3. When a researcher moves to a second Member State in accordance with Article 28 or 29, family members holding a residence permit issued in accordance with Article 26 shall be authorised to accompany the researcher in the framework of the researcher's mobility under the conditions laid down in Article 30.

Article 28

Short-term mobility of researchers

1. Researchers who hold a valid authorisation issued by the first Member State shall be entitled to stay in order to carry out part of their research in any research organisation in one or several second Member States for a period of up to 180 days in any 360-day period per Member State, subject to the conditions laid down in this Article.

2. The second Member State may require the researcher, the research organisation in the first Member State or the research organisation in the second Member State to notify the competent authorities of the first Member State and of the second Member State of the intention of the researcher to carry out part of the research in the research organisation in the second Member State.

In such cases, the second Member State shall allow the notification to take place either:

(a) at the time of the application in the first Member State, where the mobility to the second Member State is already envisaged at that stage; or

(b) after the researcher was admitted to the first Member State, as soon as the intended mobility to the second Member State is known.

3. Where the notification has taken place in accordance with point (a) of paragraph 2, and where the second Member State has not raised any objection with the first Member State in accordance with paragraph 7, the mobility of the researcher to the second Member State may take place at any moment within the period of validity of the authorisation.

4. Where the notification has taken place in accordance with point (b) of paragraph 2, the mobility may be initiated after the notification to the second Member State immediately or at any moment thereafter within the period of validity of the authorisation.

5. The notification shall include the valid travel document, as provided for in point (a) of Article 7(1), and the valid authorisation issued by the first Member State covering the period of the mobility.

6. The second Member State may require the notification to include the transmission of the following documents and information:

(a) the hosting agreement in the first Member State as referred to in Article 10 or, if the second Member State so requires, a hosting agreement concluded with the research organisation in the second Member State;

(b) where not specified in the hosting agreement, the planned duration and dates of the mobility;

(c) evidence that the researcher has sickness insurance for all the risks normally covered for nationals of the Member State concerned as provided for in point (c) of Article 7(1);

(d) evidence that during the stay the researcher will have sufficient resources to cover subsistence costs without having recourse to the Member State's social assistance system, as provided for in point (e) of Article 7(1), as well as the travel costs to the first Member State in the cases referred to in point (b) of Article 32(4);

The second Member State may require the notifier to provide, before the start of mobility, the address of the researcher concerned in the territory of the second Member State.

The second Member State may require the notifier to present the documents in an official language of that Member State or in any official language of the Union determined by that Member State.

7. Based on the notification referred to in paragraph 2 the second Member State may object to the mobility of the researcher to its territory within 30 days from having received the complete notification, where:

(a) the conditions set out in paragraph 5 or, where applicable, paragraph 6 are not complied with;

(b) one of the grounds for rejection set out in points (b) or (c) of Article 20(1) or in paragraph 2 of that Article applies;

(c) the maximum duration of stay as referred to in paragraph 1 has been reached.

8. Researchers who are considered to pose a threat to public policy, public security or public health shall not be allowed to enter or to stay on the territory of the second Member State.

9. The competent authorities of the second Member State shall, without delay, inform the competent authorities of the first Member State and the notifier in writing about their objection to the mobility. Where the second Member State objects to the mobility in accordance with paragraph 7 and the mobility has not yet taken place, the researcher shall not be allowed to carry out part of the research in the research organisation in the second Member State. Where the mobility has already taken place, Article 32(4) shall apply.

10. After the period of objection has expired, the second Member State may issue a document to the researcher attesting that he or she is entitled to stay on its territory and enjoy the rights provided for in this Directive.

Article 29

Long-term mobility of researchers

1. In relation to researchers who hold a valid authorisation issued by the first Member State and who intend to stay in order to carry out part of their research in any research organisation in one or several second Member States for more than 180 days per Member State, the second Member State shall either:

(a) apply Article 28 and allow the researcher to stay on the territory on the basis of and during the period of validity of the authorisation issued by the first Member State; or

(b) apply the procedure provided for in paragraphs 2 to 7.

The second Member State may define a maximum period of the long-term mobility of a researcher which shall not be less than 360 days.

2. When an application for long-term mobility is submitted:

(a) the second Member State may require the researcher, the research organisation in the first Member State or the research organisation in the second Member State to transmit the following documents: (i) a valid travel document, as provided for in point (a) of Article 7(1), and a valid authorisation issued by the first Member State; (ii) evidence that the researcher has sickness insurance for all the risks normally covered for nationals of the Member State concerned as provided for in point (c) of Article 7(1); (iii) evidence that during the stay the researcher will have sufficient resources to cover subsistence costs without having recourse to the Member State's social assistance system, as provided for in point (e) of Article 7(1), as well as the travel costs to the first Member State in the cases referred to in point (b) of Article 32(4); (iv) the hosting agreement in the first Member State as referred to in Article 10 or, if the second Member State so requires, a hosting agreement concluded with the research organisation in the second Member State; (v) where not specified in any of the documents presented by the applicant, the planned duration and dates of the mobility. The second Member State may require the applicant to provide the address of the researcher concerned in its territory. Where the national law of the second Member State requires an address to be provided at the time of application and the researcher concerned does not yet know his or her future address, that Member State shall accept a temporary address. In such a case, the researcher shall provide his or her permanent address at the latest at the time of the issuance of the authorisation for long-term mobility. The second Member State may require the applicant to present the documents in an official language of that Member State or in any official language of the Union determined by that Member State;

(b) the second Member State shall take a decision on the application for long-term mobility and notify the decision to the applicant in writing as soon as possible, but not later than 90 days from the date on which the complete application was submitted to the competent authorities of the second Member State;

(c) the researcher shall not be required to leave the territories of the Member States in order to submit an application and shall not be subject to a visa requirement;

(d) the researcher shall be allowed to carry out part of the research in the research organisation in the second Member State until a decision on the application for long-term mobility has been taken by the competent authorities, provided that: (i) neither the period referred to in Article 28(1) nor the period of validity of the authorisation issued by the first Member State have expired; and (ii) if the second Member State so requires, the complete application has been submitted to the second Member State at least 30 days before the long-term mobility of the researcher starts;

(e) an application for long-term mobility may not be submitted at the same time as a notification for short-term mobility. Where the need for long-term mobility arises after the short-term mobility of the researcher has started, the second Member State may request that the application for long-term mobility be submitted at least 30 days before the short-term mobility ends.

3. The second Member State may reject an application for long-term mobility where:

(a) the conditions set out in point (a) of paragraph 2 are not complied with;

(b) one of the grounds for rejection set out in Article 20, with the exception of point (a) of paragraph 1 of that Article, applies;

(c) the researcher's authorisation in the first Member State expires during the procedure; or

(d) where applicable, the maximum duration of stay referred to in the second subparagraph of paragraph 1 has been reached.

4. Researchers who are considered to pose a threat to public policy, public security or public health shall not be allowed to enter or to stay on the territory of the second Member State.

5. Where the second Member State takes a positive decision on the application for long-term mobility as referred to in paragraph 2 of this Article, the researcher shall be issued an authorisation in accordance with Article 17(4). The second Member State shall inform the competent authorities of the first Member State when an authorisation for long-term mobility is issued.

6. The second Member State may withdraw the authorisation for long-term mobility where:

(a) the conditions set out in point (a) of paragraph 2 or in paragraph 4 of this Article are not or are no longer complied with; or

(b) one of the grounds of withdrawal of an authorisation, as set out in Article 21, with the exception of point (a) of paragraph (1), point (f) of paragraph (2) and paragraphs (3), (5) and (6) of that Article, applies.

7. When a Member State takes a decision on long-term mobility, para