Article 1 
1. Residence permits issued by Member States to third-country nationals shall be drawn up in a uniform format and provide sufficient space for the information set out in the Annex hereto. Residence permits to third-country nationals shall be issued as stand-alone documents in ID 1 or ID 2 format. ch Member State may add in the relevant space of the uniform format information of importance regarding the nature of the permit and the legal status of the person concerned, in particular information as to whether or not the person is permitted to work. 2. For the purpose of this Regulation, (a) ‘residence permit’ shall mean any authorisation issued by the authorities of a Member State allowing a third-country national to stay legally on its territory, with the exception of: (i) visas; (ii) permits issued pending examination of a request for asylum, an application for a residence permit or an application for its extension; (iia) permits issued in exceptional circumstances with a view to an extension of the authorised stay with a maximum duration of one month; (iii) authorisations issued for a stay of a duration not exceeding six months by Member States not applying the provisions of Article 21 of the Convention implementing the Schengen Agreement of 14 June 1985 between the Governments of the States of the Benelux Economic Union, the Federal Republic of Germany and the French Republic on the gradual abolition of checks at their common borders ( 9 ); (a) ‘residence permit’ shall mean any authorisation issued by the authorities of a Member State allowing a third-country national to stay legally on its territory, with the exception of: (i) visas; (ii) permits issued pending examination of a request for asylum, an application for a residence permit or an application for its extension; (iia) permits issued in exceptional circumstances with a view to an extension of the authorised stay with a maximum duration of one month; (iii) authorisations issued for a stay of a duration not exceeding six months by Member States not applying the provisions of Article 21 of the Convention implementing the Schengen Agreement of 14 June 1985 between the Governments of the States of the Benelux Economic Union, the Federal Republic of Germany and the French Republic on the gradual abolition of checks at their common borders ( 9 ); (b) ‘third-country national’ shall mean any person who is not a citizen of the Union within the meaning of Article 17(1) of the Treaty.
Amendment rationale: CONTEXT OF THE PROPOSAL The current design of the residence permit originates from a Council Joint Action (97/11/JHA) adopted in 1997. Back in 2009, Member States considered that more sophisticated forgeries meant it was necessary to work on a new design for residence permits and decided to introduce more modern security features to improve the security features of residence permits. Regulation (EC) No 1030/2002, as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 380/2008, lays down a uniform format for residence permits for third-country nationals. Due to the introduction of biometric features (facial image and fingerprints), the sticker version of the residence permit was abandoned, and since 20 May 2011 only card versions are permitted. During the negotiation of the 2008 amendment to the Regulation, which introduced biometric identifiers by means of a contactless chip in the residence permit, some Member States expressed the wish to include an optional contact chip for national use in their e-government services. This was accepted, as was the optional use of additional (national) security features. This residence permit card is also used for the local border traffic permit and the specific permits issued under EU legislation on legal migration. 1 Uniformity versus national security features The Commission is in favour of having a uniform format for residence permits, as is the case with the visa sticker. This would mean all Member States having the same card model, design and security features. However, taking into account the technical developments achieved in some Member States in the area of e-government, it was considered appropriate to accept the addition of a contact chip for e-government purposes for those Member States that wished to give third-country nationals the same advantages as their own citizens, while accepting that this would lead to a certain ‘non-uniformity’ of the format. In that context, the following sentence was added under Annex I, 2(h) of the Regulation: ‘Member States may also add additional national security features, provided that these are included in the list established under Article 2(1)(f) of this Regulation and provided that they comply with the harmonised appearance of the following models and that the efficiency of the uniform security features is not diminished.’ This list was subsequently established by Commission Decision C (2009) 3770 of 20 May 2009. It listed additional security features to which Member States could have recourse if they so choose. The choice and implementation of additional optional security features and the scope for interpreting the technical specifications, which are no longer specific enough due to technical developments, meant that the quality and appearance of residence permits among Member States differed greatly. Work on a new design and security features started in 2010, when a subgroup of the committee set up under Article 6 of Regulation (EC) No 1683/95 (‘the Article 6 committee’) was established to work on this issue. From the Commission’s point of view, this ‘new start’ was also an opportunity to explore the possibility of introducing a uniform and harmonised format and ensuring all residence permits offered the same highest possible level of security. This would help border guards and other officials recognise residence permits at first sight. However, as explained in point 3 below, it emerged during consultations with stakeholders that a completely harmonised approach would entail very high costs for some Member States. The compromise was to maintain a list of state-of-the-art additional security features which could be added to the common uniform format if desired. One of the main reasons for this approach is that the technical specifications adopted in 2009 require the card to be made of plastic material (like credit cards). However, the technical specifications do not define exactly which plastic material is to be used. There are different types of plastic on the market, the most suitable being polycarbonate. Currently, all cards have a structure made up of different layers using different plastic materials, even though most use polycarbonate. The production technologies for the specific plastic materials available in each Member State are also different. The range of techniques used to produce the cards means that not all proposed security features can be accommodated. As the new residence permit should be cost-neutral, it was not feasible to pursue full harmonisation further. Member States wishing to continue with optional security features were ready to limit them to the minimum and specify the technologies to be used, location and size in the technical specifications. These would be set out in a future Commission implementing decision.
Revised version (Article 1 ):
1. Residence permits issued by Member States to third-country nationals shall be drawn up in a uniform format and provide sufficient space for the information set out in the Annex hereto. Residence permits to third-country nationals shall be issued as stand-alone documents in ID 1 or ID 2 format. ch Member State may add in the relevant space of the uniform format information of importance regarding the nature of the permit and the legal status of the person concerned, in particular information as to whether or not the person is permitted to work.
Article 2 
1. Additional technical specifications for the uniform format for residence permits relating to the following shall be established in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 7(2): (a) additional security features and requirements including enhanced anti-forgery, counterfeiting and falsification standards; (b) technical processes and rules for the filling in of the uniform residence permit; (c) other rules to be observed for the filling in of the uniform residence permit; (d) technical specifications for the storage medium of the biometric features and the security thereof, including prevention of unauthorised access; (e) requirements for the quality of and common standards for the facial image and the fingerprint images; (f) an exhaustive list of additional national security features which could be added by Member States in accordance with point (h) of the Annex. 2. The colours of the uniform residence permit may be changed in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 7(2).
Amendment rationale: CONTEXT OF THE PROPOSAL The current design of the residence permit originates from a Council Joint Action (97/11/JHA) adopted in 1997. Back in 2009, Member States considered that more sophisticated forgeries meant it was necessary to work on a new design for residence permits and decided to introduce more modern security features to improve the security features of residence permits. Regulation (EC) No 1030/2002, as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 380/2008, lays down a uniform format for residence permits for third-country nationals. Due to the introduction of biometric features (facial image and fingerprints), the sticker version of the residence permit was abandoned, and since 20 May 2011 only card versions are permitted. During the negotiation of the 2008 amendment to the Regulation, which introduced biometric identifiers by means of a contactless chip in the residence permit, some Member States expressed the wish to include an optional contact chip for national use in their e-government services. This was accepted, as was the optional use of additional (national) security features. This residence permit card is also used for the local border traffic permit and the specific permits issued under EU legislation on legal migration. 1 Uniformity versus national security features The Commission is in favour of having a uniform format for residence permits, as is the case with the visa sticker. This would mean all Member States having the same card model, design and security features. However, taking into account the technical developments achieved in some Member States in the area of e-government, it was considered appropriate to accept the addition of a contact chip for e-government purposes for those Member States that wished to give third-country nationals the same advantages as their own citizens, while accepting that this would lead to a certain ‘non-uniformity’ of the format. In that context, the following sentence was added under Annex I, 2(h) of the Regulation: ‘Member States may also add additional national security features, provided that these are included in the list established under Article 2(1)(f) of this Regulation and provided that they comply with the harmonised appearance of the following models and that the efficiency of the uniform security features is not diminished.’ This list was subsequently established by Commission Decision C (2009) 3770 of 20 May 2009. It listed additional security features to which Member States could have recourse if they so choose. The choice and implementation of additional optional security features and the scope for interpreting the technical specifications, which are no longer specific enough due to technical developments, meant that the quality and appearance of residence permits among Member States differed greatly. Work on a new design and security features started in 2010, when a subgroup of the committee set up under Article 6 of Regulation (EC) No 1683/95 (‘the Article 6 committee’) was established to work on this issue. From the Commission’s point of view, this ‘new start’ was also an opportunity to explore the possibility of introducing a uniform and harmonised format and ensuring all residence permits offered the same highest possible level of security. This would help border guards and other officials recognise residence permits at first sight. However, as explained in point 3 below, it emerged during consultations with stakeholders that a completely harmonised approach would entail very high costs for some Member States. The compromise was to maintain a list of state-of-the-art additional security features which could be added to the common uniform format if desired. One of the main reasons for this approach is that the technical specifications adopted in 2009 require the card to be made of plastic material (like credit cards). However, the technical specifications do not define exactly which plastic material is to be used. There are different types of plastic on the market, the most suitable being polycarbonate. Currently, all cards have a structure made up of different layers using different plastic materials, even though most use polycarbonate. The production technologies for the specific plastic materials available in each Member State are also different. The range of techniques used to produce the cards means that not all proposed security features can be accommodated. As the new residence permit should be cost-neutral, it was not feasible to pursue full harmonisation further. Member States wishing to continue with optional security features were ready to limit them to the minimum and specify the technologies to be used, location and size in the technical specifications. These would be set out in a future Commission implementing decision.
Revised version (Article 2 ):
2. The colours of the uniform residence permit may be changed in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 7(2).
Article 3 
In accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 7(2), it may be decided that the specifications referred to in Article 2 shall be secret and not be published. In that case they shall be made available only to the bodies designated by the Member States as responsible for the printing and to persons duly authorised by a Member State or the Commission. Each Member State shall designate one body having responsibility for printing the uniform residence permit. It shall communicate the name of that body to the Commission and the other Member States. The same body may be designated by two or more Member States. Each Member State shall be entitled to change its designated body. It shall inform the Commission and the other Member States accordingly.
Article 4 
Without prejudice to data protection rules, persons to whom the residence permit is issued shall have the right to verify the personal particulars contained in the residence permit and, where appropriate, to have them corrected or deleted. No information in machine-readable form shall be included on the resident permit or on the storage medium of the residence permit referred to in Article 4a, unless provided for in this Regulation, or its Annex or unless it is mentioned in the related travel document by the issuing State in accordance with its national legislation. Member States may also store data for e-services such as e-government and e-business as well as additional provisions relating to the residence permit on a chip referred to in point 16 of the Annex. However, all national data must be logically separated from the biometric data referred to in Article 4a. For the purposes of this Regulation, the biometric features in residence permits shall only be used for verifying: (a) the authenticity of the document; (b) the identity of the holder by means of directly available comparable features when the residence permit is required to be produced by national legislation.
Article 4a 
The uniform format for residence permits shall include a storage medium containing the facial image and two fingerprint images of the holder, both in interoperable formats. The data shall be secured and the storage medium shall be of sufficient capacity and capability to guarantee the integrity, authenticity and confidentiality of the data.
Article 4b 
For the purposes of this Regulation, Member States shall take biometric identifiers comprising the facial image and two fingerprints from third-country nationals. The procedure shall be determined in accordance with the national practice of the Member State concerned and with the safeguards laid down in the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms and in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. The following biometric identifiers shall be taken: — a photograph provided by the applicant or taken at the time of application and, — two fingerprints taken flat and digitally captured. The technical specifications for the capture of biometric identifiers shall be set out in accordance with the procedure described in Article 7(2) and with ICAO standards and the technical specifications for passports issued by Member States to their nationals pursuant to Council Regulation (EC) No 2252/2004 of 13 December 2004 on standards for security features and biometrics in passports and travel documents issued by Member States ( 10 ). The capture of fingerprints is compulsory as of six years of age. Persons for whom fingerprinting is physically impossible shall be exempt from the requirement to give fingerprints.
Article 5 
This Regulation shall not apply to third-country nationals who are: — members of the families of citizens of the Union exercising their right to free movement, — nationals of Member States of the European Free Trade Association party to the Agreement on the European Economic Area and members of their families exercising their right to free movement in accordance with that Agreement, — nationals of third countries who are exempt from the requirement to hold a visa and who are authorised to stay in a Member State for a period of less than three months.
Article 5a 
Where Member States use the uniform format for purposes other than those covered by this Regulation, appropriate measures must be taken to ensure that confusion with the residence permit referred to in Article 1 is not possible and the purpose is clearly indicated on the card.
Article 6 
The measures necessary for the implementation of this Regulation shall be adopted in accordance with the regulatory procedure referred to in Article 7(2).
Article 7 
1. The Commission shall be assisted by the Committee set up by Article 6(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1683/95. 2. Where reference is made to this paragraph, Articles 5 and 7 of Decision 1999/468/EC shall apply. The period laid down in Article 5(6) of Decision 1999/468/EC shall be set at two months. 3. The Committee shall adopt its rules of procedure.
Article 8 
This Regulation shall not affect the powers of the Member States regarding recognition of States and territorial entities and passports, identity documents and travel documents issued by their authorities.
Article 9 
Member States shall issue the uniform format for residence permits defined in Article 1 no later than one year after the adoption of the additional security features and requirements referred to in Article 2(1)(a). From that date, this Regulation shall, in the Member States concerned, replace Joint Action 97/11/JHA. The storage of the facial image as primary biometric identifier shall be implemented at the latest two years, and the storage of the two fingerprint images at the latest three years, after the adoption of the respective technical measures provided for in Article 2(1)(d) and (e). However, the validity of residence permits already issued shall not be affected by the implementation of this Regulation, unless the Member State concerned decides otherwise. For a transitional period of two years after the adoption of the technical specifications for the facial image referred to in the third paragraph of this Article, the residence permit may continue to be issued in sticker form. However, the validity of authorisations already granted in another format of residence permit shall not be affected by the introduction of the uniform format for residence permits, unless the Member State concerned decides otherwise.
Article 10 
This Regulation shall enter into force on the day of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities . This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in the Member States in accordance with the Treaty establishing the European Community.
Amendment rationale: CONTEXT OF THE PROPOSAL The current design of the residence permit originates from a Council Joint Action (97/11/JHA) adopted in 1997. Back in 2009, Member States considered that more sophisticated forgeries meant it was necessary to work on a new design for residence permits and decided to introduce more modern security features to improve the security features of residence permits. Regulation (EC) No 1030/2002, as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 380/2008, lays down a uniform format for residence permits for third-country nationals. Due to the introduction of biometric features (facial image and fingerprints), the sticker version of the residence permit was abandoned, and since 20 May 2011 only card versions are permitted. During the negotiation of the 2008 amendment to the Regulation, which introduced biometric identifiers by means of a contactless chip in the residence permit, some Member States expressed the wish to include an optional contact chip for national use in their e-government services. This was accepted, as was the optional use of additional (national) security features. This residence permit card is also used for the local border traffic permit and the specific permits issued under EU legislation on legal migration. 1 Uniformity versus national security features The Commission is in favour of having a uniform format for residence permits, as is the case with the visa sticker. This would mean all Member States having the same card model, design and security features. However, taking into account the technical developments achieved in some Member States in the area of e-government, it was considered appropriate to accept the addition of a contact chip for e-government purposes for those Member States that wished to give third-country nationals the same advantages as their own citizens, while accepting that this would lead to a certain ‘non-uniformity’ of the format. In that context, the following sentence was added under Annex I, 2(h) of the Regulation: ‘Member States may also add additional national security features, provided that these are included in the list established under Article 2(1)(f) of this Regulation and provided that they comply with the harmonised appearance of the following models and that the efficiency of the uniform security features is not diminished.’ This list was subsequently established by Commission Decision C (2009) 3770 of 20 May 2009. It listed additional security features to which Member States could have recourse if they so choose. The choice and implementation of additional optional security features and the scope for interpreting the technical specifications, which are no longer specific enough due to technical developments, meant that the quality and appearance of residence permits among Member States differed greatly. Work on a new design and security features started in 2010, when a subgroup of the committee set up under Article 6 of Regulation (EC) No 1683/95 (‘the Article 6 committee’) was established to work on this issue. From the Commission’s point of view, this ‘new start’ was also an opportunity to explore the possibility of introducing a uniform and harmonised format and ensuring all residence permits offered the same highest possible level of security. This would help border guards and other officials recognise residence permits at first sight. However, as explained in point 3 below, it emerged during consultations with stakeholders that a completely harmonised approach would entail very high costs for some Member States. The compromise was to maintain a list of state-of-the-art additional security features which could be added to the common uniform format if desired. One of the main reasons for this approach is that the technical specifications adopted in 2009 require the card to be made of plastic material (like credit cards). However, the technical specifications do not define exactly which plastic material is to be used. There are different types of plastic on the market, the most suitable being polycarbonate. Currently, all cards have a structure made up of different layers using different plastic materials, even though most use polycarbonate. The production technologies for the specific plastic materials available in each Member State are also different. The range of techniques used to produce the cards means that not all proposed security features can be accommodated. As the new residence permit should be cost-neutral, it was not feasible to pursue full harmonisation further. Member States wishing to continue with optional security features were ready to limit them to the minimum and specify the technologies to be used, location and size in the technical specifications. These would be set out in a future Commission implementing decision.
Revised version (Article 10 ):
This Regulation shall enter into force on the day of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities .