TCTM02088 - Entitlement: Residence rules - Right to reside: Nationals of EEA member states

Countries within the European Union (EU) prior to 1 May 2004 were:

  • UK
  • Denmark
  • Sweden
  • Ireland
  • France
  • Germany
  • Spain
  • Portugal
  • Netherlands
  • Austria
  • Belgium
  • Finland
  • Italy
  • Luxembourg
  • Greece

The EU has an agreement with Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein (the European Economic Area, [EEA]) and a separate agreement with Switzerland, which confers similar rights of EU nationals on nationals of those countries.

On 1 May 2004, ten countries joined the EU. They were:

  • Estonia*
  • Latvia*
  • Lithuania*
  • Poland*
  • The Czech Republic*
  • Slovakia*
  • Hungary*
  • Slovenia*
  • Cyprus
  • Malta

(* Called the “A8” countries - see below)

On 1 January 2007, 2 countries joined the EU. They were:

  • Bulgaria
  • Romania

On 1 July 2013, Croatia joined the EU.