Migrants can apply for a long term residence permit after five years of residence, which includes time studying or waiting for an asylum decision. The Netherlands scores 2nd after IT on eligibility, but 23rd on conditions. These include proof of sufficient income and an integration test (see box) as part of a short but expensive procedure. Long-term residents are partially secure under the law. Children, those born or socialised in the Netherlands and residents of over 20 years cannot be expelled. The transposition of the EC Directive for long-term residents has changed conditions (see box) and security of status for the better and worse since 2004. On security, more elements of a long-term resident's personal life are now taken into account in withdrawal decisions, but Dutch long-term residents now cannot spend more than one year outside the EU. They have equal rights to employment, healthcare, and housing; can move and live freely within the EU and can remain in the Netherlands after retirement.
