education, social security, and healthcare. In addition, people recognised as stateless may have rights to family reunification (under the ECHR, CRC or other law) and States should consider granting recognised stateless persons the right to vote, in line with democratic principles. Stateless people habitually resident in the State must be able to access consular protection abroad from that State. Any revocation or cessation of statelessness status should be subject to a proportionality test under international human rights law. Right of residence In almost all countries with a procedure to determine statelessness, this leads to a form of statelessness status or leave to remain, including the ability to acquire a residence permit and at least some 1954 Convention rights. In two Index countries (Spain and Moldova), recognised stateless people are automatically granted permanent residence along with access to education, healthcare, housing, and social security on the same basis as nationals, as well as a route to naturalisation (although this is lengthy). In others (e.g. Albania, France, Georgia, Hungary, Italy, the United Kingdom, and Türkiye) recognised stateless people are automatically granted a renewable residence permit ranging from two to five years, usually with a right to apply for permanent residence after a specific period (ranging from 5 to 10 years). In other countries, a residence permit may only be granted for one year initially, and/or there may be additional conditions that pose insurmountable barriers for some stateless people to acquire a residence permit. For example, in Czechia, recognised stateless persons receive a one-year tolerated stay visa, after which they may apply for a renewable two-year residence permit. In Bulgaria, stateless people can only acquire a residence permit if they can provide proof of subsistence, accommodation, and medical insurance, and pay a fee the equivalent of 250 EUR. In Montenegro, a recognised stateless person must prove sufficient income, accommodation, an identity document, and health insurance. In Ukraine, stateless people must apply for a temporary residence permit within the short timeframe of ten days following recognition. In the Netherlands, stateless people do not have the right to a residence permit at all based purely on being determined to be stateless. In Belgium, stateless people recognised through the judicial procedure must additionally apply for a discretionary permit to stay on humanitarian grounds, and under the administrative procedure they are granted a five-year residence permit but additional criteria apply. Country Bulgaria Initial duration 1 year Subsequent permits Renewable Discretionary Discretionary Czechia Type of permit Residence permit, upon application & additional criteria Humanitarian permit, upon application (administrative procedure only) Tolerated stay, automatic 1 year France Georgia Residence permit, automatic Residence permit, automatic Hungary Italy Residence permit, automatic Residence permit, upon application Residence permit, automatic 4 years 3 years (exceptionally 5) 3 years 1-5 years (practice varies) 1 year Renewable for 2-year periods, permanent after 5 years (upon application) 10-year permit Renewable, permanent after 12 years Renewable for 1-year periods Renewable Belgium Kosovo Latvia Moldova Montenegro Netherlands Residence permit, upon application Residence permit, automatic Permission to stay, upon application & additional criteria - Permanent 1 year Renewable for 1-year periods, permanent after 5 years Permanent (subject to additional criteria) N/A Renewable for 1-year periods - - 5 years (max.)