This ad hoc query examines national practices across EMN Member and Observer countries regarding the duration of researchers' residence permits under Directive (EU) 2016/801, procedures for managing gaps between hosting arrangements during permit renewals, and the impact of such gaps on continuous residence requirements for long-term residence and citizenship. 

This ad hoc query examines the ways in which EMN Member and Observer Countries calculate periods of absence in the context of applications for an EU Long-Term Residence Status, which requires 5 years of continuous residence. Additionally, this ad hoc query inquires about the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Optical Character Recognition (OCR) in EMN Member and Observer Countries, or any future plans to do so.