Persons that are domicile in EU member countries do not need a work permit to work in a foreign EU member country. This allows the easy transfer of people and workers within the EEA.
Work permits are required in Europe for persons that are not domicile in an EU member country. It legally allows the permit holder to work in a certain country for a certain period of time. It may also specify which industry or business sector and with which company.
Every country in Europe has slightly different procedures to review and process work permit applications, and so timescales and costs do vary greatly. Gaining an understanding of the local regulations for your chosen country is essential to comply with the relevant documentation.
There are some common requirements that apply generally throughout Europe. These include the following:
The person requiring the permit must have established an employment agreement with a company and the company must manage all aspects of the permit application on behalf of the worker; The permit will only be issued if the job position it is granted for cannot be filled by an EU national worker; Limitations concerning the period of time, the company, and position within the company may all be specified in the permit conditions. On occasions a minimum salary level for the permit holder may be determined and set by the local authorities.
Highly skilled workers can obtain a work permit through different means to normal applicants. There is considered to be a shortage of certain skills and workers throughout Europe and so steps have been taken increase the number of highly skilled or highly educated workers in EU countries. As a result the Blue Card permit is designed to attract these workers, offering a combination of work and residence permit.
As the Blue Card permit is just for highly skilled or highly educated individuals, there are stringent requirements to comply with in order to qualify. These include the possession of a college diploma or evidence of the completion of five years occupational training; the possession of a valid job offer of employment contract; a gross income of at least 50% above the national average.
The initial period of work within the EU is four years.
As always, if there is any information you need, any help you require, please don’t hesitate to contact us for further enquiries.