Relocation and immigration in Europe
Relocation and work permits in every EU country.
Every European country runs its own work permits, though most also offer the EU Blue Card for highly qualified people. Settio has a plan for each of the 27 EU countries, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland, written against the authority's own pages: the country's permit route, the offices that decide it, the documents and the first-week registrations, in one plan per person and one workspace for every country.
In short
What to know
Austria
Permits: Red-White-Red Card (Rot-Weiß-Rot-Karte). Authorities: Austrian residence authority (Niederlassungs- und Aufenthaltsbehörde).
Work permits in AustriaBelgium
Permits: Permis unique / gecombineerde vergunning. Authorities: Office des Étrangers / Dienst Vreemdelingenzaken, SPF Finances / FOD Financiën, ONSS / RSZ.
Work permits in BelgiumBulgaria
Permits: Single residence and work permit (Единно разрешение за пребиваване и работа). Authorities: Migration Directorate, Ministry of Interior of Bulgaria (Дирекция „Миграция“, Министерство на вътрешните работи).
Work permits in BulgariaCroatia
Permits: Stay and work permit (dozvola za boravak i rad). Authorities: Ministry of the Interior: police administration or police station (Ministarstvo unutarnjih poslova: policijska uprava / policijska postaja).
Work permits in CroatiaCyprus
Permits: Temporary residence and work permit for remunerated employment (single permit, GEN) (Άδεια προσωρινής διαμονής και εργασίας: έμμισθη απασχόληση (ενιαία άδεια, GEN)). Authorities: Migration Department, Deputy Ministry of Migration and International Protection (Τμήμα Μετανάστευσης, Υφυπουργείο Μετανάστευσης και Διεθνούς Προστασίας).
Work permits in CyprusCzech Republic (Czechia)
Permits: Czech employee card (zaměstnanecká karta). Authorities: Ministry of the Interior of the Czech Republic: Department of Asylum and Migration Policy (Ministerstvo vnitra ČR, Odbor azylové a migrační politiky (OAMP)).
Work permits in the Czech RepublicDenmark
Permits: Beløbsordningen, Fast-Track. Authorities: SIRI, Skattestyrelsen, Borgerservice.
Work permits in DenmarkEstonia
Permits: Temporary residence permit for employment (elamisluba töötamiseks). Authorities: Estonian Police and Border Guard Board (Politsei- ja Piirivalveamet (PPA)).
Work permits in EstoniaFinland
Permits: Residence permit for an employed person (työntekijän oleskelulupa). Authorities: Finnish Immigration Service (Maahanmuuttovirasto (Migri)).
Work permits in FinlandFrance
Permits: Titre de séjour, ANEF. Authorities: Préfecture, Plateforme de la main-d'œuvre étrangère, CPAM.
Work permits in FranceGermany
Permits: Aufenthaltstitel, Blaue Karte EU. Authorities: Ausländerbehörde, Bundesagentur für Arbeit, Bürgeramt.
Work permits in GermanyGreece
Permits: Residence permit for employment after an invitation (type E.4) (άδεια διαμονής για απασχόληση κατόπιν μετάκλησης (τύπου «Ε.4»)). Authorities: Ministry of Migration and Asylum (Υπουργείο Μετανάστευσης και Ασύλου).
Work permits in GreeceHungary
Permits: Hungarian Card (Magyar Kártya). Authorities: National Directorate-General for Aliens Policing (NDGAP) (Országos Idegenrendészeti Főigazgatóság (OIF)).
Work permits in HungaryIreland
Permits: Critical Skills Employment Permit. Authorities: Immigration Service Delivery, Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration (Immigration Service Delivery (ISD)).
Work permits in IrelandItaly
Permits: Work authorisation (nulla osta) and residence permit for employment (nulla osta al lavoro subordinato e permesso di soggiorno per lavoro subordinato). Authorities: Italian provincial police headquarters (Questura (Polizia di Stato)).
Work permits in ItalyLatvia
Permits: Temporary residence permit with the right to employment (termiņuzturēšanās atļauja ar tiesībām uz nodarbinātību). Authorities: Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (Pilsonības un migrācijas lietu pārvalde (PMLP)).
Work permits in LatviaLithuania
Permits: Temporary residence permit for work (leidimas laikinai gyventi užsieniečiui, kuris ketina dirbti). Authorities: Migration Department under the Ministry of the Interior of Lithuania (Migracijos departamentas prie Lietuvos Respublikos vidaus reikalų ministerijos).
Work permits in LithuaniaLuxembourg
Permits: Residence permit for salaried workers (titre de séjour "travailleur salarié"). Authorities: Directorate-General for Immigration, Ministry of Home Affairs (Direction générale de l'immigration (ministère des Affaires intérieures)).
Work permits in LuxembourgMalta
Permits: Single permit (residence and employment licence) (Single Permit). Authorities: Identità (Malta's identity agency), Expatriates Unit (Identità: Expatriates Unit).
Work permits in MaltaNetherlands
Permits: Kennismigrant, GVVA. Authorities: IND, UWV, Belastingdienst.
Work permits in the NetherlandsPoland
Permits: Polish work permit (zezwolenie na pracę). Authorities: Voivodeship Office (the voivode) (urząd wojewódzki (wojewoda)).
Work permits in PolandPortugal
Permits: Visto de residência, Autorização de residência. Authorities: AIMA, Finanças, Segurança Social.
Work permits in PortugalRomania
Permits: Single application for the employment visa (D/AM) and the single permit (cerere unică pentru viza de lungă şedere pentru angajare în muncă (D/AM1, D/AM2) şi permis unic). Authorities: General Inspectorate for Immigration of Romania (Inspectoratul General pentru Imigrări (IGI)).
Work permits in RomaniaSlovakia
Permits: Temporary residence for employment (single permit) (prechodný pobyt na účel zamestnania (jednotné povolenie na pobyt a zamestnanie)). Authorities: Bureau of Border and Foreign Police of the Slovak Police Force (Úrad hraničnej a cudzineckej polície Prezídia Policajného zboru).
Work permits in SlovakiaSlovenia
Permits: Slovenian single residence and work permit (enotno dovoljenje za prebivanje in delo). Authorities: Slovenian administrative unit (upravna enota).
Work permits in SloveniaSpain
Permits: Tarjeta azul UE. Authorities: Oficina de Extranjería, Agencia Tributaria, SEPE.
Work permits in SpainSweden
Permits: Arbetstillstånd, EU Blue Card. Authorities: Migrationsverket, Skatteverket.
Work permits in SwedenIceland
Permits: Residence permit for work requiring expert knowledge (dvalarleyfi vegna starfa sem krefjast sérfræðiþekkingar). Authorities: Directorate of Immigration (Útlendingastofnun).
Work permits in IcelandLiechtenstein
Permits: Residence permit for employed work (Aufenthaltsbewilligung zur Ausübung einer unselbständigen Erwerbstätigkeit). Authorities: Immigration and Passport Office (Ausländer- und Passamt (APA)).
Work permits in LiechtensteinNorway
Permits: Oppholdstillatelse som faglært. Authorities: UDI, Skatteetaten, NAV.
Work permits in NorwaySwitzerland
Permits: Swiss work and residence permit (L or B) (Bewilligung zur Erwerbstätigkeit (Kurzaufenthaltsbewilligung L / Aufenthaltsbewilligung B)). Authorities: State Secretariat for Migration (Staatssekretariat für Migration (SEM)).
Work permits in Switzerland
News
Latest changes, with the official source
- · upcomingNetherlands: 30% ruling: share of the salary that may be paid tax-free at most falls to 27% from 1 January 2027
- · upcomingSweden: Expert tax relief salary level rises to SEK 89,400 a month from 1 January 2027
- · upcomingSweden: SINK tax rate (non-residents) falls to 20% from 1 January 2027
- Spain: EU Blue Card, reduced threshold (a shortage occupation in CNO groups 1 and 2, or a qualification from the three years before applying): gross a year is €33,085 a year from 28 June 2026
- Spain: EU Blue Card: the gross yearly salary threshold (1.4 times INE's average gross annual earnings per worker) is €41,356 a year from 28 June 2026
- Spain: Highly qualified professional (national authorisation, art. 71.2 b Ley 14/2013): the gross yearly salary threshold is €41,356 a year from 28 June 2026
- Sweden: Work-permit minimum salary rises to SEK 34,470 a month from 16 June 2026
- France: SMIC: minimum wage, gross a month for 35 hours a week is €1,867 a month from 1 June 2026
Guides
Every guide on this topic
- EU Blue Card Sweden: Salary Requirements, Eligibility & How to Apply (2026)The EU Blue Card in Sweden for HR teams: the salary threshold since 15 July 2026, who qualifies, fees, processing times and how it compares with a standard work permit.
- EU Blue Card vs Work Permit Sweden: Which is Right for Your Hire?The EU Blue Card and the standard work permit are both valid routes for hiring highly-skilled non-EU professionals in Sweden. This guide compares eligibility, salary requirements, processing times, and long-term residency implications.
- Work Permit Comparison: Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and FinlandFor employers hiring across the Nordics, understanding how each country's work permit system differs can save months of delays. This guide compares the key rules across Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and Finland.
- EU Blue Card Germany: Compliance Risks Employers Often MissEU Blue Card Germany compliance goes beyond the initial approval. This guide covers what employers must monitor post-hire, the 2026 salary thresholds, the four-week termination notice, job changes and deportation cost liability.
- Hiring International Talent in Germany: What HR Needs to Know in 2026Germany opened new immigration routes in 2023 and 2024, and each comes with duties for the employer. The 2026 Blue Card thresholds, the four-week notice when a job ends early, and the penalties.
- Germany Blue Card Job Change: What Employers and Employees Must DoSince November 2023, a Germany Blue Card job change no longer needs approval: notify in the first 12 months, nothing after that. What the old employer, the new employer and the employee each have to do.
- Highly Skilled Migrant Netherlands: What Employers Must Monitor After HiringA 2025 Hague court ruling showed what happens when a Dutch employer underpays a highly skilled migrant. What the IND's sponsor obligations require after hiring, the 2026 salary criteria, and what to report within 4 weeks.
- Netherlands Recognised Sponsor Status: What It Means and How to Keep ItNetherlands recognised sponsor status (erkend referent) is required to hire highly skilled migrants. What it costs, what can get it suspended or withdrawn, and what that means for every employee the company sponsors.
Show all 24 guides
- Work Permit Netherlands: Compliance Risks After ApprovalThe compliance risks in Dutch highly skilled migrant permits sit after approval: the salary criteria, the 4-week reporting duty, the end of employment and record keeping. What a 2025 court case shows and what employers should check.
- Employment Permit Ireland: Employer Compliance Obligations in 2026Ireland raised employment permit salary thresholds on 1 March 2026, and they apply at every renewal. What employers must check in 2026, how WRC inspections work, and the penalties under the Employment Permits Act 2024.
- Critical Skills Employment Permit Ireland: What HR Leaders Need to KnowIreland's Critical Skills Employment Permit is the main route for tech talent into Ireland. The 2026 thresholds (€40,904 and €68,911), Stamp 4 after 21 months, and what HR must monitor.
- Work Permit Ireland: What Happens When Your Employer Gets It WrongLost your Irish work permit because your employer made a mistake? The usual employer failures, what WRC inspections check, your rights, and how Ireland's Reactivation Employment Permit works.
- Germany's Opportunity Card (Chancenkarte) in 2026: Points, Funds and Work RulesGermany's Opportunity Card (Chancenkarte) lets skilled non-EU workers look for a job in Germany for up to a year. Who qualifies, how the points work, the €1,091 monthly funds rule and what work is allowed.
- France's Talent Passport (Passeport Talent) in 2026: Categories, Salaries and FamilyFrance's Talent Passport (passeport talent) is a multi-year residence card of up to 4 years for qualified staff, Blue Card holders, founders and researchers. The 2026 categories, salary thresholds and family rules.
- The Dutch 30% Ruling in 2026: Who Qualifies and What Changes in 2027The Dutch 30% ruling (expat scheme) lets employers pay up to 30% of salary tax-free for five years. The 2026 salary norms, the drop to 27% on 1 January 2027, transition rules and employer duties.
- Hiring Non-EU Talent in Sweden vs Germany vs the Netherlands (2026 Comparison)Hiring in Sweden vs Germany vs the Netherlands: permit types, 2026 salary thresholds, processing times, employer obligations, tax incentives (expertskatt vs 30% ruling), family rights and the path to citizenship.
- EU Blue Card: Sweden vs Germany in 2026, Side by SideEU Blue Card Sweden vs Germany in 2026: salary thresholds (incl. Germany's lower shortage-occupation level), contract length, job changes, family rights and how fast each leads to permanent residence.
- Denmark's Collective Agreement Scheme from 2027From 1 January 2027 certified Danish employers can hire citizens of 16 countries into jobs under a collective agreement, at a lower salary floor.
- OFII Integration Day in France: the Civic Training Behind the 4-Year Residence CardFrance's OFII "integration day" is the republican integration contract and its 4 days of civic training. Skip it and the 4-year multi-year card is out of reach.
- France's Multi-Year Residence Card in 2026: From a 1-Year Permit to 4 YearsAfter a first one-year title, France's multi-year residence card lasts 4 years in principle. The 2026 conditions: CIR, A2 French, civic exam, filing and fees.
- France's Civic Exam (Examen Civique) in 2026: Format, Pass Mark and Who Takes ItSince 1 January 2026, France requires a civic exam for a first multi-year residence card: 40 questions, 45 minutes, 32 right answers to pass. Who, when, where.
- Validating Your VLS-TS in France (2026): the 3-Month Deadline, the Tax and What Comes NextFrance's VLS-TS must be validated online within 3 months of arrival, with a €300 tax in the general case. Who, how, and what comes next.
- Renewing an Employee Residence Permit in France (2026): Deadlines, Documents and FeesRenewing a French employee residence card in 2026: when to file, the documents, the fees, staying lawful while it is processed, a change of employer and the 4-year card.
- French Naturalisation in 2026: B2 French, the Civic Exam and the ConditionsSince 1 January 2026, French naturalisation by decree needs B2 French and a passed civic exam. The conditions, the application, the fee and how long it takes.
FAQ
Questions, answered.
Is there one work permit for all of Europe?
No. Each country issues its own permits. The EU Blue Card exists in most EU countries, but it is still issued by one country at a time, with that country's salary level.
Which European countries does Settio cover?
Every one of the 27 EU countries, plus Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland, and the Gulf. Each has its own plan from the authority's own pages and a public country guide with its sources. Working with a country that isn't listed? Tell us: we're happy to help and to coordinate it with you.
Can one team run relocations into several countries in Settio?
Yes. Every case follows its destination country's plan, so an agency or HR team can run the Czech Republic, Poland, Sweden, Germany and Spain side by side.
Does Settio support the Czech Republic?
Yes. Czech cases follow the employee card (zaměstnanecká karta) or the EU Blue Card, decided by the Ministry of the Interior, with the registration after arrival, family members and renewals in the same plan.
Free tools and more
- Immigration software for HR teams
- Product overview
- For immigration agencies
- For HR teams
- Questions, answered
Informational only. This guide is not legal advice. Always verify requirements with official government sources before acting. Reviewed by the Settio team. Facts checked 10 October 2026. About this information