Is there a work permit that covers entire EU region i.e. the ability to work across countries?

Question

or if not entire EU region, more than one country in that region. I am not a citizen of UK or any of the EU countries. Thanks.

Answer 1

I am not an expert but can only go by my experience. I am an American citizen from NY and am living in Switzerland now. I have found because I am not a Swiss nor EU citizen , finding work is proving to be extrememly challenging. There are so many people from the EU or within this country that are looking for work, that it is way too competitive.

If you don´t have someone to vouch for you (in my case my fiance´ who is European) you will not get a residence permit which can then be converted to a work permit. I have one offer pending and they said because I already have this permit, they have a better chance of changing it over to a work permit. Companies DO NOT have success in bringing over people unless they hold very technical skills or high level degrees i.e. PHD or Master Level that they have a hard time finding.

In my case, the company said that without this residence permit to start with, the company would have to prove that no one from Switzerland nor any EU country (that is alot of countries) can possibly fill the position which would be next to impossible. I am in Staffing/HR and they do look at your last place of employment. Jumping from one area to another is frowned upon.

You have to go onto the Expats sites for the respective country you are interested in. Even if you will be working within a broad range of countries, you will still have to have a base. Good luck!

Answer 2

As I understand, once you have the right to live or work in on EU country, you automatically have the right to live or work in any other, the same rights as every EU citizen has. This might be slightly different for the new accession states (mainly new Eastern european countries) as there are specific exceptions, but that is the principal anyway.