Is it hard to obtain a work visa for a European Union country?

Answer 1

Immigration Work Permit and Visa Services
European Schengen Visa
A Guide to movement around specific EU countries for Business and Tourism and how to apply for work permits in the EU.

Since 26th March 1995, a new type of visa - the Schengen Visa - has been introduced by the following member-states of the European Union who are signatories of the Schengen Agreement :

Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain and Sweden.

You might be interested to know that the treaty acquired its name from the Luxembourg village of Schengen on the Moselle, bordering both France and Germany, where the Agreement was signed.

General regulations
The issue of such visas is discretionary and depends on examination of each individual case, including purpose of visit and intention to return.

The Schengen visa issued by an Embassy or Consulate of the above countries allows the holder to move freely in all of these countries within the validity of the visa.

If you intend to visit only one Schengen country, you must apply for a visa at the Embassy or Consulate of that country.

If you intend to visit several Schengen countries without having a main destination, you should apply for a visa at the Embassy or Consulate of the first country that requires you to have a visa.

Applications should generally be made in person at the Embassy or Consulate that is responsible for your place of residence. Get in touch with us and we will help you provide exactly what you need to the right place.

Normally, if you live more than 50 miles from such an Embassy you will able to submit your application by post : prepaid self addressed envelope, (recorded or registered delivery for the safe return of documents)

A Schengen visa is not appropriate if you wish to remain in a Schengen member state for longer than 3 months or take up employment or establish a business or trade or profession.

Apart from these so called Short-Term or Travel Visas there are 2 other types of Schengen visas:

The Airport Transit Visa allows holders to pass through the international transit zone of an airport of a Schengen member state without giving access to the national territory of the country concerned.

The Transit Visa enables applicants to pass through the territory of one or more Schengen member states on their way to another country outside the Schengen area. Please note that the documents required for both the airport transit visa and the transit visa may differ from those required for the short stay entry visa.

Cost of visa
The cost of a Schengen visa depends, at present, on the tariff as laid down by the issuing country and should be averaged around the following rates which are approximations :

Transit ( both categories ) £7 ( 10 euros)
Short Stay - Up to 1 month incl. - single entry £17 ( 25 euros)
Short Stay - Up to 3 months incl. - single entry £22 ( 30 euros)
Short Stay - 2 or multiple entries £25 ( 35 euros)

All normal SkillClear fees apply in addition to the above.

A Schengen visa will be issued free of charge to the spouse and children of a citizen of an EU-member state upon presentation of the original marriage certificate (duly translated, if the marriage did not take place in Great Britain) and the EU-citizen's passport. For children, the original full birth certificates are required. Translation of such documents may be required.

General Information
Please note that holders of Schengen visas are still subject to immigration control and are not guaranteed entry into any of the Schengen countries, even though they may hold a valid visa for these countries.

The Schengen Visa and working in Europe
It is important to remember that the Schengen visa is designed as an attempted harmonisation of border controls. It is for those who wish to move around it's member states for the purposes of Business and Tourism but NOT for full time employment.

A short summary of those requiring a Schengen visa and not wishing to work is :

1. Pick your country or countries.

2. In your application, give details of which countries you want to visit and how long you will be in each country.

NB - People should apply in the country they will spend the most time in. If they are likely to spend an equal stay in each country, apply in the start country you will visit first. Normally you will be allowed 90 days in any 1
calendar year to travel around schengen countries like this.

Working in the EU
Currently, although the Schengen agreement is designed to unify EU immigration procedures, it does not apply to working in the EU. To achieve the ability to work in multiple countries, work permits need to be secured for each country. We can do this for you.

1. Which Country do you wish to work in ?

2. Apply for your work permit with all usual forms, candidate and company data [ incl. business invitation letter, passports, photos ] and evidence to the relevant Dept. of Employment.

3. That Dept. of Employment will then get your work permit cleared and details across to the relevant Ministry of justice for the issue of a residence permit so you can live and work there.

The work permit will be for the normal 6m to 2 year period as in the UK.

If for example you are from India with a German work permit, you will get a residency card from the German authorities and a schengen visa at the same time.

4. When your residence permit is issued you also get a schengen visa. Remember this means you can only work in the country for which you have a permit but can visit all other countries on business meetings and as a tourist. You might be able to do a little work in schengen countries but not full time.

You will be allowed a maximum of 90 days a year travelling round the EU under the schengen visa but then must return to the country where your permit is rather than back to your homeland.

Answer 2

Sounds like a scam to me .... if they ask for money and you have to send it by western Union its a guaranteed scam