Job Discussion Forums

[misteradventure]

recent advertisement (in my opinion) looks less like an honest job offer and more like someone is trolling for email and other personal data.

I decided to post the following to point out something of which many people may not be aware:

A recent posting on the International Job Board was 'recruiting' for-

"EU Citizens and EU Work Permit Holders"


THERE ARE NO SUCH THINGS! Having said that, let me clarify.

Citizenship:
What is referred to as "EU Citizens" are, in reality "Passport holders or Nationals of EU Member States". The European Union is not a legal entity and cannot grant 'citizenship'. There are no EU Passports, only 'Passports from EU Member States'.

Work Permits:
The "EU Work Permit" does not exist. It is a concept that has been kiked around alot in Brussels, but there is no such document. Every Member State determines who can obtain a work permit FOR THEIR COUNTRY ONLY. A work permit from Finland is not valid in Poland and vice-versa.

This principle also applies to those people who need a visa to travel to a particular Member State: residency in one State does not grant visa-free travel priviledges to the rest of the European Union. For example, a Ukranian who has a legal residency permit (with employment priviledges) in Finland must apply for a tourist visa to visit Poland (or a transit visa if the flight to their home in Ukraine connects in Warsaw.)

For more information about EU labor policies, please visit:
http://europa.eu/scadplus/leg/en/s02302.htm

Moderators: Please feel free to cross-post this into other forums.

[spiral78]

Thank you, Misteradventure. A very useful post for those many newbies who don't quite understand the terminology.

[TheLongWayHome]

Another little known fact for non-EU spouses of EU passport holders: As long as your EU spouse has a job in an EU country, the non-EU spouse is entitled to reside there. Just go to the relevant embassy in your country of nationality with the proof that your spouse has a job (i.e. the contract) and they'll give you the visa.

[spiral78]

True, and useful - but note that legal residency may NOT be the same thing as legal working permits.

I spent a year legally residing in the Netherlands, thanks to my spouse's job, but legally UNable to work. Until spouse's international company swung a deal to cover families of their staff.

[misteradventure]

Indeed, the residency does not automatically entitle you to work for money- you may be able to volunteer, however.

Every member state has different rules, different policies, different enforcement standards.

It is YOUR responsibility to know what the rules are and to follow them. The employer basically just has to worry about replacing you (unless they are fined or somesuch- entirely probable in places like the Netherlands.)