Work permits

As an EU national (or a national of Iceland, Liechtenstein or Norway) you generally don't need a work permit to work anywhere in the EU (In this case, the 28 EU member states + Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway).

Work permits are never required for self-employed people in the EU.

However, Croatian citizens still need a work permit to take up employment in Austria.

Liechtenstein imposes quotas that limit the number of people who can work and live there. This quota system applies to nationals of all EU countries, Norway and Iceland.

Nationals of Croatia

Your right to work as an employee in another EU country may be restricted by transitional arrangements until 30 June 2020.

Most EU countries have dropped these restrictions. However, you may still need a work permit to work in Austriade.

Working in Croatia

Your right to work as an employee in Croatia may be restricted by transitional arrangements. You may need a work permit if you are from Austria.

Working in Switzerland

Most EU citizens don't need a permit to work in Switzerland. Restrictions apply to nationals of Croatia who still need a work permit. Find out more about working in Switzerland as an EU citizen.

Under the EU-Switzerland agreement on the free movement of persons, Swiss nationals are free to live and work in the EU.

More information

Before you try working in a country that still imposes restrictions, you should seek information on the applicable procedures.

For further advice, contact the public employment service in the country where you wish to work or a European employment adviser.

Sample story

Make sure you get a work permit before moving abroad

Marko from Croatia accepts a job offer in Vienna and immediately moves to Austria. But he is unable to get a work permit and has to return to Croatia.

If you come from Croatia, it is important to check whether you need a work permit before moving to a new country to take up a job. If so, bear in mind that your application for a work permit might be refused.

Postings abroad

There are no restrictions on posted workers - with one exception: Austria applies temporary restrictions on Croatian workers posted by companies in certain sectors, but not on self-employed people.

Work permits for non-EU nationals

As a non-EU national, you may have the right to work in the EU (In this case, the 28 EU member states+ Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway.) and to be treated equally with EU nationals about work conditions. These rights depend on your nationality or on your status as family members of EU nationals.

Nationals of Turkey

As a Turkish national, your rights to move and work in the EU depend entirely on the national rules of your host EU country. When employed legally in the EU, you enjoy the same working conditions as the nationals of that country.

You have the following rights:

  • after one year's legal employment you are entitled to a renewal of your work permit for the same employer if a job is available
  • after three years' legal employment you may change employers and respond to any other employment offer within the same professional qualifications
  • after four years' legal employment you enjoy full access to any paid employment in that EU country.

Nationals of other countries that have an agreement with the EU

You enjoy the same working conditions as nationals of your host EU country if you are a national of one of the 79 countries of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States or of:

  • Albania
  • Algeria
  • Andorra
  • Morocco
  • Montenegro
  • North Macedonia
  • San Marino
  • Russia
  • Tunisia

Nationals of countries with no agreement with the EU

If you are a national of a country that has no agreement with the EU, your right to work in an EU country depends on the national laws of that country.

If you are in a family relationship with an EU citizen, you:

  • do not need a work permit to work
  • have the right to equal treatment, including access to all social and tax advantages.

For more information check the EU immigration portal.

 

Source: europa.eu