The first misunderstanding that meets anyone wanting to work abroad is this: a work visa and a work permit are not the same thing. The first is issued by the consulate, the second by that country’s labour authority, and the process is usually started by the employer. Someone who does not know this order knocks on the wrong door for months. Below I have written how the system is built and what you have to be wary of.
How a work visa abroad works
In almost every country the order is the same. First you receive a concrete job offer, then the employer applies to the local authority for a permit, and once the permit is ready you go to the consulate for the visa. That is, without a job offer it is not possible to start this process at all.
The visa lets you into the country, while the right to work is given by the residence and work permit you will receive after arriving. In some countries those two documents are combined on one card. Coming on a tourist visa and working is a violation, and if it is discovered it ends in an entry ban.
The part that falls to the employer
In many countries the company first has to advertise the vacancy on the local market and prove that no suitable candidate was found. That procedure takes time, and it is precisely why a work visa drags on longer than a student one. If the company is not ready to take that step, the offer will not work in practice.
In the European Union there is a separate card system for skilled specialists, and two main conditions are set there: suitable higher education and a salary above a certain threshold. Each country sets the threshold itself and it is updated every year. Official information about the migration rules is given on the European Commission’s legal migration page.
Read more: A student visa: documents, proof of funds and duration
Work visa differences by country
| European Union | The employer obtains the permit, and there is a separate card for skilled workers |
| Britain | A company with a sponsor licence is required |
| Gulf countries | The company formalises the permit entirely |
| Seasonal work | A short-term permit in agriculture and tourism |
Seasonal permits are the most accessible option, but their duration is short and they are not extended. In the Gulf countries the company carries the whole process, and only documents and a medical check are required from you. Translating the documents and having the diploma recognised, though, is a step common to every option. Getting support with preparing the documents to plan those stages saves time.
How to protect yourself from fraud
In this field the person most often deceived is the one in a hurry. Stay away from an intermediary who asks for a large sum up front and promises a “guaranteed work visa”, because nobody can give a visa guarantee. A real job offer always comes in the company’s own name, from an official email address.
Before signing the contract check the company’s name in the local register and look at its address and telephone number. Let the salary, the working hours and the accommodation terms be in writing. Pay money only into an official account and against a receipt.
In brief
Remember the order. First the job offer comes, then the employer obtains the permit, after that you apply to the consulate, and the residence permit is then formalised on the spot. Start the recognition of your diploma in advance, do not work on a tourist visa, and do not give money to an intermediary who promises a guarantee. To plan the document process together, fill in the application form.
Note: work permit rules vary by country and occupation, so check an official source before applying.
