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Employee on the move

Intra-company transfer, a new opportunity abroad, or local hiring — the complete guide to employee work visas across 19 destinations, from Europe to Asia-Pacific, based on your nationality and your employer.

FranceLuxembourgBelgiumGermanyUnited KingdomNetherlandsSwitzerlandSpainPortugalIrelandCanadaQuébecAustraliaIndonesiaJapanNew ZealandSingaporeThailandUnited Arab Emirates
Results in 3 minutes
19
Countries covered
Employer first
Process initiated by the company
4–12 wks
Average timeline
Process

How to proceed, step by step.

01

The employer starts the process

For non-EU nationals, it's the employer who files the work authorization request before you do anything. Without this step, no visa application is possible.

Employer-side step
02

Obtain the work authorization

Depending on the country: DREETS (France), ADEM (Luxembourg), SPF Emploi (Belgium), Ausländerbehörde (Germany), UKVI/CoS (United Kingdom), UWV (Netherlands).

03

File your visa application

Once the authorization is granted, you file your long-stay visa application at the destination country's consulate in your home country.

04

Registration and validation on arrival

Register with the municipality or city hall depending on the country. Validate with the competent authority (OFII in France, the municipality in Belgium/Luxembourg).

Within 8 to 14 days
Not sure where to start?
Our assessment analyzes your situation and identifies the right permit.
By destination

Available visas by country.

Click a country to see timelines, costs, and required documents.

FR
France
VLS-TS Employee visa · Passeport Talent (French Talent Passport)
ModeratePasseport Talent available
›
Timeline
2 to 6 months
Cost
€99 + €200 OFII
Key documents
Signed contract + DREETS authorization + translated diplomas
The employer proves no EU candidate was available — except for shortage occupations.
LU
Luxembourg
Employee residence authorization · ADEM certificate
Moderate
›
Timeline
30 to 90 days
Cost
80€
Key documents
Contract + ADEM certificate + housing + criminal record
The employer obtains the ADEM certificate first — some shortage occupations are exempt.
BE
Belgium
Single permit for employees · EU Blue Card
Complex
›
Timeline
4 to 12 wks
Cost
~€215
Key documents
Contract + SPF Emploi authorization + passport
The employer files with SPF Emploi — not the employee.
DE
Germany
Fachkräftevisum · EU Blue Card
ModerateFachkräfte route available
›
Timeline
4 to 12 wks
Cost
75€
Key documents
Contract + recognized diplomas + German level
Foreign diplomas must be recognized before applying — plan 3 to 6 months ahead.
UK
United Kingdom
Skilled Worker · Global Talent
Visa required for everyone
›
Timeline
3 to 8 wks
Cost
£819–£1,618 + IHS
Key documents
Employer CoS + passport + proof of English
The employer must be a licensed sponsor. Minimum salary £41,700/year since July 2025.
NL
Netherlands
Kennismigrant · EU Blue Card
ModerateKennismigrant is fast
›
Timeline
2 to 8 wks
Cost
~€405 (IND fee)
Key documents
Contract + TWV (UWV) + passport + housing
Kennismigrant: fast-track procedure without a TWV for salaries ≥ €5,942/month.
CH
Switzerland
Work permit (skilled employee) · 2 regimes
EU/EFTA freeThird countries: quotas
›
Timeline
EU/EFTA: 2–6 wks · Third countries: 6–14 wks
Fees
CHF 65 to 95 + D visa if required
2026 quotas
8,500 third-country permits (B + L)
Priority
Swiss/EU labor market (for third countries)
For third-country nationals: the employer must prove no Swiss/EU candidate was available.
ES
Spain
Highly qualified professional (Law 14/2013)
Non-EUSalary threshold
›
Timeline
20 business days (UGE-CE)
Cost
€90 (Paris consulate schedule)
Min. salary
1.4 × the INE average salary — published by the UGE-CE
Retention
Renewable in 2-year periods
PT
Portugal
D3 — highly qualified · EU Blue Card
Non-EUIndexed threshold
›
Timeline
~60 days at the consulate · up to 90 days at AIMA
Cost
€110 (national visa)
Min. salary
€1,611.39/month — 3 × the social support index (IAS)
Shortage occupations
€1,074.26/month — 2 × the index
IE
Ireland
Critical Skills or General Employment Permit
Non-EUTwo tiers
›
CSEP threshold
€40,904 (list + degree) · €68,911 off-list
GEP threshold
€36,605 · labor market test
Fees
€1,000 permit + visa + €300 IRP
Stamp 4
Direct after 21 months (CSEP)
CA
Canada
Express Entry — profile-based selection (CRS) · all nationalities
All nationalitiesSelective
›
Timeline
~6 months after the invitation (ITA)
Fees
~CAD 1,525 + CAD 85 biometrics
Status obtained
Permanent residence
Selection
CRS score (max 1,200 pts) · invitation rounds
Selection is score-based, no contract required — but with no guarantee of an invitation. A provincial nomination adds +600 points.
French opens the francophone draws, with lower cut-offs. With a job offer, an LMIA-based permit is an immediate temporary route.
QC
Québec
PSTQ — selection via Arrima · all nationalities
All nationalitiesSelective
›
Timeline
CSQ then federal PR — several months to ~2–3 years
Fees
CAD 940 (selection) + federal PR fees
Platform
Arrima — expression of interest, monthly rounds
After invitation
90 days to file the complete application
French carries the highest weight in the PSTQ grid — aim for B2 / NCLC 7 or higher.
Two stages: Québec selection (CSQ), then federal permanent residence.
AU
Australia
Points-tested visa 189 (PR) or Skills in Demand 482 with an employer
All nationalitiesVery selective
›
Timeline
189: ~5 months after invitation · 482: days to 4 months
Fees
189 : 6 135 $ AU · 482 : 4 015 $ AU
Selection
189: points (invitations at 85–95+) · 482: salary ≥ AUD 79,499
Status
189: immediate PR · 482: PR after 2 years (visa 186)
No employer: the profile-based 189 route (under 45). With a sponsoring employer: the 482 is faster and more predictable.
ID
Indonesia
E23 Work KITAS · employer sponsor · RPTKA
Employer sponsorDKPTKA USD 100/month
›
Visa
E23 — Work KITAS (1–2 years renewable → KITAP after 5 years)
Trigger
RPTKA filed by the employer with the Ministry of Manpower (Kemenaker)
Levy
DKPTKA: USD 100/month, paid by the employer
Timeline
4 to 8 weeks (RPTKA + visa + biometrics)
The employer drives everything — without an approved RPTKA, nothing is possible. Changing employers requires a brand-new RPTKA.
JP
Japan
Work visa (CoE) · points-based HSP at 70 points · all nationalities
All nationalitiesEmployer required
›
Timeline
CoE 1–3 months + visa 5–10 days
Fees
¥3,000 (~€18) — CoE free
Key requirement
A degree related to the role (or 10 years of experience)
Lever
HSP at 70 points: permanent residence in 3 years, 1 year at 80+
NZ
New Zealand
AEWV — the accredited employer chain
3 links5 years (skill levels 1–3)
›
Chain
Accreditation → Job Check (14 days) → visa
Salary
Market rate — the median wage threshold was removed (March 2025)
Retention
5 years (skills 1–3) · 3 years (4–5, then 12 months outside)
English
IELTS 5.0 for levels 3–5 (extended June 2026)
You can't file anything on your own: the chain is employer-driven — target already-accredited employers directly. Residence then plays out through the SMC (6 points, 1 pt per year of NZ experience) or the Green List.
The threshold is an indexed formula that moves every year, not a fixed amount. After 18 months, the EU Blue Card opens mobility to other member states.
SG
Singapore
Employment Pass — threshold + COMPASS
COMPASS 40 pts2 + 3 years
›
Salary threshold
SGD 5,600/month (6,200 in finance), progressive
COMPASS
40 points · exemption at SGD 22,500
Filing
Employer only, via EP Online
S Pass
An alternative from SGD 3,300 (quota + levy)
TH
Thailand
Non-B + work permit — two steps
Two stepsAnnual extension
›
Visa
2 000 / 5 000 THB
Work permit
After arrival, before any work
Employer
4:1 ratio and THB 2M in capital (outside BOI)
Stay
90 days, then annual extensions
AE
United Arab Emirates
Sponsored permit or qualified Green Visa
Two routesNo income tax
›
Standard permit
Employer-sponsored · 2–3 years
Green Visa
AED 15,000/month · MoHRE level 1–3 · bachelor's degree
Entry permit
Valid 60 days from issuance
Permit cost
Paid by the employer

We present here the main residence permits we support, covering the vast majority of situations. This list is not exhaustive: other specific visas exist with each country's official authorities.

Ready to build your employee application?
Forms explained step by step · Personalized checklist · Real-time tracking
Required documents

The documents common to every application.

The complete, personalized list is generated by our assessment.

Documents available for free
Valid passport
At least 6 months of validity beyond the planned stay
Signed employment contract
Essential — no application can be filed without a contract
Diplomas and résumé
Translated and apostilled per the destination — allow 2 to 3 months for recognition
Proof of housing
Lease, lease commitment, or certificate in the destination country
Health insurance
EHIC for EU citizens, international coverage for others until enrollment
Full documents and forms
Official forms
Explained field by field for your destination
Ordered checklist
Step by step with timelines and official contacts
Letter templates
Cover letter, translation, apostille
Application tracking
Personalized dashboard and alerts
Complete application
Unlock the complete list and the form-filling guidance with the full plan.
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Information verified in April 2026 · Sources: france-visas.gouv.fr · guichet.public.lu · ibz.be · auswaertiges-amt.de · ukvi.homeoffice.gov.uk · ind.nl · sem.admin.ch