Working in the EU as a non-EU resident

Labour law regarding non-EU nationals can be confusing. In this article we compiled all you need to know about working in the EU if you're not an EU citizen.

Persons who are nationals of countries of the European Economic Area (Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway) don't need any type of a permit to work in the EU. The same thing applies to EU nationals working in these three countries.

People coming from these countries are entitled to same conditions regarding work as nationals of their host country:

• Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia,
• Russia,
• Albania, Montenegro, North Macedonia,
• Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Serbia, Ukraine,
• Andorra, San Marino,
• 79 countries of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States.

Nationals of countries that don't have an agreement with the EU are still entitled to a lot of the same rights such as:

• the right to family reunification, admission for non-EU researchers,
• admission for students, exchange pupils, unpaid training or voluntary service,
• the rights of highly-skilled workers from outside the EU (EU blue card scheme),
• simplified entry procedures and rights for all non-EU migrant workers,
• entry and residence of seasonal workers from non-EU countries,
• entry and residence of non-EU nationals in the framework of an intra-corporate transfer.

Don't lose hope if none of the above applies to you! Different countries have different requirements. You may still be able to apply for different types of residence permits. This article about work permits in the EU may be helpful.

For instance, this is how the system works in the Czech Republic:

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