How Long to Get a Work Visa in Europe After Hiring?

The time it takes to get a work visa in Europe after someone agrees to hire you varies depending on the country, the type of work visa, and your specific situation. Below are the general steps and estimated time frames for obtaining a work visa in several European countries:

1. General Process for Obtaining a Work Visa in Europe

• Job Offer: You need a valid job offer from an employer in the country where you're applying for a work visa.

• Work Visa Application: The employer often needs to provide documentation to support your application (e.g., proof of job offer, labor market test, salary details, etc.).

• Approval Process: Your application will go through a review process by the immigration authorities in the specific country.

2. Time Frame by Country

Here are the estimated time frames for various European countries:

Germany

• EU Blue Card (for highly skilled workers): Once you have a job offer, the process typically takes 2-3 months to receive approval.

• General Work Visa: If applying for a general work visa, the process may take 4-6 weeks after your application is submitted, depending on the complexity of the case and whether additional documentation is required.

• Factors Affecting Processing Time: Complexity of your qualifications, specific sector, and whether your employer needs to undergo a labor market test to prove no local candidates are available.

United Kingdom (UK)

• Skilled Worker Visa: Once you have a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) from your employer, the process generally takes about 8 weeks for visa processing. If you apply from outside the UK, you might wait slightly longer depending on where you're applying.

• Factors: Processing time can be quicker if you are applying from within the UK or if you use priority services (for an additional fee).

France

• Talent Passport Visa (for highly skilled workers): Typically, the processing time is about 1-3 months. For other work visas, such as the Salaried Worker Visa, the process may take 2-4 months.

• Factors: The visa processing time could be longer if additional documentation or a work permit approval is required.

Netherlands

• Highly Skilled Migrant Visa: For highly skilled workers, the visa processing can take 2-4 weeks after submitting your application. If additional verification is required, it may take longer.

• General Work Visa: For other types of work visas, the processing time is typically 1-3 months.

Spain

• Highly Qualified Professional Visa: Processing can take about 1-3 months.

• Standard Work Visa: For other categories of work visas, it usually takes 2-3 months to process, but the employer might need to apply for labor market certification first, which can extend the timeline.

Italy

• Work Visa (for employment): The processing time for a work visa can range from 1-3 months. If additional labor market testing is required or if the employer is applying for a quota, it can take longer.

• Factors: Timing may depend on whether you're applying under the EU Blue Card or another work visa category.

Sweden

• Work Visa: The processing time is usually around 1-3 months for a work visa after your job offer is confirmed. However, it can be quicker if you apply under specific skilled worker categories.

• EU Blue Card: Processing for the EU Blue Card may also take around 1-3 months depending on the circumstances.

Belgium

• Work Permit Type B (for workers with a job offer): The processing time generally takes about 1-2 months after submission, but it could take longer depending on specific requirements.

• Highly Skilled Worker Visa (EU Blue Card): The process typically takes 1-2 months.

3. Other Factors That Impact Processing Time

• Application Complexity: The more straightforward the application (e.g., highly skilled workers), the faster the processing time. If the employer needs to prove that no local workers are available (labor market test), it may delay the process.

• Quotas or Caps: Some countries have annual quotas or caps for specific types of work visas (e.g., the EU Blue Card), which could delay processing times.

• Priority Processing: Some countries offer priority processing for an additional fee. This can expedite the processing time by weeks or months.

• Background Checks: If there are any issues with your background check (e.g., criminal record, education verification), it can delay the visa processing time.

4. In Summary:

• General Range: On average, it takes 2-4 months to receive a work visa approval in most European countries.

• Faster Options: Some countries, like the Netherlands or the UK, may process work visas more quickly, typically in 1-2 months for specific categories (e.g., highly skilled workers).

• Delays: Complex cases, additional requirements (e.g., labor market tests), or quotas can increase the processing time.

It’s important to start the process early and coordinate closely with your employer, as they may need to provide documentation or initiate certain steps that could impact the timeline. Always check with the specific consulate or immigration office in the country you are applying to for the most up-to-date processing times.