English speaking vacancies in Holland: Moving to the EU? Good advice is now just a few clicks away

Wednesday, 23 November 2011

Moving to the EU? Good advice is now just a few clicks away

Brussels, 18 November 2011 – Where do you apply for a German work permit? Does an Indian citizen need a residence permit to study in Spain? And if you have been exploited for work, who can you call for support?

Today, the European Commissioner for Home Affairs, Cecilia Malmström, launched the 'EU Immigration Portal', a website with hands-on information for foreign nationals interested in moving to the EU. The site, ec.europa.eu/immigration , is also directed at migrants who are already here and would like to move from one Member State to another. It provides specific information for each category of migrants about migration procedures in all 27 Member States.

Commissioner Malmström said: "Many people who want to move to the European Union do not know what possibilities exist, how to apply for a resident permit or the risks related to irregular migration. And migrants who are already in the EU are not always aware of their rights. We need to provide solid, easily accessible information about these sometimes complicated procedures."

Background

The EU Immigration Portal is a first point of entry for up-to-date, practical information on EU and national immigration procedures and policies. Workers, researchers, students and those looking to join their families already in the EU can find information adapted to their needs, about the Member State they are interested in moving to. The Portal also links directly to the websites of national authorities dealing with immigration. Users can also find straightforward information about their rights and whether they need a visa to come to the EU.

The EU Immigration Portal explains how to enter EU borders legally and describes the risks related to irregular migration, such as trafficking and smuggling. Migrants and potential migrants will also find a vast contact directory of governmental and non-governmental organisations which can help them. Moreover, migrants' support organisations, as well as immigration authorities, employment services and scholars, can also make use of the in-depth information accessible through the website.

The EU Immigration Portal is available in English and French at http://ec.europa.eu/immigration/

Arabic and Spanish versions of the site are underway, as are improvements to make it more accessible from different technical platforms.

In the development of the EU Immigration portal, the Commission carried out a broad consultation process, including organisations supporting migrants, trade-unions, employers' associations and faith-based groups from the countries of origin, transit and destination. These consultations have taken place in Belgium, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Spain and Mali.

20.1 million people in the EU are citizens of third countries, representing around 4% of the total EU population.

In 2010, EU Member States and the countries participating in the Schengen cooperation issued over 11 million visas.

The estimated number of people trafficked to or within the EU amounts to several hundred thousand every year.

For more information

EU Immigration Portal

http://ec.europa.eu/immigration

Homepage of Cecilia Malmström, Commissioner for Home Affairs

http://ec.europa.eu/commission_2010-2014/malmstrom/welcome/default_en.htm

Homepage of DG Home Affairs:

http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/home-affairs/index_en.htm

Contacts :

Michele Cercone ( +32 2 298 09 63 )

Tove Ernst ( +32 2 298 67 64 )

http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/11/1370&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

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Introduction of the ‘European Blue Card’

As from 19 June 2011 the Netherlands has a new purpose of stay: the European Blue Card. The European Blue Card is a separate purpose of stay in addition to the existing National Highly Skilled Migrant Programme. The EU Blue Card Council Directive is intended for highly skilled foreign nationals who do not have EU, EEA or Swiss nationality, and who wish to work in one of the member states of the EU. The Directive is also meant to make it easier to settle in another EU member state. A residence permit will always be required in that other member state, however. To obtain this residence permit the employee must comply with the conditions applicable in that member state.

The conditions for residence in the Netherlands as an EU Blue Card holder are stricter than those for residence as a Highly Skilled Migrant. The employee must have a contract for highly qualified employment for at least one year, earning at least EUR 60,000 gross (in 2011). The employee must have completed a course of higher education lasting at least three years. The employee must prove this by having his diploma assessed by Nuffic. For a regulated profession, a competent authority will take decisions about the admission to that profession.

Advantages
One of the advantages of the EU Blue Card is that it is easier for an EU Blue Card holder and his family members to settle in another EU member state at a later date. After eighteen months foreign nationals who have an EU Blue Card are exempted from the provisional residence permit (MVV) requirement, if they want to work in another EU member State. In this second member state the employee must submit an application for a residence permit as a holder of an EU Blue Card. Each member state may implement the directive in slightly different ways. If someone holds a Blue Card in the Netherlands, this does not mean that the requirements are also met in other member states.

Another advantage is that after having stayed lawfully with the EU Blue Card holder in the Netherlands for two years, the family members may apply for a residence permit for ‘continued residence’. For other purposes of stay this is only possible after having stayed lawfully in the Netherlands for three years. The family members must have resided legally and continuously within the territory of an EU member state for at least five years, however. An employee who has stayed legally in the Netherlands as an EU Blue Card holder for two years may apply for the status of ‘long-term resident as a non-EU member country national’. He must have resided legally and continuously within EU territory for five years and must comply with the other conditions for this purpose of stay.

Highly skilled migrants from outside of the EU

A highly skilled migrant is a migrant who comes to the Netherlands to be employed, and has a gross annual income of at least €47,565, or €34,881 if he/she is under thirty. This income requirement does not apply if the employee enters service for certain functions in an educational or research institution. For information on the specific functions to which this clause applies, you can inquire at the IND office for labour and highly skilled migrants. When a foreign national has been granted residence in the Netherlands as a highly skilled migrant, the employer of the highly skilled migrant is not required to be in possession of a work permit for that foreign national.

Professional soccer players, ministers of religion, teachers of religion and prostitutes are not eligible for a residency as highly skilled migrant.

Important!
The amounts stated above will be indexed every year as of 1 January.