Working abroad

Working in another EU country: free movement of workers

If you are a citizen of an EU country, you can look for work and work in another EU country on the same terms as its own nationals. Here are the basic rules, the paperwork and the limits.

6 min read

Who this is for

For citizens of a European Union country who want to work, or look for work, in another EU country, and for their family members. Very similar rules apply to Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. If you only hold the citizenship of a non-EU country, read the pages on the EU Blue Card and the single permit instead.

In short

  • You do not need a work permit: a valid identity document is enough.
  • You are entitled to the same pay, the same conditions and the same social and tax advantages as local workers.
  • For up to 3 months you can stay without formalities; after that the country may ask you to register.
  • After 5 years of legal and continuous residence you get permanent residence.
  • Some public administration posts can be reserved for the country’s own nationals.

General information, not legal advice. Rules change and have exceptions. Always check the official text in the sources below and, for your own case, talk to a trade union, a qualified lawyer or the competent public authority.

The principle: no discrimination based on nationality

The Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union secures freedom of movement for workers. It bans any discrimination based on nationality between workers of EU countries as regards employment, pay and other working conditions. It gives you the right to accept actual job offers, to move for that purpose, to stay in the country to work there and to remain there after having worked. [1]

There is one exception: the Treaty does not apply to employment in the public service. The European Commission stresses that this exception must be read restrictively: it covers only certain posts, not the whole public sector. [1] [5]

Equal treatment at work

Regulation (EU) No 492/2011 puts the principle into practice. You can take up available employment in another EU country with the same priority as its nationals. [2] Once hired, you cannot be treated differently because of your nationality on pay, dismissal or other working conditions. You enjoy the same social and tax advantages as national workers and the same access to vocational training. Clauses in collective or individual agreements that discriminate against workers from other EU countries are null and void. [2]

You also have equal treatment in trade union membership and in exercising the rights that go with it. [2]

Residence: the first 3 months and after

Directive 2004/38/EC governs the right of residence. [3]

If you lose your job, in some cases you keep worker status: for example if you are temporarily unable to work because of illness or accident, or if you are in duly recorded involuntary unemployment and registered with the employment office. After a fixed-term contract of less than one year, or unemployment within the first 12 months, the status is kept for no less than 6 months (Art. 7(3)). [3]

Family members

“Family members” are the spouse, the registered partner (if the host country treats registered partnerships as equivalent to marriage), children under 21 or dependent, and dependent parents, including those of the spouse or partner (Art. 2). They can accompany or join you even if they are not EU citizens, and they are entitled to work in the host country whatever their nationality (Arts. 7 and 23). [3]

If you are still looking for a job

You can move to another EU country to look for work. If you entered to seek employment, you cannot be expelled as long as you can show that you are still looking for work and have a genuine chance of being hired (Art. 14(4)(b)). [3] According to the Your Europe portal, the period allowed to look for work usually lasts 6 months; after that the authorities may ask for evidence of your job search. [7] In the first months the host country is not obliged to give you social assistance (Art. 24(2)). [3]

Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland

Free movement of workers also applies, in general terms, to the European Economic Area countries (Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway). [5] With Switzerland, the Agreement on the Free Movement of Persons, in force since 1 June 2002, makes it easier for EU citizens to live and work in Switzerland; the procedures (notifications, permits) are Swiss, though. [6] See Working in Switzerland.

Where to turn if your rights are not respected

Directive 2014/54/EU requires every EU country to provide judicial procedures for EU workers who face discrimination, even after the employment has ended, and to designate one or more bodies that promote equal treatment and give independent assistance. [4] You can also contact a trade union. To look for vacancies and advice there is EURES, the public European network of employment services. [8]

Checklist before you go