How to Get Work Permit Visas Abroad
By Volker
Poelzl
Updated 6/26/2019 by Transitions Abroad
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When I first started traveling around
the world in my 20’s during the 1990s, travelers everywhere
were talking about work permits and how to find a short-term
job under the table to replenish their budgets in order
to stay abroad as long as possible. The Kibbutz where I worked
in Israel was filled with foreign travelers, students,
and unemployed youth from all over the world, mainly because
it was one of the few countries in the region where foreigners
could work without a permit. Later, in New Zealand, nearly
every foreigner I met was looking for one way or another
to get a long-term work permit or ways to find any
work under the table. I met people from around the world
all working together in kiwi orchards with the same goal
of making money to extend their travels. Nobody had a work permit and we
were lucky that the immigration service closed their eyes
to the influx of foreigners because there were simply not enough
locals to pick all the fruit. The situation is now more complex and depends upon the country where you desire to work long-term. We here discuss what you need to know and do to successfully procure a work permit.
Short- and Long-Term Work Abroad
Today, matters are at once
easier and more difficult when it comes to working abroad
both short- and long-term. Increased globalization and global
mobility have forced governments to formulate mutual agreements
regulating the exchange of workers. There are now ways
to work legally as a seasonal worker in agriculture in some countries, for
example. A few countries have working holiday options
allowing young people to work and travel short-term within
their borders for 3 months to one year, depending upon the
country. On the other hand, well-paying jobs and careers
are more firmly protected from outsiders and difficult to
come by without a lengthy work permit application
process. Recent trends among some governments due to the influx of immigrants has also resulted in a resurgence of the politics of protectionism that runs counter to the globalization trend. Some government leaders want to employ their own citizens first for their own populist political survival.
In this column, we will be focusing
on the confusing and often misunderstood work permit, to
help readers get a better idea about what these permits
can and cannot do, and how to prepare yourself to get one
in the country of your choice.
What Exactly is a Work Permit Visa?
Many countries, including the U.S. or
your home country, have complex laws and rules that regulate
the influx of foreigners. In some countries, a work permit
is procured by the employer and entitles you to live there,
whereas in others you need to apply for a separate residency
permit once you have been approved for a work permit. If
this sounds a bit confusing, that's because it is. There
are almost as many variations of work permits as there are
countries who offer them, but I have outlined below a few
basic characteristics such permits generally share:
1. Work Permits are Dependent upon
a Job Offer or Contract from a Company
The idea that someone can simply be
eligible for a work permit in a country, receive a visa,
and then look for a job is a myth. A work permit is always
for a specific job that a company offers an individual.
Some countries require only a written job offer from a company,
while others require a notarized work contract signed by
both you and your prospective employer. Although most work
permits are issued by the respective ministry of foreign
affairs, many countries require the approval of the labor
ministry and/or the local employment office to make sure
that there are no local people who might be better suited
for the job. A good number of countries maintain a quota
for each type of work permit, such as “highly
skilled professional,” “seasonal farm worker,” or “academic
researcher.” Once the quota is filled, there is nothing
you can do for that calendar year to obtain
a work permit. Your sole recourse is to wait and apply the
following year. In many countries, the labor ministry makes
sure that companies carefully follow all requirements
to attract local job candidates before allowing them to
offer a position to a foreigner.
Once you have a signed
work contract and the approval of the labor ministry or
local labor department you can proceed with the application
process at the embassy
or consulate.
2. Work Permits are for One
Specific Job from One Employer Only
One element that regular work permits
have in common globally is the fact that they are issued
for a specific job with one specific employer. In most cases,
if you lose that job or would like to change jobs, you will
have to start the work permit application process all over
again.
3. Work Permits Have a Predetermined
Time Limit
Work permits generally have specific
time limitations. They are issued either for the maximum
amount of time allowed by law, or they are for the duration
of your specific job. If you are hired to build a pipeline
in Brazil, then your work permit will last until the project
is finished. If the work permit has a legal time limit,
such as a year or two, you will be able to apply for an
extension to remain at that job. Work permit extensions
are usually much easier than the initial application and
approval process.
4. Work Permits are Issued at
the Discretion of the Government and Can Be Changed and
Revoked
Work permits are not a given right or
legal entitlement. They are issued at the discretion of
the government and can be revoked and changed at any time.
This means that holding a permit does not entitle you to
anything other than the right to work until that right is
revoked by the government. If you lose your job, you also
lose your permit, and you will likely have to leave the country
as well. Having a work permit does not automatically entitle
you to unemployment benefits, social welfare, or a pension.
It does not guarantee you a long-term visa, permanent residency,
or citizenship either. Although it makes economic sense
for a government to extend the work permit for a foreign
employee that has done good work for a company, you do not
have the right to an automatic extension. If unemployment
increases drastically in your host country, you could find
yourself out of work when your initial work permit runs
out, though if you work for a multi-national company there
will likely be some form of protection against sudden severance offered for a valued
employee. Jobs in Europe are often hard to find, in part because laws against severance are very stringent as a result of the still-powerful tradition of labor unions.
5. Most Countries Require Applicants
to Apply for a Work Permit from their Home Country and
not After Arrival
There are some exceptions to this rule,
but most governments want foreign job applicants to apply
for a work permit at the respective consulate or embassy
in their home country, mainly because they are the
responsibility of the ministry of foreign affairs. Governments
generally want those seeking work to go through the
entire application process by following
the correct procedures.
How Do You Get a Work Permit?
Now that you have a basic idea of the
purpose of work permits and what they entitle you to do,
we can discuss the core issue: how do you get a work permit
for long-term international jobs?
The magic words for obtaining
access to a work permit in a foreign country are “needed
skills.” If your profession is in highly
sought-after fields such as cutting-edge technology, banking,
healthcare, teaching English, etc., then you are in luck. There are probably
several dozen countries where these professions are on
their occupational priority list, which means that foreign
work permit applications are marked for quick approval.
Think of H-1B
visa approvals in the U.S. for those with STEM backgrounds
(like all issues related to long-term residency visas
and work permits, there is always a domestic political component that increases and decreases demand from time to time).
In similar ways, people with skills in the most sought-after professions
make it easier to get a job offer while abroad
and have a work permit approved. Still, with the exception
of those countries that offer fast-track visa approval
for jobs in high demand, the work permit application
process for jobs in most countries is still tedious and
time-consuming. You can expect the process to last anywhere
from 3-6 months, depending upon the country’s bureaucracy, efficiency, and immediate needs.
Another way to work legally
in another country is through a direct transfer from
your employer in your home country to an overseas branch
or subsidiary. Since you won’t be paid
by a local company in that country, you are technically
not employed there, and approval of such transfer visas
is usually relatively quick and handled by your employer. But being posted overseas
depends upon a lot of luck, smart planning, and networking
to ensure that you will be the one asked to staff the
company’s headquarters in your desired country.
A more logical approach may be to follow a career
path with an international outlook. Research the
types of college degrees and professions in greatest
demand in the countries that interest you the most. Also,
keep in mind that many fulfilling career paths do not
necessarily lend themselves to a successful international
career. A good psychiatrist, therapist, or psychologist
may have great job prospects at home, but due to cultural
differences and poorly funded health care in many countries,
these professions may not be in high demand everywhere.
These healthcare professions also require a high degree
of language proficiency and cultural knowledge, which
many foreigners simply do not have.
So if you are interested
in a career that can lead to an extended overseas work
experience, keep in mind the cultural environment and
ambiance in which you will be working. English is the
international language of technology and finance, and you very
likely will have no language problems at work even if
you accept a job in Shanghai. By contrast, working as
an agricultural expert or aid worker in rural Mongolia,
you will be faced with completely different cultural
and language requirements in order to be successful.
So if an international career is your goal, carefully
plan your field of expertise in accordance with your
talents, interests, and cross-cultural abilities.
In addition to choosing a career
that is in high demand overseas, it is also important
to show familiarity with a country and culture before
applying for a job there. A great way to get
work experience in a country of your interest is to work
there on an internship just
before or shortly after you graduate from college. This
gives you a chance to learn about the local culture,
language, and may allow you to get your foot in the
door at a company of interest. In the end, what matters
most in order to get that job offer from an overseas
company is your ability to show that you are a perfect
match for a given job and that you are well ahead of
other applicants, foreign or domestic. To get to this
point requires strategic planning over a number
of years. Get your internship lined up, learn the language, and
make local contacts that can serve you as a professional
reference later. Continue to scan overseas job postings
to recognize trends. Learn about the specific work experience
and skills that will help you land an overseas job
more quickly.
Another very frequently used option as a stepping stone to an international career overseas is to teach English. There remains a huge demand for English teachers, who often need only a college degree and a 6-week TEFL certificate that can be acquired online or in-country. The contacts you make while teaching often may lead to options via networking or simply creating your own employment.
Another important step is to research companies
offering interesting jobs and finding out where these
jobs are located. There are many international job boards
available online, and the more you make it a habit to
scan them on a regular basis, the better you will be
prepared when the time comes to write the cover letter
and send out an appropriate international
resume. The more competitive your educational level,
skills, cross-cultural experience, language proficiency,
and work experience, the more suited you are to compete
for a job offer and work permit in a very competitive
and crowded global employment market.
Transitions Abroad has a detailed section on short-term
work permit programs available to Americans, often
directed towards college students and post-grads.
For access to longer-term work permits,
we have not sugar-coated the realities to claim that there
is a one-stop shopping website or resource for an international
career—you must plan, search, and network. Many prestigious educational institutions reinforce the realities of obtaining work permit visas overseas and suggest work permit programs for students. But with determination
and patience, success gaining access to a permit to work
and live abroad long-term is possible.
Volker
Poelzl is a Living Abroad Contributing
Editor for TransitionsAbroad.com. He has traveled
in over 40 countries worldwide and has lived
in ten of them for study, research, and work.
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