How to apply for a job in another country

Applying for a job in another country has two parts that people mix up: the right to work there, and the application itself. This post separates them, uses official pages for the facts, and ends with an order to follow. It covers the EU, the UK and the Netherlands. For any other country, the government's immigration site is the place to start.

Nothing here is legal or immigration advice. Rules and salary thresholds change, so check the linked page for the current version before you act.

Do you need a work permit?

It depends on your passport and the country.

EU nationals in another EU country. You are entitled to work in any EU country, for an employer or as a self-employed person, without needing a work permit. You are also entitled to live there, subject to certain conditions (Your Europe).

The UK. The Skilled Worker visa is tied to a job. You need a job with a UK employer approved by the Home Office, a certificate of sponsorship from that employer, and a confirmed job offer before you apply for the visa. The job must be on the list of eligible occupations, the salary has to meet a minimum that depends on the job and the date of your certificate, and you must be able to speak, read, write and understand English (GOV.UK).

The Netherlands. For the highly skilled migrant permit, the employer must be a sponsor recognised by the IND, you need a contract with a Dutch employer, and you must meet the income requirements. Only the employer can apply for the permit (IND).

For these two routes the employer comes first. The visa follows a job offer, so your first task is the job application, not the paperwork.

Where do you find jobs abroad?

For EU countries, EURES (European Employment Services) is managed by the European Labour Authority. It has a job search, a chat with EURES advisers, information on living and working conditions in the country you choose, and recruitment events.

For the UK and the Netherlands, aim at employers that can sponsor foreign workers, because the visa depends on it. In the Netherlands, the IND has a public register of recognised sponsors, so you can check an employer before you apply. In the UK, the employer must have Home Office approval, so ask in the application or at the interview whether the employer can sponsor.

Do your qualifications count there?

Ask early. The ENIC-NARIC networks connect national information centres on academic recognition in 56 countries, under the Lisbon Recognition Convention of 1997. The ENIC-NARIC site points to each country's information on how foreign qualifications are recognised there. Some regulated jobs add their own steps. The IND page, for example, says some healthcare professionals must also be registered in the BIG register.

Use the official centre for your destination. The ENIC-NARIC site itself warns that some third parties falsely present themselves as ENIC or NARIC centres.

Does your CV need to change?

Yes, in two ways.

First, tailor it to the job ad, as for any application. A foreign employer reads the ad's wording, so the same skills should appear in the same words. Our guide to tailoring your CV to a job description goes through it step by step.

Second, check the local conventions. Some, like whether to include a photo, differ by country. Our post on whether to put a photo on your CV covers five. Employers that screen CVs with software also need a layout it can read, which the guide to an ATS-friendly CV explains.

Write the CV in the language of the job ad. If the ad is in English, apply in English. Write in the spelling the employer uses, such as "organisation" or "organization".

The order to follow

1. Pick the country and check your right to work on the official page above.
2. If you need a sponsor, list employers who hold the approval.
3. Check how your qualifications are recognised.
4. Tailor your CV and cover letter to each ad.
5. Apply. When you have an offer, the employer starts the sponsorship step.