European Council approves new rules on labor migration

The bill adopted by the Council updates rules similar to those of 2011. According to the amendments, EU countries will now administratively enshrine the right of an expat to obtain a single document that confirms both the right to work and the right to a residence permit.

In terms of legalization, this is a huge step forward as it removes some of the bureaucratic burden from the worker. This has often been the deciding factor in refusing to move. Now it is possible to apply for a single document from both a third country and an EU country if you have a valid residence permit.

An equally important innovation is the strict definition of the conditions for considering such applications. The Directive gives clear instructions: the application must be fully processed within 90 days. This means that the maximum waiting period for a decision will now not exceed three months, even if the supervisory authority wants to conduct a labor market survey. In exceptional and particularly complex cases, the review may be extended by an additional 30 days.

Employees with a single permit now have the right to change employers. Previously, this option was simply not available and created unwanted difficulties in the event of dismissal. However, even now such a worker must notify the authorities of the change of employment. The burden of unemployment has also been eased. Now it is possible to stay in the country without official employment for a total of three months during the period of validity of the permit. If a single permit has been active for two or more years, the period of authorized unemployment reaches 6 months.