Schengen Visa is not a Work Visa. A Schengen visa is a type of visa that allows holders to travel freely within the 26 countries in the Schengen Area. The Schengen Area is a group of European countries that have abolished passports and other types of border control at their mutual borders. This means that with a Schengen visa, you can travel to any of the member countries without the need for a further visa or border control.
Do you need Schengen Visa to work in Europe?
You do not necessarily need a Schengen Visa to enter Europe for work.
Every country in Europe issues its own visa. A National D-type Work visa, issued by the country you are going to, is a must to work in Schengen nations. This specific visa does not grant the right to work in any other state.
Most common Schengen Visas
There are several types of Schengen visas but the most common (the short-stay visa) allows one to travel/stay for 90 days maximum over a 6-month period starting from the entry date stated on the visa. If you need to take a short-term business trip to the Schengen Area, you may be eligible for a short-stay Schengen work visa, which will allow you to stay in the country you are visiting for the duration of your business obligations.
However, if you are planning to stay in the Schengen Area for more than 90 days, you need to get a National D-type Work visa, issued by the country you want to work in. You must also make sure to leave the host country before the expiry date of your visa, and may need to validate it within three months following your arrival.
Different types of Schengen Visa
- Airport transit visa (A-visa): required for travelers who need to transit through a Schengen airport to reach their final destination.
- Short-stay Schengen visa (C-visa): issued for travel purposes such as tourism, business, or visits to friends and family. According to the purpose of your trip, the short-stay category C Schengen visa can be
- Single-entry visa
A single-entry visa allows the holder to enter the Schengen Area only once and remain there for a maximum period of 90 days within a 180-day period. Once the holder leaves the Schengen Area, they cannot re-enter with the same visa.
- Double-entry visa
A double-entry visa allows the holder to enter the Schengen Area twice, and remain there for a maximum period of 90 days within a 180-day period. The holder can leave and re-enter the Schengen Area twice with the same visa, but the total time spent there cannot exceed 90 days.
- Multiple-entry visa
A multiple-entry visa allows the holder to enter and leave the Schengen Area multiple times within the validity period of the visa. The holder can stay for a maximum of 90 days within a 180-day period. The holder can enter and exit the Schengen area as many times as they want within the validity period of the visa.
- National visa (D-visa): issued for stays exceeding 90 days but less than a year and required for purposes such as work, study, or family reunification.
- Long-term visa for a resident permit (Residence Permit): required for non-European nationals who plan to stay in a Schengen country for more than 90 days. Since work permit validity can be as long as employment exists; for people to stay longer than 1 year, they then apply for a residence permit in the country.
How do I get a European work visa?
- Determine eligibility for a work permit: To be eligible for a work permit, you must have a job offer from a European employer and meet specific requirements related to qualifications and work experience.
- Obtain a job offer: Find a European employer who is willing to sponsor your work permit application.
- Apply for the permit: The employer must apply for the work permit on your behalf. They will need to provide evidence that the job offer is genuine and that you meet the eligibility criteria.
- Wait for the decision: The processing time for work permit applications varies depending on the country and the type of permit. It may take a few weeks for the work permit to arrive.
- Get a visa: If the work permit is granted, you will then need to apply for a visa. The visa type required will depend on the length of your stay in a European country.
Documents required to apply for a work visa
The process varies from country to country, but the standard requirements for an employment visa in Europe are
- Work permit
- Two copies of a completed application form
- Two identical photos
- A valid passport
- Your travel reservations
- Travel and medical insurance
- Proof of accommodation
- An employment contract
- Your academic or professional qualifications.
When Should You Apply?
It is highly recommended to submit a European work visa application at least 2 months prior to your trip as the processing time by embassy staff can take up to 6 weeks. In some instances, the process may extend to 12 weeks, making an early application a wise choice. Due to Labour market shortages in Europe, getting a work visa may take more than usual time.
Schengen Visa Extension
You cannot extend a Schengen Visa during your trip.
The extension can be requested by the visa holder in exceptional circumstances, such as
- Late entry
- Humanitarian reasons
- Force majeure such as natural disasters (volcanic eruption, earthquake, etc.), extreme weather conditions, disturbances, and major political events (war, riot, etc.).
- Important personal reasons
The extension request must be made before the original visa expires, and it must be done through the embassy or consulate of the country where the person will be staying. The request should be supported with relevant documents and reasons for the extension. An extension of a Schengen visa is not guaranteed and it depends on the decision of the respective visa-issuing authority.