Highlights: Three EU countries offer new visa options for skilled professionals
- Germany, Portugal, and France have announced new visa options for skilled professionals starting in 2025.
- Germany will issue Opportunity Cards for skilled non-EU workers to enter and seek job opportunities there.
- The Talent Passport Visa offered by France will now provide extended residence permits for skilled workers.
- Portugal announced new visa options for seasonal and long-term work in the tourism and hospitality sectors.
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New Visa Options in Europe for Skilled workers
Three European countries, Germany, France, and Portugal, have introduced new visa pathways for skilled foreign workers. The EU countries are set to provide streamlined and flexible visa options for experienced workers, particularly in the tourism sector.
Here is detailed information on the new visa options in Europe for skilled professionals:
Germany Opportunity Card
The Germany Opportunity Card is a points-based system that scores job applicants based on work experience, qualifications, and language proficiency in the tourism and hospitality industries. Starting in June 2024, the visa lets skilled non-EU professionals enter the country and look for employment opportunities for up to 12 months, even without a job offer.
The German Government introduced this visa option to address the workforce shortage in the country while offering more exposure for professionals in the tourism sector.
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France’s Talent Passport Visa
The Talent Passport visa is an initiative of the EU Blue Card scheme that offers extended residence permits for skilled workers. Individuals with an employment contract of over a year and an annual salary of at least €35,891 are eligible to apply for this visa. You must apply for the Talent Passport visa before entering the country and for a residence permit within two months of entering the country.
The program will facilitate the growth of entrepreneurs and other professionals in the tourism industry, enabling them to create new projects that will promote France’s economy.
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Seasonal and Long-Term Visa Options in Portugal
The short-term visa options for seasonal workers allow them to take up seasonal work in Portugal for up to 9 months, while the long-term visas can last up to 2 years.
The visa options will fill labor shortages during the high-demand seasons in the tourism sector while providing the industry with more skilled talent.
The table below details the new visa option offered by Germany, France, and Portugal, including its validity, requirements, and application process.
|
Country |
Visa offered |
Duration |
Requirements |
Application process |
|
Germany |
Germany Opportunity Card |
Up to 12 months |
Prior work experience |
Apply online or at the nearest German consulate in your country |
|
Educational qualifications |
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|
English or German language proficiency |
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|
France |
Talent Passport Visa |
Up to 4 years |
Employment contract of at least 12 months |
You must apply for the visa within 2 months of arriving in France |
|
Salary that is at least 1.5 times the average salary offered in the country |
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|
University degree or five years of professional experience |
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|
Portugal |
Seasonal and Long-Term Visa Options for Tourism Workers |
Up to 9 months for seasonal workers |
Work experience |
Apply online via the official Portugal online visa portal |
|
Employment contract in Portugal |
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|
1-2 years for long-term visas (May differ based on the job role and the requirements) |
Proof of accommodation in Portugal |
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|
Proof of sufficient funds |
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