General Updates
Ireland / United States
Ireland and the United States have agreed to extend the US-Ireland Working Holiday/Intern Work & Travel programme for a further five years.
First established in 2008, the Intern Work and Travel programme allows Irish citizens or permanent residents, who are students or recent graduates, to spend up to 12 months living and working in the US. Likewise, eligible people in the US are welcome to take advantage of the programme to come to Ireland for up to a year also
Netherlands
The temporary measure permitting certain highly skilled migrants to start work on arrival before receiving a residence document, has been extended until further notice. Originally implemented on 22 July 2022, the measure was due to expire on 22 January 2023.
Highly skilled migrants who are not required to have a provisional residence permit (MVV) can start working even when the residence document has not yet been issued. A Residence Endorsement sticker (in Dutch: verblijfsaantekening or VA-sticker) is not required.
However, their approval notification (in Dutch: kennisgeving) must mention this work authorization, which is only allowed for up to 4 months.
Highly skilled migrants waiting for a residence document after having been granted a residence permit extension can continue to work with the expired residence document.
The highly skilled migrant must, however, make an appointment to collect the residence document or have their biometric data taken as soon as possible, in any case within 2 weeks after receipt of the notification. They must be able to show the notification and an appointment confirmation when asked for this (and if applicable the expired residence document).
Highly skilled migrants who are coming to the Netherlands with an MVV were already allowed to work while waiting for the residence document. However, this is on condition that the employment agreement based on which the MVV and right of residence have been granted has already become effective.
Switzerland
Effective 1 February 2023, the Swiss Federal Council put in place measures to facilitate the employment of highly skilled non-EEA nationals. The measures were announced in early 2022.
The measures include the following:
- Swiss employers seeking to hire highly skilled non-EEA nationals to fill vacancies in certain shortage positions or professions are now exempt from the requirement to conduct labour market tests. These positions include:
- Executives in information and communication technology (ICT); management consulting; finance and insurance; machine, electrical and metal; chemical and pharmaceutical; and food production;
- Engineers, scientists and researchers in mathematical, scientific and technical fields, and specialized ICT professionals;
- Healthcare professionals;
- University teachers
- Cantonal authorities may still require labour market testing on a case-by-case basis.
- Highly skilled non-EEA nationals employed in certain occupation on the skills shortage list can obtain a residence permit without a university degree if they have completed a vocational training course or have at least five years of relevant professional experience.
