• Entry conditions/visas
• Accommodation
• Banking
• Daycare, schooling and family related issues
• Access to the culture of the host country/language courses
• Health insurance
• Medical care

• Career Development
• Intellectual Property Rights (IPR)
• Pensions for Researchers
• Recognition of diplomas
• Taxation/salaries
• Unemployment
• Work permit

 

The new directive (EU) 2016/801 addresses the conditions of entry and residence of third-country nationals, for the purposes of research, studies, training, voluntary service, pupil exchange schemes or educational projects and au pairing.

A researcher is defined as: a third-country national holding an appropriate higher education qualification which gives access to doctoral programmes, and who is selected by a research organisation for carrying out a research project for which the above qualification is normally required.

There is a distinction in the procedure for:

• long-term admission, for researchers intending to stay in Europe for more than three months and
• short-term visas, for entry of less than three months.

The new directive sets clearer, more consistent and transparent rules such as:

• Procedural guarantees: The 60-day time limit for Member States' authorities to decide on a visa application or residence permit will make the application process more straightforward and transparent.
• Access to the labour market: Researchers will be allowed to remain for up to 12 months on the territory after finalisation of their research to identify new job opportunities or set up a business. This will not amount to an automatic right to work, as granting a work permit remains a national responsibility.
• Simpler and more flexible rules: will increase the possibility for researchers, students and remunerated trainees to move within the EU for their projects. Family members of researchers will also be granted certain mobility rights.

The procedure is available for researchers in both public and private organisations. Students are also eligible, but special conditions apply.

Individual European countries do not have identical rules of procedure, they need to be verified for each country.

Find more information about the entry conditions in each country.

N.B: Three countries, the UK, Ireland and Denmark, are not taking part in the adoption of this Directive.

In order to obtain a residence permit (for a period of more than three months) from the relevant national authorities, a researcher will have to meet the following requirements:

a) be in possession of a valid travel document (e. g. passport or national identity card, as determined by national law; if required, an application for a visa or a valid visa or, a valid residence permit or a valid long-stay visa; Member States may require the period of validity of the travel document to cover at least the duration of the planned stay).

b) be in possession of a signed hosting agreement

c) provide evidence that the researcher does not pose a threat to public policy, security or health, as certified by his/her local authority

d) fulfil the demand made by some Member States that require the researcher to have a statement of "financial responsibility" issued by their research organisation, under which they will pay any costs incurred if the researcher stays beyond the time their residence permit is valid.

The "hosting agreement" is an agreement issued by a public or private approved research organisation in the Member State, to undertake a research project. The research organisation can only sign a hosting agreement with a researcher if there are funds available for the research and they are satisfied with the researcher's scientific skills. In addition, the researcher must have sufficient financial means and health insurance.

Only a research organisation approved by the Member State can sign a hosting agreement. A list of approved research organisations can be found for the following countries: Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Germany, Ireland, Italy and Spain.

To view templates of hosting agreements please click on the following examples: Belgium, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Germany, Ireland, Italy, France and, Spain and Sweden. For the remaining countries, the lists can usually be found on national websites (Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Research or Ministry of Education).

Once a researcher has a formal hosting arrangement with a research institution he/she will be granted a residence permit for at least one year, and does not need a work permit. However, an entry visa must still be applied for.

Once awarded the residence permit, a researcher may carry out his/her research not only in the country of his/her residence permit, but also in another EU Member State where the scientific visa is eligible.

If a researcher would like to, for example, participate in a research conference or carry out a part of his/her research in another Member State for up to 3 months, no new application process needs to be made. If the stay should be longer than 3 months, a new Hosting Agreement will need to be signed with an organisation in the new country.

The UK does not participate in the scientific visas package, but it does have a number of routes for visiting researchers which allows them to take part in conferences, attend meetings and give talks. In addition, work routes are available for individuals intending to carry out paid research in the UK. More information is available on the UK visas and immigration website on gov.uk

All the European Union’s Member States except Denmark, Ireland and the United Kingdom.

The national EURAXESS Centres will be able to assist you with details on entry requirements.

Find EURAXESS Service Centres

All the European Union’s Member States except Denmark, Ireland and the United Kingdom.

The participating Member States are:

Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden.

The national EURAXESS Centres will be able to assist you with details on entry requirements.

There is no standardised procedure for the application of short-term visas.

You can find country-specific information on the EURAXESS national portals or you can contact the national EURAXESS Service Centres which will be able to assist you with details on entry requirements.

Find EURAXESS Service Centres