Immigration news update for the EMEA region
Europe, Middle East and Africa
Czech Republic: Amendments to EU Blue Card
As of July 01, 2023, the government of Czech Republic has amended the terms for applying for an EU Blue Card (a permit for long-term residence for employment purposes):
- A Blue Card holder is no longer  required the approval of the Ministry of the Interior in the event of switching employer or job duties. Only a notification to the Ministry within three days is needed;
- The validity of the Blue Card has increased from two to three years;
- The application for the Blue Card can be lodged also on the basis of a Pre-Employment Contract or a Work Agreement;
- Should the applicant already have a Blue Card issued from another country, there is no need to provide Criminal Record credentials;
- There is also an exemption from submitting a university-level diploma if the applicant had been working on the basis of a Blue Card in the previous two years.
This summary was prepared using information obtained from The FRS
Germany: Update on the immigration processes
Employers now need to consider the extended waiting and processing times of the authorities when selecting applicants and planning assignments for foreign employees. The following phases of the immigration process should be considered:
- Appointment for visa application: the allocation of appointments is determined through an automated process or based on the order of requests so itcan take several months.
- Pre-approval through the so-called Fast-Track Procedure for Skilled Workers: this  can speed up obtaining appointments with the local authorities and visas at consulates. The application documents are pre-screened by the local immigration authorities responsible for the employers, who grant preliminary approval to the consulates for visa issuance. Wait times could last up to several weeks or months before the preliminary approval is granted.
- Appointments to apply for  residence  at the immigration office: as consular visas are normally issued for six months,  converting the visa into a long-term electronic residence card may be needed. This as well can take several months.
This summary was prepared using information obtained from our local supplier.
Disclaimer: The above information is provided for general information purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice. If you have any further inquiries regarding the applicability of this information, please contact Roberta Carnaccini (Global Operations Manager, Immigration) or Sabrina Crespo (Team Lead, EMEA).
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