FAQs

FAQs About Immigration Laws


What is a work permit?

A work permit is a document that gives the holder authorization to work in the destination country.  Work permits come in all shapes and sizes.  Depending on the country of issuance, the work permit may be a sticker in the passport, a stamp in the passport, an A4 sized document, a credit card sized document, or a paper booklet.

Work permits are usually specific to the employee (although in some countries, "corporate", "company" or "blanket" work permission is sometimes given to multiple employees).  Work permits are also often specific to the hiring company, the role, the industry or the region in which the worker is employed.  If any of these items change, a new work permit could be needed.

A work permit on its own does not generally give the holder the right to enter or reside in a country.  To enter, an entry visa may be required, and to reside, a residence permit and/or registration are often necessary.

What is a residence permit?

A residence permit is a document that gives the holder authorization to reside in the destination country. Residence permits come in all shapes and sizes. Depending on the country of issuance, the work permit may be a sticker in the passport, a stamp in the passport, an A4 sized document, a credit card sized document, or a paper booklet.  Residence permits are sometimes also "combined" with work permits and so are issued as one document with the work permit.

Residence permits are specific to the individual and, in corporate immigration cases, are tied to the work permit - if the work permit changes, then the residence permit would need to be changed too.  Residence permits also often list personal and residential details such as holder name, date of birth, passport number, address, and may contain biometric data (e.g. biometric photograph or fingerprint).  If any of the details listed on the permit change, a new permit may be required.

A residence permit on its own does not necessarily give the holder the right to enter or work in a country. To enter, an entry visa may be required, and to work, separate work authorization may be required.

What is a visa?

A visa is a travel document or stamp that accompanies your passport. It proves you are eligible to enter the country you are requesting entry to, but does not guarantee you will be allowed to enter. Once you reach an international airport or border crossing (also called a port of entry), an immigration officer makes the final decision as to whether or not you can enter the country and how long you can stay.

What is registration?

In many countries, even once the employee or assignee has his or her work permit, visa and residence permit, a post arrival registration is still a legal requirement.  For specific details by country, please refer to our Country Profiles. 

Should I book my air travel before I get my visa?

Non-refundable tickets should not be purchased until all visas and passports are secured and in your possession. If you have to purchase an air ticket before the visa is issued, please ensure that it is a refundable ticket.

How long will it take to get my work permit?

How long is a piece of string?  Processing times for work permits vary greatly depending on country, and within a country, on other factors such as nationality of the applicant, type of employment contract, size of hiring company, size of family, region of residence and employment - and so on.  For timing details by country, take a look at our Country Profiles.  It's also a good idea to bear the following in mind:

1) Government processing times are subject to change and delay, and are often impacted by external events, for example: political unrest, government change, strikes, change of staff at an immigration office, summer or Christmas holidays.

2) Allow time for preparation of an application as well as the government processing time.  For all work authorization applications, supporting documents from the employer and employee will be required, and, although Pro-Link GLOBAL will help as much as we can, it will take time for you and your employee to gather these.  Documents required vary by country - see the FAQ "What supporting documents are needed for my application?" for more details.

Can I travel there on business before the work permit is issued?

It can take a long time for a government to approve a work permit application (see FAQ "How long will it take to get my work permit?") and, understandably, many employees and their managers are keen to get the ball rolling.  However, to remain in compliance, it is important to note the following:

  1. In many countries, business travel to the country before the work permit has been issued is not permitted, and could jeopardize the issuance of the work permit
  2. Where business travel is permitted, it should not be abused - working on business visitor status is not permitted.  Your Pro-Link GLOBAL Immigration Specialist will be able to advise you on what is considered "work" and what is considered "business" for your destination country.
  3. In many countries, it is necessary for the employee (and family) to enter on the correct immigration status.  Therefore, even where business travel in advance of work permit approval is permitted, note that the employee and family may well have to return to their home countries to have their passports stamped with the correct entry visas at the relevant consulate or Embassy, once the work permit has been approved.

What supporting documents are needed for my application?

Submitting a corporate immigration application for work and residence authorization means, in essence, demonstrating the following to the government of the country where the employee will be working:

1) That the hiring company is in business, is stable and is contributing to the economy

2) That the hiring company has a good reason for needing a foreign (rather than local) employee or assignee

3) That the employee or assignee in question is ready and capable to do the job

4) That the employee or assignee in question is not a threat to the country and will not be a strain on social services, health services - and will not commit crimes!

5) That accompanying family members are genuinely related to the employee

Pro-Link GLOBAL will prepare the immigration applications, but we will need your help to prove that we meet all criteria and conditions.  This means that we will need your and your employee to provide us with supporting documents.  Actual documents required vary from case to case and from country to country, but will typically include items such as certificate of incorporation for receiving comapny, employment contract, job description, salary description, payslips, CV/resume, educational certificates, birth and marriage certificates.   

Pro-Link GLOBAL will, of course, send you and your employees checklists of the documents needed for your specific case at the start of the case.

Do I have to send my original passport to get a visa?

Yes. A photocopy of your passport is not accepted by a Consulate or Embassy.

Which countries can my spouse work in as a result of my work permit?

This depends on a number of factors, including what category work permit you have been issued.  The following countries allow dependant work approval in most corporate immigration categories:

Australia, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France (certain category) Hong Kong, Italy, Netherlands (certain category), Norway, Spain, Sweden, UK, USA (certain category).

In other countries, sometimes a specific application for dependant work approval can be submitted, but in many countries, it is still the case that accompanying spouses must apply for work permission in their own right - and after they have found a willing employer to sponsor the application.

When is a transit visa issued?

A transit visa may be issued for certain countries and certain nationalities for the purpose of connecting flights in a specific country.  The traveller must hold a valid onward air-ticket.

India: What date is a visa valid from?

An Indian visa is valid from the date it is issued.

India: What is the duration of an Employment Visa?

A foreign national going to India for employment may initially be granted an Employment Visa  up to one year.