Employment Law · European Union
Sponsor and Hire Talent Without the Immigration Risk
Hiring a non-EU worker means navigating work permits, sponsorship duties and compliance rules that differ in every country — and one mistake can delay a start date or expose your business to penalties. We match you, free of charge, with a lawyer who handles employer immigration and can guide your hiring process from first offer to first day.
- 155+ legal services, 14 practice areas
- Lawyers across the EU & EEA
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Who this is for
Hiring talent from abroad is a legal process, not just a recruitment one
Employer immigration covers the obligations a business takes on when it hires workers from outside the EU or EEA — securing work permits, meeting sponsorship requirements, and staying compliant with rules that vary from one country to the next. Whether you are a startup bringing in a specialist engineer, an established company relocating a senior manager, or an employer sponsoring a candidate’s first work authorisation, the process carries real legal weight. Each country sets its own permit types, labour-market tests, salary thresholds and sponsorship duties, and the rules change frequently. Errors can delay a critical hire, disrupt an entire team’s plan, or trigger fines and restrictions on future sponsorship. We match you with a lawyer who specialises in employer immigration, so you can hire with confidence and keep every step of the process compliant, from the job offer through renewal and beyond.
Why employers get stuck
Work permits rarely fail because of the candidate.
They fail because of the process.
Every country runs its own permit types, thresholds and sponsorship rules — and a missed requirement can stall a hire for months.
Choosing the wrong permit route
Each country offers several work-permit and visa pathways, each with its own eligibility criteria, salary thresholds and quotas. Selecting the wrong one can mean a refusal and a restart, losing the candidate and the time you invested.
Sponsorship and compliance duties
Employers who sponsor foreign workers carry ongoing obligations — record-keeping, reporting changes, and renewing authorisations. Failing to meet these duties can lead to penalties and damage your ability to sponsor future hires.
Delays that cost you the candidate
Permit processing times vary widely by country and backlog, and top candidates often hold other offers. Without a lawyer who knows the fastest compliant route and how to avoid refusals, a slow process can cost you the hire entirely.
What you get
A lawyer who makes employer immigration smooth and compliant
We match you with immigration lawyers who regularly help businesses sponsor and hire across Europe.
Route selection
Your lawyer identifies the correct work-permit pathway for each candidate, confirming eligibility, salary thresholds and any quota requirements, so you start down the right route from day one.
Application management
Get precise, country-specific document checklists and a thorough line-by-line review of every form and certificate before submission, greatly reducing the risk of refusal and rework.
Compliance protection
Understand your ongoing sponsorship and reporting duties, and get the right systems in place to stay compliant — protecting your business from fines and preserving your ability to hire foreign talent in future.
Renewals & changes
Handle permit renewals, changes of role or location, and family dependants as your team evolves, so no authorisation lapses silently and disrupts your day-to-day operations.
Coverage
Employer immigration lawyers across Europe
Work-permit and sponsorship rules are set nationally, so the right lawyer works with the specific country where your hires will be based. We match cases across the following and beyond:
Frequently asked
Employer immigration — common questions
Do I need a licence to sponsor foreign workers?
Many European countries require employers to obtain a sponsorship or authorisation before hiring non-EU workers, while others use a permit-per-hire approach. Requirements vary by country, so a lawyer can confirm what applies to your business and the specific role.
What work permit routes are available for my hire?
Each country offers several routes — such as highly-skilled worker schemes, intra-company transfers and shortage-occupation permits — each with its own criteria. A lawyer can identify which route best fits your candidate’s role and profile.
How long does it take to sponsor a foreign worker?
Processing times vary considerably by country, permit type and backlog, typically from a few weeks to several months. A lawyer familiar with the specific authority can help you choose the fastest compliant route and avoid refusals that add delay.
What are my ongoing compliance obligations as a sponsor?
Sponsors typically must keep accurate records, report changes in the worker’s employment or circumstances, and renew authorisations on time. The specific duties vary by country, and failing to meet them can result in penalties.
Can I hire someone who is already in Europe on a different visa?
Sometimes, but switching status is not always permitted and usually requires a fresh application. Whether a candidate can move from one permit type to another depends on the country and their current authorisation, so it should be checked before you commit.
What happens if a work permit application is refused?
A refusal is not necessarily the end — most countries allow a review, appeal or a corrected reapplication. A lawyer can assess the refusal grounds, fix the underlying issue and pursue the strongest available route for your candidate.
Free case review
Hire the talent you need without the compliance worry
Tell us where your hire will be based and the role involved, and we’ll connect you with a lawyer who handles employer immigration every day — free of charge, with no obligation to hire.