April 2, 2026 
4 mins to read It is one of the most important questions people ask us if they want to start working abroad: do EU citizens need a work visa if they want to work in another EU country? The short answer to this question is: no. You don’t need a work visa to work in another EU country if you are an EU citizen. But there’s more to tell than just that. We zoom in and take away every piece of doubt you might have around this topic.
The right to work in another EU country
Every EU citizen has the right to move freely within EU countries. This also goes for work. The free movement of workers allows all EU citizens to:
- Find a job in another EU country
- Work in that country without needing a work permit
- Live in that country for the purpose of working there
- Stay in the country after employment
You even have to be treated equally as the nationals when it comes to employment, working conditions and all the other social and tax advantages. This free movement of workers also applies to the EEA countries (Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway).
What documents do you need to work in another EU country?
So you’ve learned that you can move to another EU country to work there. It is allowed, but there are still some things you have to fix. What you need to fix specifically, depends on your destination, but there are things you have to bring or fix in any country:
ID
Of course you need to have a valid ID. You don’t necessarily need a passport, but it can be smart to renew it. You need your ID for all sorts of things, like opening a local bank account.
Residence registration
You are free to move to another country, but you have to register your residence in your new destination. This is a must if you stay longer than 3 months. The registration rules are different for every country, so make sure you do your research before you make the move.
Tax numbers and social security
If you start working in another country, you will also start paying taxes there. Your new country will require you to register and get a local tax number. Do this, because it will make sure you have to pay taxes in just one country, and not in both your new country and the one you came from. The general rule within the EU is that you are covered by only one country’s social security system at a time. Usually if you work in a country, you also pay social security in that country.
Restrictions and exceptions
In theory, there are no exceptions to the free movement of people rule within the EU. But there are some situations where getting a work visa in another EU country or living in one of those countries might be difficult. This is mostly the case when it comes to Public sector jobs. Positions involving state authority (police or military for example) are mostly restricted to nationals.
Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein are also an exception. These countries are not part of the EU, but they participate in the free movement agreements. This means that the rules are very similar, but sometimes it could take some more work to register your stay and work in one of these destinations.
How to get started
The most important step for working in another EU country is… finding a job. At Job Squad we offer all sorts of jobs within the EU. Browse through our job offers, apply and you might have landed a job abroad!
After you find a job, it’s time to find accommodation. In some cases, your new employer will help you or provide you with accommodation, but you might have to deal with this yourself. Luckily for you we know all about finding apartments abroad, so use our and our recruiters expertise on this topic.
Once you have done that, make sure to fix all the documents you need for a stay in your new destination. After that, it’s time to start your new life abroad and enjoy all the amazing things that will come in your amazing new destination!
