Why you are still a tourist after working abroad for 3 months

Working abroad for 3 months is a long time. A lot can happen in this period, either in your personal life or in your working life. Everything changes: a new job, a new home, and a whole new culture to get used to. After 3 months you won’t immediately feel at home in your new country and your new job. But it’s not only about the feeling. On paper you are also still a tourist after working abroad for 3 months. Keep reading and find out how this works. 

Why many jobs start with a 3‑month trial

When you start a new job in Europe, your contract might include a probation or trial period. This is a short time at the beginning of your employment when both you and your employer can decide whether the job is a good fit. It’s not an EU‑wide law, but many countries set a maximum length for this probation, and it’s often about three months. For example:

• In France, the trial period for supervisors or technicians on permanent contracts can last up to three months. Workers can have up to two months.
• In Italy, non‑executive employees may have a probation period of up to three months.
• Denmark usually limits probation to three months as well

A three‑month probation gives employers enough time to see if someone can do the job well and lets the employee decide if they like the role, and life abroad. If either side feels it’s not working, they can part ways more easily than after the probation ends.

Working abroad: The 90‑day (three‑month) tourist rule

If you aren’t from the EU but want to visit, there’s a similar 90‑day rule. The Schengen Area, which covers most EU countries plus a few others, lets travellers from certain non‑EU countries come without a long‑stay visa for up to 90 days in any 180‑day period. This short‑stay Schengen visa is designed for holidays, business trips or family visits. After 90 days, you must leave or apply for a different visa. This limit helps manage tourism and ensures visitors don’t stay longer than permitted.

Why EU citizens don’t need a work visa in other EU countries

Thanks to the EU’s principle of free movement, citizens of EU countries can live and work in any other EU country without a work permit. The European Commission explains that EU citizens may look for a job, work without needing a permit, live in the country for that purpose and remain there even after the job has finished. There is no special work visa to apply for, and you are entitled to the same treatment as local workers.

However, there is a small administrative step: if you stay in another EU country longer than three months, you might need to register with the local authorities, such as the town hall or police. This is usually a straightforward process—you show your passport or ID card and proof of work or study. During the first three months you cannot be required to obtain a residence document.

Connecting the dots: why three months?

So why does the number three keep appearing? In both cases, it represents a reasonable trial period:

• Employers use a three‑month probation to see if a new worker is a good match.
• Governments let tourists from outside the EU stay for up to three months without a long‑stay visa.
• EU citizens moving to another EU country have three months before they need to register their residence.

Three months is long enough to get a real sense of whether something works—whether it’s a job, a holiday or a new home—without making a long‑term commitment. Still not sure if you should take the leap and start working abroad? Read the story of our colleague Michelle, who tells you why this decision changed her life.