europe
immigration

Our global immigration team is fully-equipped to manage your workforce’s work and residence permit needs in every European jurisdiction. We deliver a coordinated and seamless service to your employees from entry visa authorisations, to post-arrival trouble-shooting, to further services including visa extensions and renewals.

Our European immigration services and areas of expertise include:

• Schengen visas
• EU Blue Cards
• Intra-corporate transfers
• Frontier workers
• Posted workers
• Settlement applications
• Citizenship applications

Our immigration service is able to provide a personalised and comprehensive immigration strategy aligned to your business needs. From short term business trippers to permanent cross-border assignments, we deliver an efficient, cost-effective and meticulous service to corporate clients throughout Europe.

Our services for employers include:

• Compliance support and training
• Business trippers
• Global case reporting
• Global mobility programme management

Smith Stone Walters offers a comprehensive European immigration service covering all European Union (EU) countries. Among the most popular destination countries within this region are Germany, France and Spain. 

The German government is currently in the process of reforming its Skilled Immigration Act to make it easier for qualified skilled workers from third countries to find employment in Germany.

germany Opportunity card (Chancenkarte)

Allows foreign nationals to enter Germany with the purpose of looking for a job.

germany d-visa: EU BLUE CARD

For qualified academic professionals employed in a position commensurate with their qualification.

germany d-visa: ict CARD

Enables managers, professionals or trainees to work in a German branch for a set amount of time.

All EU citizens can work in France without requiring a visa due to freedom of movement shared rights between member states. Those that do require a visa to work in France have several options available depending on the type of employment they are seeking to undertake.

france talent passport: qualified employee

For skilled employees who hold an eligible diploma earned at an institute of higher learning.

france talent passport: eu blue card

For highly qualified workers with an employment contract or a binding job offer.

france intra-company transfer visa

Designed to facilitate the relocation of employees within multinational corporations.

Non-EU/EEA nationals will need permission from the Spanish government to live and work in Spain. This means you need to apply for a work visa. There are different types of visas that you can apply for depending on your circumstances.

spain highly qualified professionals

A visa to carry out a work activity as an employee in Spain as a highly qualified professional.

spain intra-corporate transfer

A visa to carry out a work activity as an intra-company transferee in Spain.

spain eu blue card

For highly skilled workers with an eligible qualification or work experience.

There are several EU-wide immigration schemes in place which allow third country nationals to easily travel within Europe for visits, business trips or work. Three commonly used categories are the Schengen visa, the EU Blue Card and the Intra-Corporate Transfer visa.

schengen visa

Allows the holder to travel across multiple European countries on a single permit.

eu blue card

A work permit that facilitates migration of highly qualified third country nationals to Europe.

eu intra-corporate transfer

Allows individuals to be transferred within company branches from one country to another.