Moving from Africa to the EU for work: legitimate routes explained

Europe needs skilled people, and many Africans want to build careers there. The legal routes exist, but they are often hidden behind rumours, agents and false promises. This guide explains the legitimate ways to move from an African country to the EU for work, and the risks to avoid on the way.

Start with how the system works

Two facts from the EU Immigration Portal clear up most of the confusion:

• Each country decides. The EU sets some common rules, but all final decisions on applications are made by the EU country you want to move to. Applications must be made to that country’s authorities.
• There is no EU-wide permit office. No European institution handles applications or issues residence permits on behalf of individual countries. Anyone selling you an “EU visa” that works everywhere is not telling you the truth.

EU-wide rules for categories such as highly qualified workers, students and researchers apply in 25 of the 27 EU countries. Denmark and Ireland run their own systems.

Route 1: a job offer as a highly qualified worker

The EU Blue Card is the EU’s common permit for highly qualified jobs. According to the EU Immigration Portal:

• you need a work contract or binding job offer of at least 6 months
• your salary must meet the country’s threshold, which is set between 1.0 and 1.6 times the national average gross annual salary
• you need higher professional qualifications, usually a degree of at least three years, or in some cases relevant professional experience
• the card is valid for at least 24 months (or the contract plus three months), and can be renewed
• family reunification conditions are more favourable than under many national permits
• after 12 months you can move to another Blue Card country for highly qualified work, applying for a new card there

Engineers, IT specialists, health professionals and finance professionals are among those who often use this route. Each country publishes its own salary threshold and any list of shortage occupations.

Route 2: national work permits

For jobs that do not meet Blue Card conditions, most EU countries have a national work permit. Lithuania is a useful example. According to the EU Immigration Portal:

• the employer usually registers the vacancy with Lithuania’s Employment Service first
• the worker then needs a work permit or a decision that the job meets labour market needs, which is issued within 7 working days
• whether your occupation is on the shortage list affects the route
• you can then apply for a national visa (for up to a year) or a temporary residence permit (for up to 2 years)
• on this route, family members are not entitled to accompany you

The key point is that the employer starts the process. A genuine job offer comes from a real employer who is willing to go through these steps.

Route 3: study, then work

Many Africans enter the EU as students, graduate, and then move into work. Students in the EU usually have limited work rights during their studies and, in many countries, a period after graduation to look for a job. In Lithuania, for example, graduates can apply for a 12-month permit to search for work or become self-employed. Our guide on studying in the Baltics as an African student covers this in more detail.

Other categories and Talent Partnerships

The EU Immigration Portal also lists:

• Researchers, with a hosting agreement from a research organisation
• Intra-corporate transferees, moving within their own multinational employer
• Seasonal workers, with a contract with an EU employer for seasonal work
• Trainees and volunteers, under agreements with host organisations

Each has its own conditions. Check the page for your category and destination country on the EU Immigration Portal.

The European Commission also runs Talent Partnerships with selected countries to support labour mobility at all skill levels. At the time of writing (October 2026), the Commission lists Talent Partnerships launched with Tunisia, Morocco and Egypt in Africa, and with Bangladesh and Pakistan.

These partnerships work through projects, training, recognition of qualifications and cooperation between governments. The Commission’s page does not describe an individual application process. If you are in one of these countries, follow your own government’s announcements and the Commission’s page, and be wary of anyone charging to “register” you for a Talent Partnership.

Routes to avoid

The EU Immigration Portal warns clearly about irregular routes:

• People smuggled into the EU have no right to be there, may face fines and return to their home country, and can struggle to find legal work, housing, education and health care, which increases the risk of exploitation.
• People who stay without authorisation must leave the EU and can receive entry bans of up to five years in most cases.

It also advises being very careful before accepting any promise of entry into an EU country, and contacting your country’s diplomatic or consular authorities about legal options.

On recruitment, the International Labour Organization’s fair recruitment principles state that workers should not be charged, directly or indirectly, any fees or related costs for their recruitment. Large upfront payments to an agent are a serious warning sign. See our separate guide on recruitment agents and visa fraud.

How Mavericks Settle helps

Mavericks Settle guides professionals and families through legitimate residence routes, with legal work handled by regulated partner law firms. We tell you honestly what the rules say, including when a route does not fit. Mavericks opens doors. It doesn’t guarantee jobs or visas. No one can guarantee a visa, a permit or a job.