New administrative approach to permit applications in employer change cases

According to information provided by the authorities, the administrative practice applicable to residence permit applications involving a change of employer is becoming more stringent. An approach that had previously been applied only in certain regions will now be implemented nationwide.

As a result, where a third-country national holds a valid single permit with another employer for the period covered by the new application, the applicant must also submit a document proving the termination of the previous employment relationship and indicating the date of termination.

According to the authorities, the following documents may be suitable for demonstrating the termination of the previous employment relationship:

• An employer certificate confirming the termination of the previous employment relationship and clearly specifying the date on which employment ended.
• A mutual agreement between the current employer and the employee stating that, upon issuance of the new permit, the existing employment relationship will be terminated before the commencement of the new employment.
• A notice of termination issued by the employer.
• A notice of termination submitted by the employee, provided that the employer has acknowledged receipt or acceptance thereof.

As employers often apply notice periods of 30 or 60 days in practice, while the official processing time for residence permit applications is 70 days, particular attention should be paid to the timing of the termination notice. It is important that the document evidencing the termination of the previous employment relationship is available at the time of the application submission.

Obtaining the required documentation in a timely manner may help avoid requests for additional information and prevent potential delays in the administrative procedure.

Should you have any questions regarding the above, please do not hesitate to contact our experts.