EU Proposes New Rules on Recognition of Qualifications for Non-EU Citizens
The proposal would standardize procedures, cut delays and extend automatic recognition to seven professions, as current cases take 14.2 months on average.
- The European Commission proposed a new directive this week to simplify qualification recognition for Non-EU citizens, aiming to 'help EU employers accelerate recruitment of talent from outside the EU.'
- Currently, the procedure is 'fragmented, overly complex and lacking transparency,' with costs averaging €1,500 and taking 14.2 months to complete. Some 70 percent of Non-EU citizens surveyed consider the process a 'big' or 'very big' problem, the Commission said.
- The Professional Qualifications Directive intends to align documentation requirements across countries and establish deadlines to reduce waiting times, while creating automatic recognition for seven professions including doctors and nurses.
- While seeking to address 'structural skilled labour shortages' and 'skills waste,' the Commission specified that recognition decisions will not be transferrable between member states, limiting portability.
- This directive applies to qualifications obtained inside or outside the region for accessing regulated professions or obtaining long-term visas, marking the first time the European Commission has proposed specific rules for third-country nationals.
11 Articles
11 Articles
The Local - No
EU proposes new rules on recognition of qualifications for non-EU citizens
New legislation proposed by the European Commission this week seeks to make the recognition of professional qualifications easier for non-EU citizens, a common complaint of many who've moved to the bloc from abroad.
EU proposes new rules for recognition of qualifications from non-EU citizens
New legislation proposed by the European Commission this week seeks to make the recognition of professional qualifications easier for non-EU citizens, a common complaint of many who've moved to the bloc from abroad.
EU Proposes Faster Professional Qualification Recognition
Stockholm (Brussels Morning Newspaper) September 19, 2026 – The European Commission has introduced a new legislative package aimed at simplifying and accelerating the cross-border recognition of professional qualifications within the European Union. The proposals introduce strict processing deadlines, …
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