For companies
How to hire international workers legally
What a company has to prepare, in what order, and where the responsibility sits at each step of hiring a professional who lives in another country.
The order of the steps
The sequence matters more than the speed
Most delays in international hiring are not caused by slow authorities. They are caused by steps taken out of order: a candidate selected before the route was checked, a contract signed before the salary met the threshold, a flight booked before a permit was granted.
The sequence depends on the nationality of the worker and on the country where they will work. An EU national moving inside the Union follows a different path from a third-country national who needs an authorization tied to a specific employer.
We map that sequence for the specific case before anyone commits to a date, and we keep the employer informed of what is outstanding at each stage.
Employer checklist
What the company prepares
These items belong to the employer. Nothing in the immigration file can be submitted until they exist in their final form.
- A written job offer with role, duties and place of work
- The contract type and its duration
- A salary that meets the threshold of the category applied for
- Evidence of the company's activity and its capacity to hire
- Confirmation of who is authorised to sign on behalf of the company
- Occupational qualification requirements specific to the role
- Any recognition of foreign qualifications the role requires
- Arrival logistics: start date, induction and accommodation if provided
Division of responsibility
Who does what
A hiring project runs cleanly when each party knows its own part. The employer supplies the offer and the corporate documentation. The worker supplies personal and professional documents. An authorised professional handles the legal and regulated work. We coordinate the three so nothing waits on an unanswered question.
We do not decide applications and we do not influence them. What we can do is make sure a file arrives complete, in the right order, with the right supporting documents, and that everyone knows where it stands.
Arlen Global Mobility coordinates the preparation and follow-up of these processes. Legal services and other regulated activities are provided by duly authorised independent professionals or providers. The granting of visas, permits and authorisations depends exclusively on the competent authorities.
Immigration approvals and work authorizations are determined by the competent authorities. Requirements vary according to the destination, nationality, profession and individual circumstances.
Questions
Hiring international workers — common questions
Can we hire someone who is already in the country on another permit?
Sometimes, and it depends entirely on the permit they hold and whether it allows the work in question or can be modified. This has to be checked against the individual permit before an offer is made, and the check belongs to an authorised professional.
What happens if an application is refused?
The decision belongs to the competent authority. Depending on the country and the grounds, there may be an appeal, a fresh application or an alternative category. We tell employers this before a process starts, because a hiring plan that has no fallback is a hiring plan at risk.
Do you charge the worker?
Recruitment mandates are commissioned and paid by the employer. Where a candidate engages us for a personal service such as an educational programme or an immigration assessment, the scope and the fee are agreed in writing with them in advance.
Next step
Planning an international hire?
Tell us the profile and the country, and we will set out the sequence, the documentation and the realistic timeline before you commit to a start date.
Transparency
Immigration Disclaimer
Arlen Global Mobility provides immigration consultancy and mobility coordination services. It is not a law firm. Legal representation and specialized legal assistance are provided by qualified immigration and foreign-nationality lawyers with whom we coordinate when required.
Arlen Global Mobility provides immigration consultancy and mobility coordination services. Immigration applications and legal matters may be handled in coordination with qualified immigration and foreign-nationality lawyers when specialized legal assistance or representation is required.
Visa decisions, residence permits and work authorizations are issued exclusively by the competent authorities. Requirements and eligibility vary according to nationality, destination, profession and individual circumstances.
Arlen Global Mobility does not guarantee visa approval, immigration authorization or employment.