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Working abroad as civil servant

Updated : 12/2011

Work-related rights

Working and living in another EU country

You are a civil servant in one EU country and seconded to work in another country (in an embassy, consulate or other official institution abroad). Alternatively, you work as a civil servant in one country but for private reasons you live (have your permanent home) in another.

Working

As an EU national, you can live and work in another EU country without needing a work permit.

Exception — Bulgarian and Romanian nationals still face temporary restrictions on working in the EU.

Temporary EU working restrictions for Bulgarian and Romanian nationals

Living

If you work in another EU country, you and your family are automatically entitled to live there even if you are not working full-time or are working on a fixed-term contract.

The administrative formalities vary depending on how long you stay.

Residence rights/formalities when working abroad

Equal treatment and benefits

As a migrant worker, you and your family have the same rights as nationals of your new country. This means you are entitled to the same benefits from the day you start working there.

You are therefore entitled to receive benefits:

  • granted to nationals of the country because they are employed
  • granted to workers and their families for living in the country
  • not directly connected to employment (the right to be accompanied by unmarried partners, railway fare-reduction schemes for large families, home renovation subsidies, etc.).

You may also be eligible for non-financial benefits (e.g. the right to interpretation during legal proceedings).

Sample story

Find out which benefits you're entitled to in your new country

Rosita is from Italy, but lives and works in France as a civil servant. She has 3 children. She applied for a discounted train pass for large families, but had it refused because neither she nor her children are French.

Rosita should insist and, if necessary seek help from the EU advisory services. All EU workers with large families (in many countries, 3 or more children) are entitled to cheaper train travel in the country where they work from the day they start work —if such reductions exist and are offered to nationals of that country.

Staying abroad after losing your job

If you lose your job while living in the other country, you are still entitled to live there and have the same benefits as nationals if you are:

  • temporarily unable to work because of an illness or accident
  • registered with the relevant employment office as involuntarily unemployed after being employed:
    • for over a year on an indefinite contract — or
    • for less than a year (in this case, you retain the right to equal
      treatment  with nationals for at least 6 months)
  • starting vocational training (if you are not involuntarily unemployed, the training must be related to your previous employment).
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Footnote

In this case, the 27 EU member states + Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland

Retour au texte en cours.

or a national of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland

Retour au texte en cours.

In this case, the 27 EU member states + Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland

Retour au texte en cours.

In this case, the 27 EU member states + Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland

Retour au texte en cours.

In this case, the 27 EU member states + Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland

Retour au texte en cours.

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