The new Directive (EU) 2016/801 addresses the conditions of entry and residence of third-country nationals, for the purposes of research, studies, training, voluntary service, pupil exchange schemes or educational projects and au pairing.
A researcher is defined as: a third-country national holding a doctoral degree or an appropriate higher education qualification which gives access to doctoral programmes, and who is selected by a research organisation for carrying out a research activity for which the above-mentioned qualification is normally required.
The Directive applies to researchers intending to stay in Europe for more than three months. For those coming for less than three months, rules on short-term visas apply.
The new directive sets clearer, more consistent and transparent rules such as:
- Procedural guarantees: The 90-day time limit for Member States' authorities to decide on an application will make the process more straightforward and transparent.
- Stay after the research is completed: Researchers will be allowed to remain for up to 9 months in their Member State of residence after finalisation of their research to identify job opportunities or set up a business. This will not amount to an automatic right to work: the researcher who finds a job will have to apply for a work and residence permit.
- Simpler and more flexible mobility rules: will increase the possibility for researchers to move within the EU for their projects. Family members of researchers will also be granted mobility rights.
Those rules apply to researchers in both public and private organisations.
Individual European countries do not have identical rules of procedure, they need to be verified for each country.
Find more information about the entry conditions in each country.
You can also visit the EU immigration portal
N.B: Two countries, Ireland and Denmark, are not taking part in the adoption of thisDirective.