Working Abroad Without a Visa

How to Work Legally in Europe Without a Visa
by Rebecca Falkoff
Monster Contributing Writer

It's a Catch-22 that almost anyone seeking employment abroad knows well: In order to get a work visa you need a job, but it's tough to get a job without a work visa. For lack of a better solution, I decided to simply ignore this bind when I got to Italy looking for work. Once there, I was able to escape the clutches of its impossible logic by obtaining a codice fiscale, a financial code (much like a social security number) composed of 16 letters and numbers that cement one's identity within Italian bureaucracy.

I hadn't even heard of the financial code until I arrived, but I grasped its importance when I was assigned a temporary fake one while purchasing a mobile phone. I acquired two more temporary fake financial codes from language schools I was working for. The reason I was given so many fake financial codes was that in order to interact with me in any sort of official, taxpaying way, language schools and cellular phone dealers had to either record my financial code or insert some number that resembled a financial code into their templates.

Initially, the temporary fake tax codes sufficed, but I did eventually obtain a real financial code. With a financial code I was able to report my earnings, pay taxes, and receive some medical coverage.

Getting a real financial code in Italy is theoretically a two-step process -- it entails going to the Questura (police headquarters) to obtain a Permesso di Soggiorno (Permit of Stay) and then to the Ministero delle Finanze (Department of Finance) to obtain the code.

Any tourist remaining at the same address for more than one week is required to obtain a Permit of Stay. The permits come in three flavours: work, study, and tourism. To obtain a Permit of Stay for work or study, you need an official letter from the institution with which you will be affiliated. It's much easier to obtain a permit of stay for reasons of tourism, however: You need three passport photographs, three copies of your passport, a copy of a medical insurance policy and a signed statement saying you have enough money to support yourself. It's an odd assortment of paper, and I sensed that it could be varied depending on the whim of the police, the nationality of the applicant and the branch of the police headquarters.

With the Permit of Stay in hand, getting a financial code was a piece of cake. The hardest part was finding the right branch of the Department of Finance -- an adventure that included at least five Metro stops, two friendly policemen and a handful of maps. Once I found my way to the Department of Finance, I took a number and within minutes I was holding the key to working legally in Italy without a visa.

Italy is not the only country with procedural loopholes that allow you to work without a visa. It's often possible to get around oppressive bureaucracy and work abroad legally. Usually the best option is to go to the country as a tourist and do a little research.

Below are some resources to help you start researching legal work possibilities in other countries -- that may not require a visa.

Council Travel's Work Abroad Program

If you are a student or recent graduate with about $1,500 to invest in getting settled abroad, Council Travel's Work Abroad program may be right for you. For a fee of about $300, they take care of the necessary paperwork and assist you in finding a job. Posts held by past participants include bartender, receptionist, technical writer and sales intern.

The program is offered in Ireland, France, Germany, Canada, Costa Rica, Australia, and New Zealand. Council requires that you bring at least $750 to support yourself until you receive your first paycheck. The programs range from three to six months, so if you plan to live in the country for an extended period of time, you must make your own arrangements.

Australia

A passport is required to enter Australia. Prior to departure for tourist stays of up to 90 days, an Electronic Travel Authority (ETA), which can be obtained from travel agencies and airline reservation desks, is required. Australia offers a Working Holiday Maker Visa for young people traveling in Australia who hope to supplement their funds through part-time work. This visa is only available to citizens of Canada, Japan, the Republic of Ireland, the Republic of Korea, Malta, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.

If you are interested in the program contact one of the three authorized organizations: BUNAC/IEP, (203) 264-0901; Camp Counselors/CCUSA, (800) 999-2267; Council/CIEE, (888) COUNCIL, or visit the Australian Embassy.

The UK

A passport is required for entrance into the United Kingdom, but a visa is not necessary for stays of up to six months. Application forms are available online.

The Czech Republic

Anyone remaining in the Czech Republic for a period exceeding 90 days is required to obtain a visa. All documents must be either originals or copies notarized by a Czech notary, and all English documents must be accompanied by an official translation legalized by the Apostille. No document can be older than 180 days. Because you must obtain a copy of a working permit issued by the Employment Administration Office (Povolení k zamìstnání) in the Czech Republic and notarized by a Czech notary, your best bet is probably to go to the Czech Republic first to get the ball rolling.