Professionals working in the craft, commerce or industry sectors who can prove they have worked in their field of expertise for a specific number of years, may obtain automatic recognition in another Member State based on their previously acquired experience.
Eligibility
- Professionals should first check the three lists of Annex IV of Directive 2005/36/EC and see if their professional expertise/experience matches one of the categories specified in any of the lists. These lists include specific and very diverse professional activities (for example from manufacturing and processing textile materials to brewing and malting drinks)
- Eligible professionals then need to verify in a second step if they comply with the required years of experience (specified in Articles 17 to 19 of the Directive). In most cases, the professional experience required to obtain recognition ranges between 3 to 6 years, depending on if the activity was pursued on a self-employed or employed basis.
- Professionals who pursue these professional activities but do not have sufficient years of experience, can still apply for recognition under the general system of recognition.
Example of eligibility
A Finnish professional has 8 years of professional experience in the leather industry. She set up her own shop and manufactures different leather products. Thus, she has worked 8 years on a self-employed basis. Now, she would like to permanently move to Austria and pursue the same professional activity there.
- Is she entitled to obtain recognition based on professional experience?
- Yes. The professional pursues an activity that is listed in List I of Annex IV of the Directive called ‘Major group – 29 – Leader industry’.
Furthermore, she complies with the required years of experience defined in Article 17, which expects professionals to have at least six consecutive years of professional experience either on a self-employed basis or as a manager of an undertaking.
Given the professional has 8 years of professional experience, she would be entitled to obtain this type of recognition.
Documents required for the application
Professionals applying for recognition will be requested to provide certain documents to support their application. Competent authorities may ask for the following non-exhaustive list of documents:
- Proof of nationality (such as copy of identity card)
- Attestation of professional competence or qualification (for example copy of degree/diploma)
- Proof of professional experience In these cases, a contract or payslips may not be sufficient to prove professional experience. Professionals need to provide a certificate concerning the nature and duration of the activity issued by the competent authority in the home Member State (or the Member State in which the foreign national was established). Professionals should contact the relevant national contact point to ask further information about where and how to obtain this certificate.
- Proof of good character, repute, no declaration of bankruptcy (such as criminal record)
- Medical certificate of good physical or mental health
- Proof of financial standing and insurance cover (for example insurance contract)
