Europe provides great conditions for world-class research. Enjoy the freedom to pursue groundbreaking ideas in a supportive environment that values creativity and excellence. With a strong focus on work-life balance, Europe allows researchers to thrive professionally while enjoying a fulfilling personal life.
Discover the practicalities of working in Europe, including work permits, taxation and salaries, recognition of diplomas, intellectual property rights, and career development.
Work permit
If you're planning to work in Europe as a non-EU national, obtaining a work permit may be a necessary step. A work permit is an official authorisation issued by a competent authority that allows you to engage in paid employment in a specific country for a defined period.
The requirements and procedures for obtaining a work permit vary between EU countries and may depend on factors such as the nature of your research, your employer and the duration of your stay. In some cases, special schemes or simplified procedures apply to researchers and highly skilled workers.
To navigate these requirements confidently, it’s important to consult both EU-wide guidance and national-level procedures.
Recognition of academic diplomas
There is no automatic EU-wide recognition of academic diplomas. Therefore it might be needed to go through a national procedure to get an academic degree or diploma recognised in another EU country.
In most cases, you can obtain a "statement of comparability" of your university degree, stating how it compares to the diplomas delivered in the EU country you are moving to. To do so, contact the ENIC/NARIC centre in the country where you would like your diplomas assessed for "comparability". This could be your home country if you return home after your studies, or another EU country if you move there for work or further study.
Also EURAXESS provides comprehensive support to researchers navigating the recognition process
Recognition of professional qualifications
In many EU countries, working as a researcher does not require formal recognition of your qualifications, as the profession is generally not regulated. However, employers may still wish to assess your qualifications.
National Assistance Centres offer expert guidance on administrative formalities and can confirm whether your profession is subject to regulation in the EU.
Taxation and salary
Understanding how salary, taxation, and social contributions work in your country of employment is key when relocating. Each country has its own system, with different tax rates, income brackets and agreements to avoid double taxation.
EURAXESS helps you navigate this complexity by providing national-level information.
Career development
Building a sustainable and fulfilling research career takes planning, reflection, and the right support.
Discover tailored tools, resources, and guidance designed to support you at every stage of your journey — including personalised assistance from EURAXESS Career Development Centres across Europe.
Intellectual Property Rights
Protecting your ideas, inventions, and creative work is essential when conducting research or launching innovations in Europe. Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) ensure that your results and creations are legally safeguarded across EU countries. From patents and copyrights to trademarks and designs, IPR frameworks help foster innovation, reward creativity and support cross-border collaboration.
Whether you’re an individual researcher, academic or part of a public or private institution, understanding your rights and obligations is key to working confidently and securely within the European research and innovation ecosystem.
Unemployment
If you become unemployed while working in an EU country, you may still be entitled to unemployment benefits, even if you’ve previously worked in other EU, EEA countries or Switzerland.
Thanks to EU social security coordination rules, your insurance periods, work history, or residence in different countries can be taken into account when assessing your eligibility.
It's important to register with the relevant employment services and follow national procedures.
Retiring in Europe
If you're working in Europe as a mobile researcher, it's important to understand how your pension rights are protected across borders. The EU coordinates national pension systems to ensure that your contributions in one country count when you retire in another. Whether you're planning your long-term future or nearing retirement, staying informed helps you make the most of your entitlements.
To further support researchers in managing their pensions while moving between countries and employers, the RESAVER pension scheme offers a portable, cross-border solution tailored to the research community. It allows you to maintain and build up pension rights throughout your European career.
Understand your EU pension rights