European Work Visa · Skilled Trades

Work in Europe —
Are You Ready?

A clear, honest pathway to Europe for skilled tradespeople — electricians, mechanics, welders, and construction workers. Answer 5 questions and find out where you stand.

Scroll down to check your readiness

European Work Readiness Check Step 1 of 5

What is your main trade or profession?

Do you hold a trade qualification or certificate?

How comfortable are you reading and writing in English?

Can you access around £800–£900 for the application process?

This covers GVJ service fees. Government visa fees vary by destination and are not included.

When are you aiming to be working in Europe?

Your Readiness Result

Based on your answers

How It Works

Work in Europe — The Route

GVJ helps West African tradespeople prepare for employer-sponsored work visa routes to Europe, including full document preparation and profile readiness for Type D national visa applications. We are actively building partnerships with employers and agencies across several European countries, including Poland, to expand direct placement options.

Skilled Trades Focus

Electricians, mechanics, welders, plumbers, and construction workers are among the trade profiles European employers — including those in Poland — have historically sought from outside the EU.

Employer-Sponsored

Under an employer-sponsored route, a licensed recruitment agency matches candidates to employers, who file the work permit through the relevant national labour authority. GVJ prepares your profile so you are ready for this process when a placement partner is confirmed.

Up to 3 Years

The Type D national visa can be issued for up to 3 years and renewed in-country — no repeated visa applications each year.

Schengen Travel

A Type D national visa issued by a Schengen member country also grants 90 days of travel across the wider Schengen zone — 27 countries on one work visa.

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Route in Focus

European Type D Work Visa Route

The Type D is a national long-stay work visa offered by several European countries for skilled non-EU workers. Unlike a Schengen tourist visa, it is specifically for employment and can be issued for up to 3 years. GVJ is currently developing placement partnerships across European countries for this route — the process begins before you arrive, as the employer must first secure a work permit, which is used to support your visa application at the relevant embassy in your home country.

Key Facts

Visa Type

National (Type D)

Visa Validity

Up to 3 years

Consulate Fee

Varies by country

After Work Permit

2–4 weeks

Schengen Access

Yes (90 days)

Renewable

Yes, in-country

Documents Required

Valid passport (minimum 6 months beyond intended stay)
Work permit issued by the relevant national labour authority
Signed employment contract or confirmed job offer letter
Proof of accommodation at your destination
Travel health insurance (minimum €30,000 Schengen cover)
Proof of sufficient funds (bank statements, 3 months)
Completed visa application form + biometric photos

The 7-Step Process

1

Skills Verified

We confirm you hold the trade qualifications and experience required for the work visa route. If you have experience without a formal certificate, we guide you through a skills verification process first.

2

European-Standard CV Built

We rebuild your CV to European format and produce a skills verification document. This is what licensed recruitment agencies review before agreeing to represent candidates.

3

Agency Reviews Your Profile

Your CV and trade credentials are prepared to the standard required by licensed European recruitment agencies. When a placement partner is confirmed, your profile is submitted for assessment against available employer vacancies.

4

Employer Files Work Permit

Once matched, the employer files your work permit with the relevant national or regional labour authority (in Poland: the Voivodeship office). This typically takes 4–8 weeks depending on the jurisdiction and trade category.

5

Work Permit Approval Received

The approved work permit letter is issued to the employer and shared with you. This document is the foundation of your visa application and must be included with your embassy submission.

6

Type D Visa Application Submitted to Embassy

We prepare your complete visa application pack — work permit letter, financial evidence, accommodation proof, insurance, cover letter — and you submit it at the relevant embassy in your home country. Processing typically takes 2–4 weeks after submission.

7

Visa Issued — Depart for Your Destination

Your Type D national visa is collected from the Embassy. We provide a pre-departure briefing. You travel to your destination country, begin work, and your Type D national visa also allows 90 days of Schengen travel across 27 countries.

Ready to Start?

The first step is a Work Readiness Assessment — £99. We review your trade qualifications, experience, and financial profile, and tell you honestly which step of the process you are at and what is needed next.

Book Assessment — £99
Transparent Pricing

Three Steps. Three Products.

Each service stands on its own. You are never required to commit beyond the step you have paid for.

Step 1

Work Readiness Assessment

£99 one-off

An honest review of your skills, qualifications, experience, English level, and finances. We tell you which countries and visa routes are genuinely realistic for your profile. Delivered within 48 hours.

Book Assessment — £99
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Step 2

European Work Preparation Package

£199 one-off

A European-standard CV rebuild, a skills verification document, a curated list of European recruitment agencies and relevant labour boards to approach once a placement partnership is in place, and a cover letter template ready for agency submission.

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Step 3

Visa Application Support

£250–£350

Once you have a job offer, we handle your complete work visa application — document preparation, checklist, and translation guidance — from work permit coordination through to your Type D visa application at the Embassy.

Get Started — WhatsApp Us

Most clients complete all three steps. You are never required to commit beyond the step you have paid for — each one stands on its own.

Common Questions

Work Visa FAQ

Poland's labour market has documented demand for electricians, plumbers, HVAC engineers, welders, mechanics, automotive technicians, carpenters, and general construction workers. These trades are listed as shortage occupations across several European labour markets, which means work permits are processed faster and there is documented employer demand for qualified candidates. If your trade is not listed here, ask us — the list is broader than most people expect.
A formal trade certificate is strongly preferred by employers and placement agencies. However, hands-on experience without a formal certificate can still qualify through a skills verification process, where your credentials are assessed and formally recognised. This takes additional time but is a recognised pathway. We guide you through this as part of the European Work Preparation Package if needed.
No. Most skilled trade roles in Poland — particularly those filled through international recruitment agencies — are conducted in English at the management and documentation level. On the job site, basic communication is typically handled through bilingual supervisors. Polish language skills are an advantage for longer-term settlement but are not required at the entry stage.
Allow 3–5 months from the Work Readiness Assessment to visa issuance. The longest step is the work permit, which typically takes 4–8 weeks once the employer submits it to the relevant national labour authority (for Poland, this is the regional Voivodeship office). After the work permit is issued, the embassy typically processes the Type D visa within 2–4 weeks. We advise starting as early as possible — the process cannot be meaningfully rushed once it is in the destination government's hands.
Visa consulate fees vary by destination country. For Poland, the Type D national visa fee is approximately €80, paid directly to the relevant embassy in your home country at the time of your appointment — this is not a GVJ fee and is not included in our service prices. GVJ fees cover the assessment, CV rebuild, profile preparation, and visa document preparation. The consulate fee is separate and non-refundable regardless of outcome.
Yes, dependants can typically apply for a family reunification visa once you are legally resident and employed in your destination country (in Poland this process is well-established for Type D visa holders). This is a separate process that begins after you are established there — it is not part of the initial work visa application. If family reunification is a priority for you, mention it at the assessment stage so we can factor the timeline into your planning.
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Ready to Work in Europe?

Take the quiz above or book your Work Visa Assessment now. We respond within 24 hours.

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Global Visa & Journeys Ltd provides visa consultancy and work visa preparation services. General guidance on visa routes is provided for information purposes only and does not constitute regulated immigration advice. For specific immigration legal advice we recommend consulting an OISC registered adviser or qualified solicitor. Registered in England & Wales No. 16959031.