EU proposes easier qualification checks for foreign workers

The European Commission on September 15, 2026 proposed five legislative measures to help employers recruit foreign workers by simplifying qualification recognition and reducing administrative delays. The proposals do not automatically grant foreign nationals permission to work in Europe or introduce a universal work visa.

What the package covers

The measures form part of the Fair Labour Mobility Package. They cover professional qualifications, social security documentation and enforcement of labour laws. The Commission wants common procedures for recognising qualifications obtained outside the EU, so employers can assess foreign applicants more easily.

Workers currently face different national recognition systems, with paperwork, additional fees and repeated checks. The proposed framework would introduce a common digital entry point and clearer deadlines. The Commission says recognition procedures could take no more than 11 weeks, while certain procedures for regulated professions could be completed within five weeks.

The initiative also proposes digital qualifications that employers can verify more easily and a tool to compare qualifications obtained in different countries. Recognition requirements will still depend on the profession and applicable national rules. The Commission also proposes automatic recognition for certain qualifications that meet EU training standards and additional conditions.

Social security and labour enforcement

The package includes a proposed European Social Security Pass to make it easier for workers to prove social security and health insurance rights when moving between EU countries. Documents would gradually become available in digital formats, reducing paperwork for employees, businesses and public authorities. The Commission expects digitalisation to make cross-border employment administration more efficient and help authorities detect fraud and enforce workers rights.

Another proposal would strengthen the European Labour Authority’s ability to support national authorities in enforcing labour laws and coordinating cross-border inspections. The aim is to improve compliance and prevent businesses from gaining an unfair advantage through the exploitation of workers.

The proposals must go through the EU legislative process before taking effect. Individual countries will retain authority over admission to their territories and the standards required to practise regulated professions. Applicants will still need to meet the relevant immigration, employment and professional licensing requirements in their destination countries.

What it means for Nigerian workers

For employers, the proposals could reduce recruitment delays and simplify the verification of professional qualifications. For foreign workers, they could provide clearer procedures for having skills assessed. Nigerian professionals considering Europe may see a clearer process, but there is no automatic right to work.

Separately, the British High Commission (BHC) introduced electronic visas for two groups of visa applications. Nigerians applying for study visas or work visas from July 15, 2025 will no longer be given a physical visa sticker (vignette) in their passports. Successful applicants will get an electronic visa as the UK government moves to a modern digital immigration system.