EU Single Permit

Directive 2011/98/EU (recast by (EU) 2024/1233) sets a single application procedure that produces one combined work + residence permit. It does not create a new substantive category — the underlying labour-market rules (salary, qualifications, labour-market test) remain national — but Art. 5(2) caps the decision deadline at 4 months from a complete application. Excluded categories include seasonal workers, ICTs, Blue Card holders, long-term residents and a few others governed by their own directives.