Portuguese Blue Card

The Portugal Blue Card program starts on September 9th, 2012! If you're not familiar with Portugal, you should check it out as it's lovely. I proposed to my fiancée, now wife, at the Castle of São Jorge overlooking Lisbon, so naturally I have a soft spot for this place.

To qualify for the Portuguese Blue Card, you must:

Rua Augusta Lisboa (I've been there and it's lovely)
Photo by Osvaldo Gago

• Have a minimum one-year employment offer or contract
• Have a university degree of five years experience in your field
• Be offered a salary of at least one and a half times the national average (around €2000 per month)
• Have health insurance or be registered in their national health system
• Must not be registered with the Portuguese Social Security system
• Have a diploma or other proof of qualifications if it's an unregulated profession
• Provide proof of certification if it is a regulated profession

In other words, the barrier's fairly low.

Note that the Portuguese Blue Card is not available for family members of EU citizens.

Remember that the EU Blue Card will eventually give you permanent residency in Europe. Read up on the Blue Card and find out what it can do for you.

Read the complete list of Overseas Exile European Blue Card summaries here.

"We Don't Pay for Relocation"

In last Friday's post, I wrote about dealing with the dreaded "We Don't Sponsor Work Permits" objection. However, I mentioned that this is actually one of two of the most common objections. The other is: we don't pay relocation costs. This is a killer for many potential employees. If the foreign firm is very experienced in recruiting internationally, then yes, they'll have some sort of relocation package. Otherwise, you might be looking at spending thousands of dollars/euros/whatever just to take a job. So how do you get over this hurdle?

In part 5 of my work permit series, Salary Negotiation, I wrote:

If you get this far, the actual employment contract will need some form of relocation assistance. To guarantee my job in Nottingham, while I did receive a very nice salary, I also offered to pay for my own transportation to the UK. Generally, the employer will pay for your flight and the cost (if any) of moving your goods. If you've offered to pay to secure the job, so be it (don't offer to pay unless you absolutely have to).

The short-stay apartment the
Nottingham company put me up in

Got that? As you saw from my last post, I told my new company how to hire me. With today's post, I explain that I even offered to help cover some of the relocation costs. Fortunately, the company in Nottingham put me up in a short stay apartment while I looked for a place to live.

So how to overcome the "we won't pay" hurdle. First, you need to be sure to isolate the objection. This is a technique from sales designed to help you understand what the potential customers is really saying. In this case, we'll hope you have a slightly less adversarial position than in a sales call, but it's still possible that the other person on the end of the line is making an excuse and doesn't want to tell you they think you'll ask for too much money, or they're unsure that you really have they skills they need. By isolating the objection what you're looking for is an agreement that if relocation costs were not an issue, you would have a job offer. It makes no sense to try to solve this problem if there are others lurking.

So how do we solve this problem? First, go back and read Count von Europe (yes, again!). Clear anything out of your way which might make moving abroad more difficult or expensive. If you've come this far in the interview process, you don't want to fall down now.

Now that you've established that "we don't pay for relocation" is the only obstacle, your appropriate follow up question is "why?"

There are a variety of reason why they may not offer to pay relocation. The simplest is that they've never thought of it: a company that is not used to sponsoring foreign workers may not have considered how difficult it is for you to just pick up and move thousands of miles away. Once they think about that, if you've paired your worldly goods down to a couple of suitcases instead of an entire household full of stuff, you're going to be a lot less expensive to move over.

The kitchen from my first flat in the UK.

Keep in mind that companies have budgets and just because the company as a whole can afford to pay your way doesn't mean that your potential boss has the budget to pay for your relocation, so the hiring manager may not be keen to blow his department budget paying for your dreams. So ask for a loan. Seriously, some companies will consider something like this. The money would be deducted from your paychecks over time, minimizing the company's costs. If they really want you, this is an option that just might work.

If they still can't/won't pay, it could be that they can't afford it. Smaller companies work on tight budgets and yes, that's scary for you if you're moving abroad, but you didn't come this far to turn away at the slightest risk, right? You might simply offer to pay your own way. If you do this, explain to them that you'll still need logistical supports when you land in their country. More to the point: you'll need a place to live. One gentleman I knew who was moving to London had a friend he could stay with, but you may not have that option.

So that's the basics of what we're looking at:

• Find out if "we don't pay for relocation" is the real objection
• If it is, find out the reason they don't pay
• Think of creative solutions to the problem

Getting a job in a foreign country is hard for most of us and creativity may be required here. Don't take "no" for an answer: find out what their real problem is and try to solve it for them. If you show determination, that might even get them thinking about about more than "no".

Do you have any creative solutions? I'm sure plenty of people would love to hear them.

"We Don't Sponsor Work Permits"

Personal note: this blog has now reached a quarter million pageviews!

Venezuela Carnaval. Gosh, why would
anyone want to live here?
Photo by Carnaval.com Studios

It's a common lament: "I keep applying for international jobs but they turn me down because they won't pay relocation or they don't sponsor work permits." You can apply for international positions for months on end and if you have the skills for a job, these are the two biggest objections you will face. If you get a phone interview with your dream job in Venezuela, questions about relocation costs or work permits will often cause the interview to come to a swift end.

Not paying relocation is a bit of a strange issue because many hiring managers are apparently bad at math: if you can't find anyone and must import a worker, it will often cost you less to pay a small amount for their relocation than to do without a critical skill your company needs (there are many caveats to this and if you're on the hiring side, you know what I mean).

However, "we don't sponsor work permits" is a bit spurious. Companies seldom have this written down in their playbook. Like all objections, to overcome this objection you have to know the real reason for it. What the interviewer is usually saying is "I don't know how this process works and it makes me feel uncomfortable." That's actually a perfectly natural response, so your job is to say "actually, it's really simple to sponsor someone and I'll happily walk your HR people through it."

In my work permit series I lay out a step-by-step plan on how to land that job in a foreign country. In part four I wrote:

This is why you've spent so much time learning exactly how the country's work permit system is structured. When the company in Nottingham wanted to hire me, they were concerned that it would be difficult. I assured them that it wasn't and briefly outlined the process. Then I asked for contact information in the company to whom I should be sending links to explain the process in more detail. I told them where to download forms, what fees they would be paying and what papers they would need to provide. In short, I told my employer how to hire me.

See that? I had (almost) the same objection as many people get, but I overcame it by explaining how the process works. You'll need to tailor this to the country you're trying to get work in, but I'll explain the UK system so you can get a feel for the information you need to give a company.

London is awesome
Photo by Tim Morris

First, work permits are no longer issued in the United Kingdom. Instead, there is a points scheme that each non-EU worker needs to go through. There's also an immigration cap of just over 20,000 people on non-intracompany transfers, so the earlier in the year a company tries to hire an expat, the better.

For a company to hire a non-EU worker, they need to become a licensed sponsor. It's not much different from how it used to be: fill out some paperwork to prove you're a real company, pay a fee, get your license.

Tier	Fee for small sponsors or sponsors with charitable status	Fee for medium or large sponsors
Tier 2 only	£310	£1,025
Tier 2 and Tier 4	£410	£1,025
Tier 2 and Tier 5	£410	£1,025
Tier 2 and Tier 4 and Tier 5	£410	£1,025
Tier 4 only	£410	£410
Tier 4 and Tier 5	£410	£410
Tier 5 only	£410	£410

Check here to determine if you're a small sponsor and check here for full policy guidance.

For expats, they generally need to score enough points as a Tier 2 worker. The company needs to make them a job offer and provide them with a number called a Certificate of Sponsorship (new rules starting April 6th, 2012).

The applicant is then submitted to the Home Office and they're approved, they apply for entry clearance and fly over to become an expat!

So it's not too hard to do. The company needs to apply to be a sponsor and, when approved, needs to provide you with a Certificate of Sponsorship number. It's that easy. Yes, there's more work involved, but it's on your end. You need to verify that you qualify as a Tier 2 worker and apply for your own entry clearance. These processes take time, but shouldn't scare off a potential employer if you've convinced them you're the right candidate. It's a bit of paperwork, but it's not expensive and if you've made yourself look like an outstanding candidate, being able to explain the above can seal the deal.

Note that one "we don't sponsor" objection is very real: if it's relatively easy for the foreign firm to fill the position, they might not be legally able to hire you as their country's laws probably require them to recruit locally if they can. Or they may be simply disinclined to hire because, hey, why wait months for someone if you can get someone now? If you've gone through my work permit series and buffed your résumé to the point where no local candidate could possibly match what you have on paper, you still might be able to overcome these obstacles. It's hard work, particularly in the current economic downturn, but people are still making it happen. You can, too.

See also: We don't pay for relocation.

Moving Abroad with Pets

Today's guest post is about bringing your pets abroad. I've briefly touched on this topic in the comments to Why you'll say "no" to living abroad, but mainly focused on a couple of legal issues. Vivienne Egan describes some practical considerations.

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Moving abroad and bringing the family pets

If you are considering moving abroad – especially if you are relocating the entire family – one thing you might need to consider is your pets. From the much-loved hound to the moggy that pre-dates the children, these family members will need your special consideration.

Who would want to leave these delightful critters behind?
Photo by Scott Granneman

Things you’ll need to think about

• Are you bringing the pets with you? Moving kids overseas can be a difficult thing to negotiate at the best of times; the news that Fido isn’t coming too might be met with dismay from the other family members
• What’s best for the animal? Consider that elderly pets may not appreciate the long journey and unfamiliar new surroundings or climate
• How long are you going to be away for? If it’s only a year or two, perhaps a trusted family member of friend can care for your pets during that time
• Where are you moving? What are the local laws about bringing pets over borders?
• Should you engage a relocation service? This may be best left to the experts, and pet relocation services will ensure all the right paperwork is complete on time for your flight

Facts of pet relocation

• Pets are transported in a secure cargo area in a plane with a ‘sky kennel’. It is dark and temperature controlled area specifically for live animal transport, and they won’t be checked on during that time
• The PETS scheme is designed to stop the spread of rabies and other animals. The UK requires all pets to be transported with registered carriers

Tips for the flight

• Try and give your pet time to get to know its carrier before the flight
• Putting a familiar smelling blanket or toy in the kennel will help your pet settle for the flight
• Give your pet a light meal before flying and leave time for a toilet stop

Settling your pet in abroad

• You will have to check that your new home abroad is suitable for animals – are the fences secure? Is there enough room in the backyard?
• Where is the nearest vet and the nearest pet supply store?
• What’s the pet culture in your new location? Attitudes towards pets might be substantially different from what you’re used to at home

While it may be a lot of fuss to relocate a pet, for devoted pet owners the hassle is ultimately worth it to have a special furry friend to help you in an unfamiliar place.

Have you ever relocated a pet? What tips would you offer?

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Vivienne Egan writes for Now Health International

A Week in Germany

As usual, all pictures can be clicked on to see a larger image.

I spent last week in Germany. The first few days were spent at a conference, but by happy coincidence, my father lives about half an hour away from the conference, so we spent the next couple of days introducing him to his granddaughter.

Torsten picked us up from the airport

The River Main flowing through Frankfurt

A beautiful square in Frankfurt

A metro station entrance

A metro station entrance

A metro station entrance

Having drinks at the Café Everblatt

The first night conference dinner

Our daughter having fun

Not a sign I wanted to see on our elevator

Those were Frankfurt photos, so here's Idstein.

My father, who lives in Idstein

The view from my father's flat

Idstein is a beautiful town

My wife relaxing for a moment with our daughter

More houses in Idstein

Lovely scenery in Idstein

Lovely scenery in Idstein

Lovely scenery in Idstein

Our daughter having fun in a store
When we left, she pulled away and ran back to this

Detail on a fountain in Idstein

My wife and father

My father and myself, relaxing over beers

Idstein at night

My wife really doesn't like her photo taken

A lovely garden in Idstein

My father relaxing in the garden

I really liked this garden

Finally getting my wife to smile for the camera

My week in Germany

I've been in Germany all this week, first speaking at a conference and then visiting my father in Idstein, where I've been introducing my father to his granddaughter.

Your author giving a keynote speech at YAPC::Europe 2012
Photo by Claudio Ramirez

One of the things I love about my profession is that I get to travel to conferences all over the world. At this conference, I was surprised to speak with several readers of my blog and I've learned a few things:

• One reader is thinking about renouncing their US citizenship.
• One reader is in the process of renouncing US citizenship.
• Another reader is afraid to respond to my blog posts unless they can do so anonymously.

For those who wish to renounce their citizenship, it all boils down to one thing: the US is demanding they pay taxes but offering nothing in return. It's a common refrain I hear.

If you wish to comment anonymously, one of your best options is to download the Tor Browser Bundle. This software can be downloaded to a USB key, if you don't want to install it, and run from there. It allows you to safely and anonymously browse the Internet. Yes, some people use this to do bad things, but others, such as freedom advocates in Iran and China, use this to to communicate with each other safely.

Please note that Tor makes your internet life much more anonymous, but to truly get anonymity, you should read the Tor Web site carefully. It will explain what Tor is and how you can use it to be safe. For normal Web browsing, you don't have much to worry about (as long as you have Javascript turned off). However, if you start using "advanced" features, there are caveats you will want to know about.

There are ways of compromising Tor security, so don't take it for granted. However, they don't appear to be commonly used.

Immigrating to Israel

Note: I'm in Germany for a week, so my posting schedule might be disrupted.

If I found a way for you to legally immigrate to Somalia, would I post it here?

Absolutely.

Do I think it's a good idea for you to immigrate to Somalia? No. Would I encourage it? No. But I don't think it's my right to decide for you where you should or should not move to. Thus, I expect that while some people might have issues with those moving to Israel, particularly under the procedure I'm about to explain, I'm going to post this information, too. The history of Israel is long and complex and I've noticed that those who take sides both for and against Israel often fail to note the history. It's a long, sad story of tit-for-tat reprisals where both the origins and present day reality are often ignored in favor of contradictory views on what people think is "right".

Also, I have friends in Israel and they describe a different situation than what you hear in the news, but I'm sure you're not surprised by that.

Theodor Herzl, father of modern Zionism

Normally, it's not easy to move to another country, but if you are Jewish, you can immigrate to Israel under the Law of Return. From the Wikipedia article:

The Law of Return (Hebrew: חוק השבות, ḥok ha-shvūt) is Israeli legislation, passed on 5 July 1950, that gives Jews the right of return and settlement in Israel and gain citizenship. In 1970, the right of entry and settlement was extended to people of Jewish ancestry, and their spouses.

The steps to become an Israeli citizen under this process are as follows:

• You must be a Jew, the spouse of, the child of, or grandchild of a Jew.
• You must apply for an Oleh (Jewish person seeking to immigrate to Israel) visa.
• At the expiry of 90 days after your entry to Israel (you don't need to remain), you will automatically be offered Israeli citizenship.
• If you reject citizenship, you will remain an Oleh and have permanent residency.

You may apply for that visa either before or during your trip to Israel. Rejecting the citizenship may seem strange, but it allows Jews who would otherwise be forced to give up their previous citizenship to still live in Israel.

For the purpose of the applying the Right of Return, a "Jew"" is defined as anyone who was born to a Jewish mother or has been converted to Judaism, and is not a member of another faith.

Note that the Law of Return is extremely controversial, even among Israeli Jews, and many "returning" Jews are offered property in West Bank land that some claim is not part of Israel.


If you're not familiar with the extensive history of the Israeli/Palestinian conflict, be aware that there is right and wrong on both sides. If you have friends in Israel, I would strongly recommend that you talk to them to better understand the pros and cons of this choice. Depending on where you settle, it could be a hard choice indeed.