Employment and migration5-minute read
Work permits for foreign employees: the papers and the real timings
Most of the time goes not on the application but on papers from abroad. Completing the list on day one saves two weeks.
AuthorNigar AsgarovaAssociate
Companies hiring a foreign specialist usually brace themselves for the wait on the permit itself. In our experience most of the time goes before the application, waiting for papers from abroad.
The papers we ask for on day one
- A copy of the passport, valid for at least 6 more months
- The diploma and proof of work experience, apostilled
- A medical certificate
- A criminal record certificate from the home country, apostilled
- The draft employment contract the company will sign
The list can change with the country and the job, so we send the final list in writing once we know both. In some countries an apostille takes a few days, in others more than a month.
Timings in our work
Once the papers are complete, a permit usually comes through in 4–6 weeks. In 2026 we obtained permits for 46 engineers in 7 weeks by filing in four batches. Rules and timings can change, so talk to a lawyer about your own case.
This article is general information, not legal advice. Law and practice can change.
