Skip to Content

Changing jobs

The grounds for your residence permit determine the amount of work you are allowed to do, the field in which you may work and the duties you are allowed to perform. If you have an unrestricted right to work, you may change jobs freely. Read below about when you can change jobs freely and when there are restrictions involved.

If you are about to change jobs but do not know if you need to apply for a new residence permit, you can use the Application Finder to find out.

Changing jobs when you have a residence permit for an employed person ('TTOL')

Changing jobs when you have some other work-based residence permit than the 'TTOL' permit

If you have been granted a residence permit for a specific task, such as a residence permit for a specialist, and you wish to start doing similar work for another employer, a new residence permit is usually not required. In that case, you may change jobs if your residence permit is valid and your new work is similar to the work for which your permit was granted. However, you are usually required to apply for a new permit on the basis of your new work if your job description changes. In that case, you are not allowed to start in the new job before you have a new residence permit. 

If you have been granted a residence permit for a specific task in the service of a specific employer but you want to change jobs, you are usually required to apply for a new residence permit. In that case, your right to work in the new job begins only after you have been granted a new residence permit. One example of situations in which this is required is if you have a residence permit on the basis of intra-corporate transfer.

If you have a seasonal work permit and you wish to start working for a new employer, see the page New employer.

Changing jobs when you have some other residence permit