Romania,France,Germany:Immigration update

ROMANIA: New Minimum Salary for 2021

Effective 1 January 2021, the minimum gross monthly salary is increased from RON 2230 to RON 2300.

This affects employees occupying positions that do not require university studies, and do not have at least one year working experience, as well as their dependents. This includes foreign workers, including standard employees, assignees and EU ICT transferees.

For employees occupying positions that do require university studies, as well as at least one year working experience in positions that require university studies, the minimum gross salary will remain RON 2350 per month.

Highly skilled workers must be paid twice the medium gross salary, which is now RON 5429 x2 = RON 10,858.

The required means of support for family members is the minimum gross salary for each family member.

FRANCE: 2021 National Minimum Salary Published

Effective 1 January 2021, the French government has increased the minimum legal monthly salary requirement (SMIC) to EUR 18,655 per year.

The SMIC is the minimum legal salary for all workers in France. A change to the SMIC affects minimum salary thresholds for some types of work permit:

• Passeport Talent – Salarié En Mission: EUR 33,579;
• Passeport Talent – Salarié Qualifié: EUR 37,310;

There is no change to the salary threshold for the “EU Blue Card” version of the Passeport Talent, as this is not calculated according to the SMIC.

The SMIC increases every year in France. It is fixed as an hourly rate, with the monthly rate calculated assuming a 35-hour week (which is the general working week in France, although this may vary).

Note that salary specifications of the French company’s bargaining agreement also have to be taken into consideration.

GERMANY: British Citizens Treated as Privileged Nationals

Effective 1 January 2021, the German government has included UK nationals who are not covered by the Withdrawal Agreement in the category of privileged nationals for employment purposes under Section 26, Paragraph 1 of the Employment Regulations (alongside nationals of Australia, Canada, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea and the United States).

This allows additional immigration options for UK nationals, including a residence permit for work which allows local employment in Germany by a German employer and assignment to a German entity (including assignment directly to a German client or customer).

If you have any further inquiries regarding the applicability of this information, please contact Visa Lounge at info@visalounge.com.au