The European Commission has officially launched legal action against 17 member states for failing to properly incorporate the revised single permit directive into their national legislation. The deadline for this transposition was set for May 21, 2026. The countries currently facing these proceedings are Belgium, Bulgaria, Germany, France, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Hungary, Malta, the Netherlands, Austria, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Finland, and Sweden.
This directive, originally adopted in 2011 and updated in 2024, creates a combined procedure allowing third-country nationals to obtain both a work and residence permit through a single application. These revisions were designed to make the European Union a more attractive destination for non-EU workers. According to Eurostat, over 4.6 million non-EU citizens secured the right to live and work in the bloc via this procedure in 2024.
The updated rules introduce several changes, including the ability to apply for a permit from a third country or from within the EU if the applicant already holds a valid residence permit. Additionally, the timeframe for national authorities to process these applications has been reduced from 120 days to 90 days. The directive does not apply to Denmark and Ireland due to their opt-out status regarding EU justice and migration policies.
As part of the formal legal process, the Commission has issued letters of formal notice to the 17 nations, requiring them to respond within two months to confirm the implementation of the updated rules. Failure to comply could eventually lead to the countries being referred to the EU Court of Justice.
Isabelle Barthès, deputy general secretary of the trade union federation IndustriALL, expressed concern regarding the delay. While she described the legislation as vital for addressing skill shortages, she emphasized the need to ensure fair working conditions for third-country nationals to prevent exploitation and employer dependency. Barthès noted that the lack of urgency from these member states suggests that the directive is not currently viewed as a top priority.
