Latest news with #non-EEA
Local Spain
22-05-2025
- Automotive
- Local Spain
Spain to allow foreign driving licence exchange to be done online
Residents in Spain will soon be able to validate their foreign driving licences online, avoiding the painstaking process of doing the documentation via Spain's Dirección General de Tráfico (DGT) offices when wanting to register, validate or/and exchange them. The digitalisation of the process is intended to speed up bureaucratic backlogs and a lack of available in-person appointments. As is sometimes the case with Spanish administration, especially with residency matters, as reported by The Local, even getting an appointment at the DGT can be difficult enough. In recent months, the issue has become so severe that Spanish daily El País has described it as 'an almost impossible mission'. In addition to the few appointments that are available, these tend to be taken by private companies or individuals who block book them. A lack of DGT staff working in the branch also contributes to the scarcity of physical appointments. This means that basic DGT procedures can take weeks or even months. The body acknowledges that validating foreign driving licences is among 'the most complex procedures' that exist. The exchange process can be long and frustrating. First, prior verification by the issuing authority is required. Then there is a medical examination, proof of residence in Spain and, in the case of driving professionals, an aptitude test. This includes several documents and often several trips to the DGT office. The online system is intended to speed up this process, but the streamlined telemática validation service can only be used with drivers from countries with which a bilateral agreement on reciprocal recognition and exchange of driving licences has been signed. The DGT breaks down the relevant countries on its website, but these include non-EEA states such as: Andorra, Argentina, Algeria, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, the Philippines, Georgia, Guatemala, Honduras, Macedonia, Morocco, Moldavia, Nicaragua, New Zealand, the UK, Panama, Paraguay, Serbia, South Korea, Tunisia and Turkey. Drivers with licences from all other non-EU nations have to resit their driving exam (theory and practical) after six months of residency in Spain. Those with licences from the EU and the EEA are allowed to drive in Spain with their current licences, as long as they have not expired. If your licence doesn't expire in less than 15 years, you can carry on using your EU licence, but are also free to exchange it any time you want. According to the DGT, this process is voluntary. When you want to exchange your licence for a Spanish one or if it expires, you can do so through the DGT in a process called renovación del permiso comunitario. When doing the online application, the DGT will ask for all the relevant documents and applicants need only go to the nearest provincial DGT headquarters to hand in their original licence (which must be valid) and to pick up a provisional driving licence. The approved licence will later be sent to your home address by post. In order to access the DGT's so-called ' Electronic Headquarters ', users must be registered in Cl@ve system or have a digital certificate. Applicants must indicate which class of licence they want to exchange. If they opt for a lorry or bus licence, additional tests must be taken, depending on the country. Note that if the driving licence to be exchanged was issued by Algeria, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, the Philippines, Georgia, Guatemala, Honduras, Macedonia, Morocco, Moldavia, Nicaragua, New Zealand, Panama, Paraguay, the Dominican Republic, Serbia, Tunisia or Turkey, before exchanging the licence, a prior verification of the licence is requested from the country that issued it and only when the relevant issuing body responds can the online exchange application process continue. Once the issuing country has replied to the verification request, the applicant will receive an email informing them whether the request has been rejected or accepted. If it has been accepted, a 'locator' will be provided to continue with the exchange request. 'The country's response includes the date the licence was obtained, the expiry date and the renewal date of the licence being exchanged,' the DGT said in a statement. In the event that an applicant holds a licence from the countries that do not require a locator to be provided prior to the application (Argentina, Andorra, United Kingdom, Peru, Ukraine, Uruguay, Japan, Switzerland, Korea and Monaco) the system will move directly to the exchange request.
Local Norway
02-05-2025
- Business
- Local Norway
Norway's immigration directorate updates salary thresholds for work permits
The Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI) requires skilled work permit applicants to have received a job offer with pay and working conditions that are in line with what's considered typical in Norway. Skilled worker permits are available for non-EEA nationals who have a university degree, have completed vocational training of at least three years at upper-secondary school level, or have special qualifications acquired through long professional experience. Prospective employees who will be working in an industry with a collective bargaining agreement must be paid the collective wage rate. Meanwhile, those working in an industry with no collective bargaining agreement must earn at least 469,366 kroner per year pre-tax if they hold a bachelor's degree. In some cases it may be possible to earn a salary less than this if the applicant or employer can document that it is the norm for the industry. For reference, the average annual salary in Norway is 704,700 kroner per year, according to figures from the national data agency Statistics Norway . Those with a master's degree will be subject to a higher wage requirement and will need to earn at least 513,100 kroner per year pre-tax unless they can prove a lower salary than is typical for the role. The updated earnings requirements were effective immediately upon their introduction on April 11th. Advertisement When applying for a skilled work permit, the applicant's vocational training or higher education needs to be relevant to the job they are applying for. They must also have a job offer before applying for a permit, and the role must be a full-time position or 37.5 hours per week. The UDI will also grant work permits to those who have been offered positions equivalent to 80 percent of full-time hours. Some workers must also have their qualifications officially recognised and authorised in Norway. READ ALSO: What foreign workers in Norway should know about regulated professions
Irish Daily Mirror
25-04-2025
- General
- Irish Daily Mirror
Number of people homeless in March reaches another record high
The number of people classified as homeless in Ireland reached yet another record high last month. The March homelessness report, published by the Department of Housing, stated there were 15,418 homeless. This included 4,675 children, up 22 from last month's figures. Figures for February revealed that 15,378 people, including 4,653 children, were in emergency housing. The figures do not include people sleeping rough or on the streets, couch-surfing or those in domestic violence refuges. Unaccommodated asylum seekers are also not included in these figures. The highest number of homeless adults was in Dublin, where 7,537 (70 per cent) people were in emergency accommodation in March. There were 1,536 homeless families in Dublin. In total, there were 2,212 homeless families in emergency accommodation last month. Some 52 per cent of homeless adults were Irish, while 21.1% were EEA/UK. Another 26.9% were non-EEA. The Department of Housing also published the Homeless Quarterly Progress Report for the first quarter of 2025. It noted that the number of people accessing emergency accommodation at the end of the first quarter of 2025 was up 11.2% compared to the same period last year. There were 2,212 families accessing emergency accommodation at the end of Quarter 1 2025, an increase of 120 families (5.7%) compared to the end of 2024 and an increase of 231 families (11.7%) on the total recorded at the end of quarter one 2024. During the first three months of 2025, some 642 households, which included 850 adults and 369 families, were prevented from entering emergency accommodation by way of a tenancy being created. This represents a decrease of 48.5% on the number of adults prevented from entering emergency accommodation in Quarter 4 2024, and a decrease of 36.3% on Q1 2024. Some 628 households, including 796 adults and 277 families, exited emergency accommodation by creating a tenancy. This is a decrease of 14.2% on the number of households exiting in Quarter 4 2024, and a decrease of 3.8% on Q1 2024. The most common reason for presenting for emergency accommodation was a relationship breakdown (345 households), followed by 344 households who received a notice of termination for a private rental property. Some 97 households were in emergency accommodation because they had left Direct Provision in the last six months, while 71 households were newly arrived to Ireland. Some 126 households were homeless because of 'leaving an institution', such as care, a hospital, prison or refuge. Some 1,148 single-person households and 449 family households have been in emergency accommodation for longer than two years. Ber Grogan, Executive Director of the Simon Communities of Ireland, said it was hard to believe that homelessness in Ireland can be eradicated by 2030. She said: 'This time four years ago, it was reported that 8,060 men, women and children were experiencing homelessness. That number has nearly doubled since then. It's hard to fathom how we can reverse these figures in the next five years without urgent action. "If we're serious about ending homelessness by 2030, we need to start treating it like the crisis it is. Housing and homelessness must become a top priority for Government."
Local Norway
19-03-2025
- Business
- Local Norway
The questions you need to ask yourself before buying a Norwegian holiday home
More and more foreign buyers are snapping up Norwegian cabins , and there are plenty of choices given that there are around 480,000 holiday homes and leisure properties in Norway. These holiday homes aren't just for the wealthy either, and plenty of people find themselves able to afford a small place out in nature – although properties at the higher end of the market do fetch tens of millions of kroner. However, you need to ask yourself several questions to ensure that your dream doesn't become a nightmare. Will you be able to visit it regularly to make the most of it? If you have legal residence in Norway, how often you can visit your cabin depends on your schedule. However, those who don't have residence in Norway will need to be aware that they will be restricted to how often they are able to spend time at their holiday home. Most non-EEA residents will be restricted to the 90/180 day Schengen rules. This allows foreign nationals to stay in the Schengen zone for up to 90 days within any 180 days. Those caught overstaying face being expelled from Norway, difficulties entering the Schengen, and bans on entering Norway. EEA citizens are allowed to stay in Norway for up to three months . However, once they leave, they can return immediately and start a new three-month stay. Are you aware of the taxes and costs involved? Whether you live in Norway or are a non-resident, you will be expected to pay some taxes on your holiday home. Among the taxes you may be required to pay are property taxes, wealth tax, stamp duty and income tax on money made renting the property out. All of these taxes can add up and should be factored into the cost. The Local has put together a guide on the taxes that foreign holiday homeowners must pay, but for more in-depth advice, it'd be best to contact the Norwegian Tax Administration. Advertisement READ ALSO: What taxes do foreign holiday homeowners in Norway pay? Another thing to consider is energy bills. Older cabins will need a lot of energy to stay warm during Norway's notoriously cold winters, and bills have increased significantly in recent years. You also can't get around the bills by disconnecting the water and electricity whilst you aren't at the cabin either, as this could cause serious damage to the property. Have you read the small print? Property in rural parts of Norway is really cheap, especially outside of some of the most popular holiday home destinations. But knock-down prices normally have a lot to do with what's in the small print. Should a charming farmhouse catch your eye, you'll need to be aware that there are rules on the ownership of agricultural properties dating back more than 1,000 years. You'll need to live on the property full-time and use it for its intended purpose, ruling out just using it for weekends. Furthermore, non-agricultural properties may also come with rules that mean you must reside at the property a certain number of days per year, which non-residents will struggle with. Advertisement Finally, a lot of these rural properties will be fixer-uppers. The catch is that you are unlikely to see a return on the money you've invested in getting the property up to scratch. The issues with the home will be included in the condition report . Is it practically viable? Those with a cabin in rural Norway will need a car as public transport can't be relied on, and your property could be tens of kilometres from the nearest bus or train stop. Rentals can be expensive, and buying and running a car as a non-resident could be tricky. On the topic of transport, you'll need to feel comfortable driving in snowy conditions and will need to outfit your car appropriately to deal with the Norwegian winters. Once you arrive, you'll need to consider whether you'll be fit and mobile enough to dig out your driveway in the event of a snowstorm and maintain the property and the garden. Advertisement Homeowners with serious health conditions will need to consider whether they are comfortable being a few hours from the nearest hospital (although every local authority in Norway does something that sits somewhere between an out-of-hours doctor and an emergency room). Navigating Norwegian bureaucracy also isn't for the faint heart. Setting up utility agreements will be a hassle as a non-resident – but it isn't impossible.
Local Norway
24-02-2025
- Business
- Local Norway
Why Norway will only issue ID cards to EEA nationals to begin with
National ID cards were launched for Norwegian citizens in 2020, but plans to allow foreigners to carry them were first unveiled in March 2022. The Norwegian National Police Directorate, responsible for issuing ID cards and passports, previously told The Local that it had planned to open a system for limited applications by the end of 2024. That plan failed to materialise, but the police told The Local recently that more information would be available next month. 'The police are preparing issuance of a national ID card without travel rights to foreign citizens in line with regulations on changes to the passports and national ID cards regulation, announced on August 7th, 2024' Eirik Lyngdal, a senior communications advisor with the directorate, told The Local. More information would be posted on the directorate's website in March, Lyngdal confirmed. He added that initially, the cards would only be available to EU/EEA nationals with a right of residence and a national identification number (fødselsnummer). These numbers are issued by the Norwegian Tax Administration to those expected to reside in Norway for longer than six months. Lyngdal said that it was too soon to confirm when cards for non-EEA nationals could be launched. 'It is still too early to state when the national ID card without travel rights for non-EEA/EFTA citizens will be available. We are in the process of creating a more detailed plan. Once this has been clarified, information will be made available,' he said. The police directorate is only initially offering the cards to EEA nationals to ensure that the service works well when offered to those from outside the EU/EEA. 'A controlled start-up will provide an experience that ensures a proven and good service when issuance of national ID cards is offered to foreign citizens who are not EEA/EFTA citizens,' Lyngdal said. The ID cards will be optional when rolled out and cost 800 kroner. The cards contain the holder's name, personal identification number and photo. ID cards offer holders an alternative form of ID to a driver's licence or passport. Financial institutions in Norway used to provide bank cards that could act as IDs, although this was phased out a few years ago. Norwegian citizens can use the ID cards to travel within the EU/EEA area, although this won't be an option for foreign residents. Norway's police directorate recently launched a survey, which can be taken in Norwegian and English, asking foreigners for their input on the cards. You can take part in the survey here.
