Over the years, expatriation seems to have become an irreversible trend. Thousands of people worldwide dream of moving abroad, whether for new professional opportunities or simply to enjoy a better lifestyle. While European Union countries, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, the USA, Canada and Australia remain the top destinations for expatriation, there are certain admissibility criteria to be met.
What is selective immigration?
Many countries have introduced selective immigration policies that qualify immigrants based on their academic qualifications, professional and language skills, etc. In most cases, expatriates also have to prove that they are in good health and have sufficient means to support themselves during their stay in the host country. Thus, selective migration allows countries to choose their migrants according to their contribution to the national economy.
Before granting visas and work permits, authorities also assess expatriates on their ease of their professional and social integration. Migrants need to have high profiles with specific technical skills that are not available locally, and previous international work experience can be a valuable asset.
The most selective countries
Europe and North America are concrete examples of selective immigration policies. The European Blue Card, greatly facilitates the entry of highly qualified professionals into several countries, such as France and Germany. Non-European diploma holders are eligible to the Blue Card that entitles them to an employment contract with at least one year duration, and can only perform the activity for which the card has been issued. Beyond the three years' validity of the card, the cardholder can then choose a profession of his choice.
Canada is known for having a more stringent immigration policy. Expatriates need to have the required qualifications and skills before moving to Canada, and confirm that their particular skills are recognized in the province where they will be living. Canadian immigration services have set up an online interactive tool allowing potential candidates to assess their admissibility criteria before proceeding any further. While some professions are not accessible to expatriates, potential employers have to obtain a labor market opinion before being able to hire foreign candidates.
Meeting the labor market's needs
The US immigration policy is rather similar to that of Canada, as each visa is also adapted to an occupational category and employers have to obtain an official authorization from the immigration department to hire expatriates. So, if you wish to work in the USA, you must have exceptional skills that cannot be found in the country.
Another top destination for expatriates, Australia, has a migration policy that focuses on its labor market's needs, and employers prefer to hire locals and permanent residents rather than expatriates. Indeed, Australia has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the world. In fact, Australia's Skilled Occupations List is updated every year with the professions that are open to foreigners. It is therefore possible to determine well in advance whether you can fit into the local labor market.
Reducing the expat worker population
Faced to its growing expatriate population, China has also recently introduced a new pilot point based system. Expatriate workers are classified according to their qualifications, skills, experience, age, and language skills, and they will only be admitted in provinces with lack of quality manpower.
Middle East countries, such as the United Arab Emirates, Oman, and Kuwait, have started a nationalization process aiming at reducing the number of foreign workers while providing more jobs for locals.
Selective migration policies can have both positive and negative impacts on labor markets. While in many cases, moving abroad could mean having better career prospects and a better salary for many, others may have to settle for jobs that do not match with their profile. So, when considering to move abroad, expatriates should think about the regulations of their host country, their professional development and the social challenges they may face.
