Mobility
The EU Talent Pool is law. What happens next?
Regulation (EU) 2026/1047 creates an EU-wide platform matching employers with jobseekers outside the EU. It is a matching tool, not a visa.
What was adopted
The Commission proposed the Talent Pool in November 2023. The European Parliament adopted its position in March 2026 and the regulation was formally adopted on 29 April 2026.
It creates a digital platform where:
- people living outside the EU register their skills and experience
- employers in participating EU countries search for candidates in shortage occupations
- national authorities can add support, such as information on permits
Three things to understand
- It is voluntary for EU countries. Only participating countries will use it.
- It does not create a permit. Candidates still go through national visa and work permit procedures, including salary and recognition rules.
- Fees charged to jobseekers are prohibited. Anyone charging to "register you" is breaking the rules.
What Indian jobseekers should do
- Get your qualification assessed in your preferred country
- Reach a recognised language level
- Describe your skills using standard European occupation names
- Keep certificates and experience letters ready in digital form
The platform will roll out in stages. We will publish a step-by-step guide when registration opens.
Read next
- The EU Talent PoolA new EU job-matching site for people outside Europe. Useful, but not a visa.
- Hiring fairlyThe employer pays, never the worker. It protects your company as much as the candidate.
- The jobs Europe can't fill, in numbersThe EURES network reports shortages in all 31 countries it covers. The occupations that appear most often, and what that means for Indian professionals.
