Work authorization
Work authorization is the legal right or permission to work in a particular country under the conditions that apply to you.
That right can arise from citizenship, immigration status or a specific permit. It may be limited by employer, occupation, location or time. When an application asks whether you are authorised to work, answer for the country and role concerned. A separate question about future sponsorship may address what happens when your current permission ends or your circumstances change.
Rules differ across borders. EU nationals generally do not need a work permit to work in another EU country. Canada's employer-specific work permits, by contrast, allow work under stated conditions, including the named employer and period of permission. These examples do not determine an individual's eligibility elsewhere. Check the current official guidance and your own documents, especially before changing employers or taking a second job. Ask the hiring team what evidence it needs and how to provide it securely.
Example
A candidate with a Canadian employer-specific permit receives another offer. They check what permission is needed for the new employer before agreeing to start work.
What to check
- Check the country, scope and expiry date.
- Review restrictions before changing work.
- Separate current permission from future sponsorship needs.