Where to legally go to work in Europe from Central Asia — 2026 and 2027
Updated 1 June 2026 · Checked against official sources (gov.uk, embassies, ministries)
If you have a passport from Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan or Turkmenistan and you are looking for legal work in Europe — here is the short truth:
• The most reliable mass route is the British seasonal visa (farm: picking fruit and vegetables; poultry farms). In 2024 citizens of Central Asia got almost 80% of all such visas. The quota for 2026 is 42,900 places. The exact number for 2027 has not been officially announced yet.
• Italy is the only country that has already announced its quota for 2027 (165,850 places, with Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan on the list).
• Germany — for people who have a profession (nurses, trained workers, engineers, IT). Not for simple seasonal work.
• The main danger is scammers. Real government programs NEVER take money in advance for a "guaranteed visa". Only check on official websites: gov.uk, migration.uz / "Xorijda ish" platform, Uzbekistan hotline 1282.
Main rule: "announced" is not the same as "promised"
On the internet there are many promises "work in Europe for 2027 — sign up now". To avoid losing money, keep this simple difference in mind:
"Announced" — the government has officially written the number and rules (for example on gov.uk or the ministry's website). You can trust this.
"Not yet announced for 2027" — the route exists, but the exact quota or application dates for 2027 have not been published yet. That means no "agent" can guarantee you a place for 2027 — they simply do not know.
As of June 2026 a firm number for 2027 exists only for Italy. For the UK, Poland, Romania, Spain, Greece and others the route is open, but the number for 2027 has not been announced yet.
Quick overview: where you can really go — table
| Country | Route | Open for CA | 2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Seasonal visa (farm, poultry) | Yes — main channel | Quota not announced |
| Italy | Decreto Flussi (seasonal/non-seasonal) | Yes (UZ, KG on lists) | 165,850 — announced |
| Germany | Chancenkarte, Blue Card | Yes — for skilled | No quota |
| Poland | Full work permit | Yes (not oświadczenie) | Not announced |
| Hungary | Guest worker | Only KZ and KG | Not announced |
| Romania | Work permit | Yes | Not announced |
| Czech Republic | Employee Card | Yes | Not announced |
| Spain | GECCO (hiring in country) | In practice almost none | Not announced |
| Greece | Seasonal visa | Formally yes | Not announced |
| EU (general) | EU Blue Card (for specialists) | Yes — need a profession | No quota |
United Kingdom — seasonal visa (the most reliable route)
This is the main legal mass channel for citizens of Central Asia. The visa is called Seasonal Worker visa. With it people go to pick fruit, vegetables and flowers (horticulture, up to 6 months) or work on poultry farms.
In 2024 citizens of Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kazakhstan received almost 80% of all seasonal visas — 27,759 out of 35,561. This is not advertising, it is official UK parliament statistics.
| What you need to know | Number / fact |
|---|---|
| Quota for 2026 | 42,900 (41,000 farm + 1,900 poultry), less than 45,000 in 2025 |
| Quota for 2027 | Not officially announced yet (expected later in 2026) |
| Minimum pay (from April 2026) | £12.71/hour (21+); guarantee of at least 32 paid hours per week |
| Poultry butchers (separate roles) | £15.88/hour |
| Visa fee | £319, from 8 April 2026 — £340; plus up to £80 for biometrics |
| Money in your account (if sponsor does not cover) | about £1,270 |
How to apply — only through operators
Farms cannot hire you directly. Recruitment goes only through licensed operators (companies that the government allows to sponsor workers). There are only a few:
- Farm (horticulture), 5 operators: Agri-HR, Concordia, Fruitful Jobs, HOPS Labour Solutions, Pro-Force.
- Poultry, 2 operators: AG Recruitment and Fruitful Jobs.
Who actually recruits in Central Asia (season 2025): HOPS — Kazakhstan (only those who have already been), Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan (only returnees), Uzbekistan; Agri-HR — Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan; Pro-Force — Kyrgyzstan.
Important: Fruitful Jobs has officially stated that it is NOT recruiting new candidates in Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. If someone "on their behalf" invites you and asks for money — it is a scammer.
The visa application itself is submitted online at gov.uk/seasonal-worker-visa — after the operator has given you a Certificate of Sponsorship. Detailed breakdown of the season on our website →
The "Employer Pays Principle". Neither the operator, nor its agents, nor government partners ever take payment for a place in the program. The only legal payments are the visa fee (£340, paid directly on gov.uk) and up to £80 for biometrics at the visa centre. Any request to "pay for a place" or "guarantee a visa" is fraud.
What about work as a waiter, cook, warehouse worker on a work visa?
Many ask about the Skilled Worker visa. Bad news: from 22 July 2025 the rules became much stricter. Now you need a job at degree level (RQF 6), the salary threshold has been raised to £41,700, and from 8 January 2026 — English at level B2. Jobs like waiter, cook, warehouse worker, general care have been removed from this route.
In simple words: for unskilled work (restaurants, hotels, warehouses) the Skilled Worker visa is effectively closed. Only the seasonal visa (farm/poultry) and work with a degree/profession are realistic. Do not believe promises "we will get you a work visa as a waiter".
Italy — the only country that has already announced its quota for 2027
Italy lets workers in through the Decreto Flussi system (annual quotas for entry for work). The document for 2026–2028 was published on 15 October 2025.
Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan are on the list of countries with reserved quotas for seasonal and non-seasonal work. This is important: not all CA countries are on the list, but these two are.
| Year | Total places | Of which seasonal |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 164,850 | 88,000 (farm and tourism) |
| 2027 | 165,850 | growing |
| 2028 | 166,850 | growing |
Application works like this: the employer in Italy submits a request (nulla osta) on a specific day — "click-day". In 2026 these were 12 January (farm), 9 February (tourism), 16 February (non-seasonal work). Dates for 2027 have not been announced yet — expected around autumn 2026. After approval the worker gets a visa at the consulate.
There are also multi-year seasonal permits for those who have already worked in Italy: 5,000 places in 2026, 6,000 in 2027, 7,000 in 2028.
Germany — for those who have a profession
Germany is the only EU country that has signed a migration agreement specifically with Uzbekistan (15 September 2024). With Kyrgyzstan there is only a declaration of intent so far (a full agreement is being prepared).
But it is important to understand: Germany focuses on skilled people — nurses, trained tradespeople, engineers, IT. Germany has no mass seasonal scheme for simple work for CA citizens.
Chancenkarte ("Opportunity Card") — a residence permit for 1 year to come and look for skilled work. You need at least 6 points (for profession, experience, language — German A1 or English B2, age) and show enough money to live (about €1,091/month). It allows part-time work of up to 20 hours per week while you look for a main job. Check your points on the official website make-it-in-germany.com.
EU Blue Card — for those who have a degree and a contract with a salary above the threshold (in Germany for 2026 — €50,700, for shortage professions and IT — €45,934). A fast route to permanent residence.
More than 2,000 citizens of Uzbekistan are already studying in Germany through vocational training programs (care, construction, trades). The minimum wage in Germany in 2026 is €13.90/hour.
Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania
Poland
Historically — the largest market for people from the former USSR. But the simplified declaration oświadczenie is only available to citizens of Armenia, Belarus, Moldova and Ukraine. Citizens of Central Asia are NOT eligible — you need a full work permit (the employer arranges it through praca.gov.pl).
From December 2025 everything is submitted online only (paper is not accepted), fees have increased. The salary by law must be at least the Polish minimum (about 4,806 zloty per month in 2026). If someone promises you "work in Poland" with much lower pay — it is either a scam or an illegal grey scheme.
Hungary — only for Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan
The Hungarian "guest worker" program (quota 35,000 for 2026) is open to 10 countries, among which are Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. But Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan are NOT on the list. If you have a UZ/TJ/TM passport — this route is not available to you, do not believe promises to the contrary.
Romania
Open to CA citizens. Quota for 2026 — 90,000 permits (less than 100,000 in 2025). From May 2026 — a new digital system (WorkinRomania.gov.ro platform). You cannot come as a tourist and look for work on the spot — first the employer arranges a permit, then you get a visa. Quota for 2027 has not been announced yet.
Czech Republic
The main route is the Employee Card (work + residence permit for up to 2 years). Open to CA citizens; some consulates have quotas for accepting applications. Separate fact: the Czech Republic and Uzbekistan agreed on 150 work visas per year for Uzbek citizens.
Spain, Greece, Portugal — be realistic
These countries are legally open, but in practice there are almost no stable channels for CA citizens — priority is given to other countries.
- Spain (GECCO): hiring in the country of origin, but in practice this is almost only Morocco (81% of contracts), Colombia, Honduras, Ecuador. CA citizens are not among the priority countries.
- Greece: seasonal visa for up to 9 months, quota for 2026 about 94,240. But the main flows are Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Egypt, Albania. There are no established corridors with CA.
- Portugal: seasonal visa E8 (farm, tourism, up to 9 months) — open to third-country nationals if they have a contract. Fee about €75.
Routes for all of Europe (for specialists)
- EU Blue Card — for highly skilled people (degree or 3+ years of experience in IT) with a contract and salary above the threshold. Valid in 25 EU countries. Suitable for doctors, nurses (with diploma recognition), engineers, IT.
- Single Permit — a single work and residence permit for long-term (non-seasonal) work. Arranged in a specific country.
- EURES — the official EU job vacancy database. Useful for finding an employer willing to sponsor you. But it does not give you a visa by itself — you still need to get one separately.
Which government services to use
| Country | Official body and channel |
|---|---|
| Uzbekistan | Migration Agency · "Xorijda ish" platform (xorijdaish.uz) · migration.uz · hotline 1282 |
| Kyrgyzstan | Centre for Employment Abroad (CECA) under the Ministry of Labour · ~197 licensed agencies |
| Kazakhstan | Migration Committee of the Ministry of Labour · migration.enbek.kz. There is no separate agency for "exporting" labour — people go to the UK directly through British operators |
| Tajikistan | Through licensed private agencies (check the licence) |
| Turkmenistan | No organised government schemes to Europe have been identified |
Uzbekistan is the most active: the agency has agreements with Germany, Poland, the UK, Italy, Austria and others. But remember — even a government intention "to send N people" is not yet confirmed places. Check the details on migration.uz.
🚨 Scammers — how not to lose your money
This is the most important part. Hundreds of CA citizens have already lost money to "recruiters". Real cases (according to RFE/RL and the Migration Policy Centre):
- In Tashkent a group of scammers took almost $50,000 from people for non-existent work abroad — they said they "have people in the embassies".
- In Moscow more than 150 Kyrgyz citizens paid at least $1,600 each to a company that promised seasonal work in Europe. They got nothing.
- In Tajikistan the director of a company that collected money for non-existent work in Britain was arrested.
Remember three rules that will save your money:
1. A real program does not take advance payment for a "guaranteed visa". You only pay the official visa fee — directly on the government website (gov.uk etc.), not to someone's bank card.
2. A visa is not a job. Check that you have a contract with a real job, not just "a visa".
3. Only licensed companies are allowed to arrange work abroad. Check the licence.
Typical scams
- Advance payment for a "guaranteed visa" or "document processing".
- Fake "operators" — they copy the website of a real company.
- Ads on social media: "picking strawberries in the UK, high salary" — people take loans and end up with no job.
- "I have a friend in the embassy, I will get you a visa for an advance payment."
- They ask for your documents and money before you have a real job offer.
Where to check (official websites):
• United Kingdom: gov.uk/seasonal-worker-visa + free app Just Good Work (available in Russian) — about your rights and protection from scams.
• Uzbekistan: migration.uz, "Xorijda ish", hotline 1282.
• Poland: praca.gov.pl. Germany: make-it-in-germany.com.
A legitimate employer always gives you a contract in a language you understand and does not charge you for finding a job.
What changes by 2027 — the big picture
The overall trend is simple: for simple (unskilled) work — tightening, for specialists — they are opening doors in a targeted way.
- United Kingdom: the seasonal visa remains (the scheme is confirmed for years ahead), but the quota is gradually being reduced (45,000 → 42,900). The work visa for unskilled work is closed.
- Italy: on the contrary, it is expanding legal channels (497,550 places for 2026–2028). Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan are on the lists. The clearest plan for 2027.
- Germany: focus on skilled people (Chancenkarte, agreement with Uzbekistan, Blue Card).
- Poland, Hungary, Romania: tightening and digitalisation, quotas are being kept or reduced.
Conclusion for CA citizens. The most reliable legal channels for 2026–2027: British seasonal visa (farm, poultry), Italian Decreto Flussi (for UZ and KG), and for specialists — German channels and EU Blue Card. Hungary — only for KZ and KG. Poland and Czech Republic — through a full work permit. Turkmenistan — no organised government schemes.
Frequently asked questions
Can I already sign up for the 2027 season in the UK?
The exact quota and application dates for 2027 have not been announced yet by the government (expected later in 2026). So nobody can "guarantee" you a place for 2027 — watch the operators in autumn 2026. Anyone who takes money for a "place for 2027" now is almost certainly a scammer.
I have a passport from Uzbekistan. Is Hungary suitable for me?
No. The Hungarian "guest worker" program is open only to 10 countries, among which from CA are only Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan are not on the list.
How much does the British seasonal visa cost?
The visa fee is £319, from 8 April 2026 — £340, plus up to £80 for biometrics. That is all. You do not need to pay for the "place" in the program — that is illegal (the employer pays).
Can I go to Germany to pick fruit as a simple worker?
Germany does not have a mass official seasonal scheme for CA citizens. Germany is mainly open to people with a profession (nurses, trained tradespeople, engineers, IT) — through the Chancenkarte and Blue Card.
Which country has already announced its quota for 2027?
Only Italy — 165,850 places for 2027 (part of the three-year Decreto Flussi plan 2026–2028). Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan are on the list of countries.
How to tell a real employer from a scammer?
A real employer does not take advance payment for a "guaranteed visa", gives you a contract in a language you understand, and can be checked on an official website (gov.uk, migration.uz). If they ask you to transfer money to a personal card "for a place" — it is a scam.
This is reference information, not legal advice. Rules and quotas change — before applying check on the official websites of the countries. Mendee Digital Ltd is not registered with the Immigration Advice Authority (IAA) and does not give immigration advice on a specific case.
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