CHAPTER II

SINGLE APPLICATION PROCEDURE AND SINGLE PERMIT

Single application procedure
Article 4
1
An application to issue, amend or renew a single permit shall be submitted by way of a single application procedure. Member States shall determine whether applications for a single permit are to be made by the third-country national or by the third-country national’s employer. Member States may also decide to allow an application from either of the two. If the application is to be submitted by the third-country national, Member States shall allow the application to be introduced from a third country or, if provided for by national law, in the territory of the Member State in which the third-country national is legally present.
2
Member States shall examine an application made under paragraph 1 and shall adopt a decision to issue, amend or renew the single permit if the applicant fulfils the requirements specified by Union or national law. A decision to issue, amend or renew the single permit shall constitute a single administrative act combining a residence permit and a work permit.
3
The single application procedure shall be without prejudice to the visa procedure which may be required for initial entry.
4
Member States shall issue a single permit, where the conditions provided for are met, to third-country nationals who apply for admission and to third-country nationals already admitted who apply to renew or modify their residence permit after the entry into force of the national implementing provisions.

Competent authority
Article 5
1
Member States shall designate the authority competent to receive the application and to issue the single permit.
2
The competent authority shall adopt a decision on the complete application as soon as possible and in any event within four months of the date on which the application was lodged.
The time limit referred to in the first subparagraph may be extended in exceptional circumstances, linked to the complexity of the examination of the application.
Where no decision is taken within the time limit provided for in this paragraph, any consequences shall be determined by national law.
3
The competent authority shall notify the decision to the applicant in writing in accordance with the notification procedures laid down in the relevant national law.
4
If the information or documents in support of the application are incomplete according to the criteria specified in national law, the competent authority shall notify the applicant in writing of the additional information or documents required, setting a reasonable deadline to provide them. The time limit referred to in paragraph 2 shall be suspended until the competent authority or other relevant authorities have received the additional information required. If the additional information or documents is not provided within the deadline set, the competent authority may reject the application.

Single permit
Article 6
1
Member States shall issue a single permit using the uniform format as laid down in Regulation (EC) No 1030/2002 and shall indicate the information relating to the permission to work in accordance with point (a)7.5-9 of the Annex thereto.
Member States may indicate additional information related to the employment relationship of the third-country national (such as the name and address of the employer, place of work, type of work, working hours, remuneration) in paper format, or store such data in electronic format as referred to in Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 1030/2002 and in point (a)16 of the Annex thereto.
2
When issuing the single permit Member States shall not issue additional permits as proof of authorisation to access the labour market.

Residence permits issued for purposes other than work
Article 7
1
When issuing residence permits in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1030/2002 Member States shall indicate the information relating to the permission to work irrespective of the type of the permit.
Member States may indicate additional information related to the employment relationship of the third-country national (such as the name and address of the employer, place of work, type of work, working hours, remuneration) in paper format, or store such data in electronic format as referred to in Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 1030/2002 and point (a)16 of the Annex thereto.
2
When issuing residence permits in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1030/2002, Member States shall not issue additional permits as proof of authorisation to access the labour market.

Procedural guarantees
Article 8
1
Reasons shall be given in the written notification of a decision rejecting an application to issue, amend or renew a single permit, or a decision withdrawing a single permit on the basis of criteria provided for by Union or national law.
2
A decision rejecting the application to issue, amend or renew or withdrawing a single permit shall be open to legal challenge in the Member State concerned, in accordance with national law. The written notification referred to in paragraph 1 shall specify the court or administrative authority where the person concerned may lodge an appeal and the time limit therefor.
3
An application may be considered as inadmissible on the grounds of volume of admission of third-country nationals coming for employment and, on that basis, need not to be processed.

Access to information
Article 9
Member States shall provide, upon request, adequate information to the third-country national and the future employer on the documents required to make a complete application.

Fees
Article 10
Member States may require applicants to pay fees, where appropriate, for handling applications in accordance with this Directive. The level of such fees shall be proportionate and may be based on the services actually provided for the processing of applications and the issuance of permits.

Rights on the basis of the single permit
Article 11
Where a single permit has been issued in accordance with national law, it shall authorise, during its period of validity, its holder at least to:
1. enter and reside in the territory of the Member State issuing the single permit, provided that the holder meets all admission requirements in accordance with national law;
2. have free access to the entire territory of the Member State issuing the single permit within the limits provided for by national law;
3. exercise the specific employment activity authorised under the single permit in accordance with national law;
4. be informed about the holder’s own rights linked to the permit conferred by this Directive and/or by national law.