Brexit and working within the EU
Discussion
My job involves attending customer sites for service, breakdowns and installations around the world, but, mainly in Europe. I live in the UK but work for a Dutch company.
Earlier this month I was stopped at a border and told I needed a permit/Visa to work. Eventually I was let on my way as I had an invitation letter from the customer outlining my travel was for essential maintenance to cover Covid travel restrictions.
Before I left the border staff explained that without a work visa/permit I could only spend up to 90 days in the EU (regardless of how many different trips or countries this involved).
Having since read the Regulations this is how I read it also.
However, I have contacted the London embassy of a country I will be working in next and a further 3 trips within the next 180 days and they have said no Visa or permit is needed unless I plan on staying in that country for more than 90 consecutive days.
Has anyone had any experience with this or can provide any more clarity on the situation? With a holiday planned for October and current work schedule I will be spending 96 days within the EU over the next 6 months.
Earlier this month I was stopped at a border and told I needed a permit/Visa to work. Eventually I was let on my way as I had an invitation letter from the customer outlining my travel was for essential maintenance to cover Covid travel restrictions.
Before I left the border staff explained that without a work visa/permit I could only spend up to 90 days in the EU (regardless of how many different trips or countries this involved).
Having since read the Regulations this is how I read it also.
However, I have contacted the London embassy of a country I will be working in next and a further 3 trips within the next 180 days and they have said no Visa or permit is needed unless I plan on staying in that country for more than 90 consecutive days.
Has anyone had any experience with this or can provide any more clarity on the situation? With a holiday planned for October and current work schedule I will be spending 96 days within the EU over the next 6 months.
Rtig said:
Is it possible to have one that covered the EU or do they have to be country specific? As ever .gov is pretty vague.
I am pretty sure you need one for each country as they have different rules.However I am not 100% certain of that.
Your employer really needs to get on top of this as if you get a border guard who is a stickler for the rules you could get deported and you'll really struggle to get back in then.
There is a fundamental difference between being a tourist (90 consecutive days within 180 and no return for 90 days) and working.
This is where the musicians and others are so cutup about the withdrawal agreement. They now have to fall back upon national regulations within the EU, potentially meaning a work permit in every country they perform in.
It's another one of the benefits of 'taking back control'. It is the same issue which affected non-UK citizens who worked for UK companies but were visiting the EU for work. They could (and had to) apply for a Schengen visa which allowed them to work in the EU.
Post Brexit we are now in the same situation, but the withdrawal agreement did not make any real provisions for this - so work permits are required.
This is where the musicians and others are so cutup about the withdrawal agreement. They now have to fall back upon national regulations within the EU, potentially meaning a work permit in every country they perform in.
It's another one of the benefits of 'taking back control'. It is the same issue which affected non-UK citizens who worked for UK companies but were visiting the EU for work. They could (and had to) apply for a Schengen visa which allowed them to work in the EU.
Post Brexit we are now in the same situation, but the withdrawal agreement did not make any real provisions for this - so work permits are required.
There is an EU permit if you search but they end up saying apply to the country where you will arrive in the EU. I spend over 90 days in France but at the moment they are not issuing any permits as travel is restricted. You can travel for work but you do need a permit. Every visit your passport will be stamped and the number of days totted up.
Your employer should be helping you with this.
Applications for the French visa involve attending in person to the visa office in London, Manchester or Glasgow ( I think) then you leave your paperwork and it can be returned to you or you can pick it up.
The office in Manchester is open on Thursday normally but the web site takes some negotiating.
£90 for the visa £16 for the documents to be returned, valid for 12 months.
Good luck with this.
Your employer should be helping you with this.
Applications for the French visa involve attending in person to the visa office in London, Manchester or Glasgow ( I think) then you leave your paperwork and it can be returned to you or you can pick it up.
The office in Manchester is open on Thursday normally but the web site takes some negotiating.
£90 for the visa £16 for the documents to be returned, valid for 12 months.
Good luck with this.
daveinhampshire said:
If you work around the world you should be used to work visas, pretty much every other country requires them.
As I said, the majority of the work is in Europe. So yes I do have to have visas for countries outside of the EU but not at the rate of 3-4 visas for different countries a month. But I do thank you for your very useful input Dave.
Rtig said:
Brilliant, all sounding like the silver lined cloud that is Brexit so far 
:
I’m not talking about you specifically, but it’s amazing how few people know the effects of our third country status within the EU now. :
Even more staggering is when I mention some of the downsides it’s often met with incredulous disbelief and a suggestion that the EU would somehow overlook the rules because we should have some special status as being the U.K., or that these regulations will be negotiated to flex for British citizens once the dust settles. Usually accompanied by a comment about how the EU somehow cannot afford to lose us.
You only need one visa for the EU as it’s days spent within the EU. Each country can issue their visa but it’s valid across all member states.
You may also be asked to provide proof of accommodation return travel tickets.
I have a property in France that I could visit anytime for as long as I wanted.
I now don’t know when I can get there this year or how long I can stay, can’t get a visa just now.
You may also be asked to provide proof of accommodation return travel tickets.
I have a property in France that I could visit anytime for as long as I wanted.
I now don’t know when I can get there this year or how long I can stay, can’t get a visa just now.
The OP is employed by am EU company so he definitely needs a work permit for that.
There are different rules if you are employed in the UK and do some work in the EU but this is the first paragraph of the .gov website about working in the EU
Overview
You’ll need a work permit to work in most EU countries if you’re a UK citizen
There are different rules if you are employed in the UK and do some work in the EU but this is the first paragraph of the .gov website about working in the EU
Overview
You’ll need a work permit to work in most EU countries if you’re a UK citizen
Rtig said:
daveinhampshire said:
If you work around the world you should be used to work visas, pretty much every other country requires them.
As I said, the majority of the work is in Europe. So yes I do have to have visas for countries outside of the EU but not at the rate of 3-4 visas for different countries a month. But I do thank you for your very useful input Dave.
Go back to what used to happen, and what happens in rest of the world.
Never mention it's work at the border, your on a business trip, don't carry tools, build installation and commissioning cost and price into the capital cost, of the goods you are selling.
We installed plant all over the world like that.
Never mention it's work at the border, your on a business trip, don't carry tools, build installation and commissioning cost and price into the capital cost, of the goods you are selling.
We installed plant all over the world like that.
Berw said:
Go back to what used to happen, and what happens in rest of the world.
Never mention it's work at the border, your on a business trip, don't carry tools, build installation and commissioning cost and price into the capital cost, of the goods you are selling.
We installed plant all over the world like that.
That’s great advice to an employee of an EU company. Never mention it's work at the border, your on a business trip, don't carry tools, build installation and commissioning cost and price into the capital cost, of the goods you are selling.
We installed plant all over the world like that.
“Just break the law and hope you don’t get caught. Hopefully the company you work for makes a load of profit at your risk.”
unident said:
Berw said:
Go back to what used to happen, and what happens in rest of the world.
Never mention it's work at the border, your on a business trip, don't carry tools, build installation and commissioning cost and price into the capital cost, of the goods you are selling.
We installed plant all over the world like that.
That’s great advice to an employee of an EU company. Never mention it's work at the border, your on a business trip, don't carry tools, build installation and commissioning cost and price into the capital cost, of the goods you are selling.
We installed plant all over the world like that.
“Just break the law and hope you don’t get caught. Hopefully the company you work for makes a load of profit at your risk.”
I have since found that I can possibly apply for a long term work permit for NL as that's where our head office is and that will allow me to work in other Schengen zone countries.
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