Working in EU - visas
Discussion
My work requires that sometimes I have to visit EU countries (I live in the UK and am a UK national).
The work that I carry out is software testing, I will be walking around a logistics site with a laptop and testing to make sure my laptop shows the correct state of machines etc. I don't touch the machine, but I might need to observe it and work on my laptop next to it.
The rules are typically different depending on which country you visit, so lets take Spain as an example.
I am aware that the official rules (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/travel-to-spain-for-work) are that you can only travel to Spain for business if you are attending "business meetings". Other types of work are deemed to require a visa. My company is suggesting that I can still travel without a visa as the type of work I am doing could fall under that category.
Is there anyone with knowledge in this area that can give some more advice on the matter? If I did require a visa, what type of visa would it be and how long would it take to get one? It seems that these types of visas take quite a while to be reviewed/accepted and I often have to travel at short notice!
The work that I carry out is software testing, I will be walking around a logistics site with a laptop and testing to make sure my laptop shows the correct state of machines etc. I don't touch the machine, but I might need to observe it and work on my laptop next to it.
The rules are typically different depending on which country you visit, so lets take Spain as an example.
I am aware that the official rules (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/travel-to-spain-for-work) are that you can only travel to Spain for business if you are attending "business meetings". Other types of work are deemed to require a visa. My company is suggesting that I can still travel without a visa as the type of work I am doing could fall under that category.
Is there anyone with knowledge in this area that can give some more advice on the matter? If I did require a visa, what type of visa would it be and how long would it take to get one? It seems that these types of visas take quite a while to be reviewed/accepted and I often have to travel at short notice!
Yes, that's "business meetings" as far as anyone else is concerned.
If you were doing work and then being paid directly by the client for it it would be different, but you're not, your employer is still going to paying you in the UK (unless you say differently, which would be an odd scenario).
The only issues will come about if you need to spend more than 90 days in the EU - including any holidays you take - in any 180 period.
If you were doing work and then being paid directly by the client for it it would be different, but you're not, your employer is still going to paying you in the UK (unless you say differently, which would be an odd scenario).
The only issues will come about if you need to spend more than 90 days in the EU - including any holidays you take - in any 180 period.
In my experience generally specific maintenance & testing of equipment/materials supplied by a foreign company does not usually require a visa.
The definition / interpretation of "work" is often flexible.
US Immigration Officer "what is the purpose of your visit to the US?"
GT03ROB "Business, I have some meetings"
US Immigration Officer "How long will you be staying?"
GT03ROB "Couple of months"
US Immigration officer "Long meetings then Sir?"
GT03ROB "Yes they are"
US Immigration Officer "Thank you sir. have a nice day"
The definition / interpretation of "work" is often flexible.
US Immigration Officer "what is the purpose of your visit to the US?"
GT03ROB "Business, I have some meetings"
US Immigration Officer "How long will you be staying?"
GT03ROB "Couple of months"
US Immigration officer "Long meetings then Sir?"
GT03ROB "Yes they are"
US Immigration Officer "Thank you sir. have a nice day"
Most countries have an exemption for something normally worded as "specialist".
We've used this exemption for Spain.
Reality is no-one is going to check, but if the company wants to ensure it's playing by the rules (which it really should) it's a real minefield to work out what they are.
You're fortunate to only have a laptop so don't need to worry about Carnets for test equipment etc!
We've used this exemption for Spain.
Reality is no-one is going to check, but if the company wants to ensure it's playing by the rules (which it really should) it's a real minefield to work out what they are.
You're fortunate to only have a laptop so don't need to worry about Carnets for test equipment etc!
OP: you'r merely there on business, not "to work", as you'll continue to be paid by your employer in the UK.
I used to travel to the U.S a LOT for business. Prior to getting Global Entry (no passport checks / stamps needed then), Immigration officers were often astonished at the number of immigration stamps in my passport(s) looking for space for their next entry, but "there for business" was always OK, as it is for you in the EU.
I used to travel to the U.S a LOT for business. Prior to getting Global Entry (no passport checks / stamps needed then), Immigration officers were often astonished at the number of immigration stamps in my passport(s) looking for space for their next entry, but "there for business" was always OK, as it is for you in the EU.
Gassing Station | Jobs & Employment Matters | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff