The Schengen Area is an area where internal borders have been completely abolished – goods and people can moved across borders without stopping for passport controls. From mid-2024, it now consists of all mainland European Union nations, as well as the non-EU states Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and Liechtenstein.

All EU citizens have the right to live and work in other EU states, alongside similar rights enjoyed by Icelandic, Norwegian, Swiss and Liechtensteiners as part of their independent agreements with the EU.

The Schengen Area broadly follows mutual visa policy; a residency visa or permit issued by one state will allow the holder to visit (but not work or live) in another Schengen Area state.

The Schengen Area does not include the Republic of Ireland – Ireland maintains its own border policy, but its citizens, as citizens of the EU, may live, work and visit other areas of the EU without hindrance.

The Schengen Area consists of:

• The EU, minus Cyprus and Ireland
• The non-EU states of Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Iceland
• It also de facto includes the microstates of Europe that devolve visa policies to larger neighbouring nations, including Andorra, Liechtenstein, Monaco and the Vatican City

The Common Travel Area (CTA) is a border-free area consisting of the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland, and the UK’s Crown Dependencies (Channel Islands and Isle of Man). It allows citizens of these states to travel, live and work in other CTA states without requiring a visa or work permit. 

The CTA is separate to both the European Union and the Schengen Area; a citizen of a non-CTA state who holds a visa to visit, live and work in a CTA state, does not necessarily hold the same rights across the whole CTA.

To travel to the Schengen Area under a British passport, your passport must:

• • • • Must be valid for more than three months after the date you plan to leave the Schengen Area.
      • Must not be valid for more than 10 years from the date of entry to the EU/Schengen Area*
      • Must be less than 10 years old on the date of entry to the EU/Schengen Area

*In some circumstances, HM Passport Office have issued passports with more than the standard 10-year validity period, such as if you are replacing a damaged passport. The EU/Schengen Area requires you to have no more than ten years validity (on the day you enter) and no less than three months validity (from the day you intend to leave).

Citizens of the UK and its Crown Dependencies do not need a visa to visit the Schengen Area for tourism, to visit family, or for short periods of business that cannot normally be done in in the UK (such as meetings or conferences). You are permitted to remain in the Schengen Area for a total of 90 days out of a rolling 180 day period.

In other words, if you have spent more than 90 days in the Schengen Area out of the previous 180, you will need a visa to continue your stay or to re-enter the area.

Citizens of the UK and its Crown Dependencies are permitted to remain in the Schengen Area for a total of 90 days out of a rolling 180 day period.

In other words, if you have spent more than 90 days in the Schengen Area out of the previous 180, you will need a visa to continue your stay or to re-enter the area.

No. Only those with an appropriate work visa or EU passport are permitted to work in the Schengen Area. 

Citizens eligible to enter the Schengen Area/EU for short stays (i.e. 90 days or less) without a visa are permitted to conduct business that cannot normally be conducted from home, e.g. attend meetings, conferences, or trade shows.

The European Travel Information and Authorisation System – or ETIAS for short – is a pre-travel clearance system that is being rolled out for visitors to the Schengen Area from countries who otherwise do not require visas to visit the block. It is similar to the ESTA or ETa systems currently in place in the USA and Canada respectively, and is due to be rolled out from 2024.

No. The ETIA System is a pre-clearance system for those who are permitted to travel into the Schengen Area without a visa. It is not a visa in itself, and therefore does not extent the permitted length of stay beyond the standard 90 out of 180 days.

No. The ETIA System is a pre-clearance system for those who are permitted to travel into the Schengen Area without a visa. It is not a visa in itself, and therefore does waive the need to obtain a visa before working in the Schengen Area.

British citizens who do not hold an EU passport or appropriate visa can stay in the Schengen Area for a total of 90 days out of any 180 day rolling period.

In other words, if you have spent more than 90 days in the Schengen Area out of the previous 180, you will need a visa to continue your stay or to re-enter the area. 

No, you do not need a visa to begin buying property in France – in fact, having property can help ease the application process, simplifying questions regarding where you intend to stay.

Whilst the list of documents necessary to apply for a French visitors visa is lengthy, most of these are simple documents that you normally have to hand.

Please note, this list is relevant for those who are not intending to seek employment – please see section below for obtaining a work visa.

These documents include:

• Passport, less than 10 years old but with at least three months remaining from the date you intend to leave the Schengen Area
• Passport-sized photograph
• Declaration to not pursue employment or professional activity
• Proof of funds
• Proof of accommodation in France
• Health insurance – a UK EHIC or GHIC will suffice for stays of up to six months; private health insurance is required for longer stays.

If you are applying for a visa of between 91 days and six months, a UK-issued EHIC or GHIC will suffice.

If you are staying for longer than six months, you will require private health insurance

Exemptions are available for those receiving a state pension.

Long term visitors visas are issued for up to one year.

If you intend to stay longer you must apply for residency within this year-long period, or re-apply for another long stay visitors visa following the conclusion of this year-long period.

You can apply for residency at any point within the year-long validity of your long stay visa.

No, a residency permit or visa for one EU/Schengen Area country only permits you stay longer than 90 days (of any 180 day period) in the country that issued the visa.

You will need to apply for a separate visa or residency permit if you wish to move country.

If you are a UK citizen and you do not hold an EU passport, you will need a visa to live and work in the European Union (excluding the Republic of Ireland).

This is a complex process, although much of the legwork will sit with your employing company. The process will take some time to complete – potentially up to six months – so it is important to begin looking for work early if you intend to work a season abroad.

The first step is to find a job. Once you have a job lined up, you can formally begin the visa process. Each country has their own process, but as most Britons head to France, and the French system is one of the most complex, we shall focus on this one:

1. Your employer will apply for a work permit on your behalf
2. Once (1.) has been completed, you can apply for a work visa with the support of your employer
3. In some cases, you may be asked to attend a medical check-up prior to approval

Our experience is showing that work visas are normally issued for for an initial three month period. Once (or just before) this expires, you can renew it for a longer period. This is done in country, but please note this will involve travelling down from the Alps as centres that process these renewals are located in major population centres – this will be done in conjunction with your employer.

There are two reasons why the process is lengthy:

• Companies operating in France must advertise the job in France either before or concurrently with advertising the job in the UK, for a period of up to six weeks, before formally closing applications and informing French officials they were unable to find suitable applicants in France.
• Companies must first apply for a work permit for you, then once this is approved you can then apply yourself for a work visa.

Whilst lengthy, this is merely a box ticking exercise; once this is done, a company is free to employ you provided your visa application is successful.

Seasonal Business in Travel (SBIT) is an organisation consisting of tour operators, travel agents and holiday companies operating from the UK operating in the EU, offering primarily winter holidays but also summer adventure trips.

They have worked extensively with both national and regional French authorities to simplify the process for those looking to work and employ in the French Alps. SBIT have managed to secure the following concessions from French authorities, making the process vastly easier compared to 2021:

• Implementation of online application forms (summer 2022)
• Preferential contact points in Alpine regional authority office, easing 3-month renewals and any associated medical check-ups
• Guarantee of visa approval for British winter seasonal applicants (barring major errors in applications)

Whilst SBIT continue to work hard to secure easier access to British workers and seasonal work in the Alps, the above concessions are on a non-binding basis. However, thanks to SBIT’s hard work, you can apply for your seasonal job and work visa more confident in getting a visa sticker at the end of it.

The list of companies requiring UK-passport-holding staff has shrunk drastically, both because of the UK’s exit from the EU and changing holiday patterns post-COVID requiring less labour intensive operations.

However, there are a number of companies that continue to employ UK passport holders in a number of roles. This includes big tour operators such as Crystal (Part of TUI Group), and smaller, bespoke operators.

There is no one single list of operators; it changes depending on the role, the company’s needs and the demand of the season. The Ski Club recommends checking out members of SBiT (Seasonal Business in Travel), and organisation that lobbies on behalf of the UK tourism industry to enable UK passport holders to work in Europe. Many of their members remain committed to employing UK passport holders in the Alps, continuing to provide many opportunities for people to work a season.

Note that not all of their members continue to do so, but it remains the most comprehensive list of companies available to date.

Nothing. If you are bringing your own skis or snowboard for a short trip into the Schengen Area, and are travelling with them (i.e. carrying them in hold luggage or driving with them in the car), you do not need to declare them to authorities.

If you are bringing in equipment for professional purposes – such as to enable work as a snowsports instructor or to take demonstration equipment to a conference or show – you will need to declare the items for Temporary Import. This avoids the need for paying import duties, but requires the following:

• The items to be exported within 2 years of arrival in the Schengen Area
• The items to be returned to the UK in identical condition (minus appropriate wear and tear)

If you are travelling separately to your snowsports equipment – for example, because you are using a courier service to send the items on ahead – your courier may ask you to complete Temporary Import documentation, to avoid paying import duties on the items. You should be prepared to provide the following information:

• Completed Temporary Import forms
• A copy of your passport
• Details of your travel plans for entering and leaving the Schengen Area (i.e. flight tickets) or details of a recipients proof-of-residency in that country (if shipping to a different named person)

There are two methods to declare items for Temporary Import, their using depending on the regularity of movement in and out of the Schengen Area. Full details are available on the gov.uk website.

• ATA Carnet – this is primarily for business moving large numbers of items regularly, as it requires a fee to apply for and maintain.
• Duplicate List – For individuals moving goods on a one-off basis, a Duplicate List is free.