Work Visas and Right to Work for Seasonal Workers

UK citizens working in Europe

Before 2021, a UK passport holder could fly to any EU country, get a job, and start working. That is no longer the case. Since Brexit, UK nationals are treated as third-country nationals in the EU. You need a work visa or permit to legally work in any EU or EEA country.

For ski seasons, most established chalet companies handle the visa process. They either sponsor a work permit (France uses the autorisation de travail system) or arrange a posted worker setup. This takes time, which is why companies hire months in advance and why last-minute ski season jobs are harder for Brits than they used to be.

For summer work in the Med, the situation varies by country. Spain, Greece, and Portugal each have their own visa systems. Smaller employers (restaurants, bars, beach clubs) are less likely to sponsor visas than larger tour operators or yacht companies.

The Schengen 90-day rule

Non-EU nationals (including UK citizens) can enter the Schengen Area as a tourist for up to 90 days within any rolling 180-day period. No visa needed for the tourist stay itself.

The critical point: this is for tourism only. You cannot work during this 90-day period. If you take a job without a work visa, you are working illegally regardless of whether you are within your 90 days. If caught, the consequences include fines, deportation, and entry bans.

The 90 days is cumulative across all Schengen countries. Two weeks in France, then a month in Austria, then two weeks in Spain all counts toward the same 90-day limit.

EU citizens

If you hold an EU, EEA, or Swiss passport, you can work freely anywhere in the EU without a visa. This has not changed. You can take a ski season in France, a summer in Greece, and a yacht job in Spain without any visa paperwork.

For working in the UK (festivals, hospitality), EU citizens who arrived after 30 June 2021 need a visa. The options are limited for seasonal work. The UK Seasonal Worker visa exists but is restricted to specific agricultural and food processing roles. General hospitality or festival work does not qualify. EU citizens with settled or pre-settled status from before the deadline can still work freely.

Working holiday visas

Working holiday visas let you live and work in another country for 1 to 2 years. They are age-restricted (usually 18–30, sometimes up to 35). They are the single best option for extended seasonal work outside the EU.

Switzerland

Switzerland is not in the EU but has bilateral agreements with EU countries. EU citizens can work in Switzerland relatively easily (L-permit for short stays, B-permit for longer). UK citizens need a work permit, and Switzerland has annual quotas for non-EU workers. Getting a Swiss work permit for seasonal hospitality is difficult but not impossible. Verbier and Zermatt employers sometimes sponsor permits for key roles. Read our Verbier guide.

Yacht crew and flag states

Yachting is different from land-based work. A yacht is registered under a flag state (Cayman Islands, Marshall Islands, and Red Ensign are common). Your employment contract is with the yacht, not the country you are sailing in. This means the work visa requirements depend on the flag state, not whether you are in Spain or Greece at the time.

In practice, this makes yachting more accessible for UK citizens post-Brexit than land-based EU jobs. Most management companies and captains handle the employment paperwork. You still need your STCW, ENG1, and any other required maritime certifications.

Practical tips

Frequently asked questions