Artists, cultural professionals, and live performance organisations often work across borders, especially in Europe. However, travelling and working in the European Union (EU) can be complicated for individuals coming from outside Europe. Each country may have its own rules for Third-Country Nationals (TCN), which can make things even more confusing.
This guide highlights the key challenges related to employment and immigration for Third-Country National artists in the EU. While the EU has some shared rules, there are no specific laws tailored to artists. In the first instance, and in line with the approach of this series of cookbooks, the focus of this publication is on the European rules related to third-country nationals working (temporarily) in the EU.
At the same time, as will be highlighted, each Member State has its own regulations, which can vary from country to country. Therefore, one of the main difficulties for artists, particularly those on tour or performing in multiple countries, is the lack of consistency in these regulations.
This can create obstacles for artists who need to work in several locations during a single trip. Additionally, the permitted length of stay may not always align with the needs of longer tours or residencies. However, some countries do have special provisions for artists, such as exemptions from work permits for short stays.
This publication addresses these issues and provides an overview of what to consider when working in the EU.
