FAQs under Entertainment Services

How about entertainment services providers who are independent operators. Are they allowed to enter into contracts in the EU under the EPA?

Yes, independent entertainment services providers who have a contract with a client in an EU Member State may travel to these countries to provide services under these conditions:

The person from Barbados applying for temporary entry must be supplying a service and must be a self-employed person established in Barbados, and must have obtained a service contract for a period not exceeding 12 months.

The independent entertainment services provider must possess at least 6 years professional experience in the relevant sector.

The temporary entry will be for a cumulative period not exceeding 6 months (or 25 weeks in Luxembourg) during a 12-month period or for the duration of the contract (whichever is less).

The visa permits only the contracted service activity, no other business activities.

The independent professional in the entertainment services field will also be subject to the following conditions in certain countries:

 

Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Germany, Denmark, Estonia, Greece, Spain, Finland, France, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Latvia,  Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Sweden & United Kingdom:  Qualification may be required. Economic needs test will be applied. 

Austria:  Advanced qualification may be required. Economic needs test will be applied.

Slovenia:  The Barbadian professional’s duration of stay is limited to 7 days per event. For circus and amusement park services, the duration of stay is limited to a maximum of 30 days per calendar year.

Belgium: There is no commitment to permit the supply of these services via this form of supply.

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What about Barbadian companies providing entertainment services to EU consumers from Barbados to EU consumers who are located in Barbados? Does the EPA allow this activity?

With the following conditions, yes.

Cyprus, Czech Republic, Finland, Malta, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia:  There is no commitment to permit the supply of these services via this form of supply.  

Bulgaria:  There is no commitment to permit the supply of these services in Barbados except for theatrical producers, singer groups, band and orchestra entertainment services; services provided by authors, composers, sculptors, entertainers and other individual artists; ancillary theatrical services.

Estonia:  There is no commitment to permit the supply of these services except for cinema theatre services, and in Lithuania & Latvia, there is no commitment to permit the supply of these services except for cinema theatre operation services.

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Our entertainment services firm is able to provide services to a client in the EU without actually travelling there to live or work. Are there provisions in the EPA for that type of activity?

Yes, there are.  However, under the EPA, the following countries have made no commitment to permit the supply of entertainment services through this form:

Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Germany, Denmark, Spain, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia & United Kingdom.

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If an entertainment services firm wishes to enter an EU country to fulfil a contract and not necessarily to invest or open an office, what are the allowances under the EPA?

Barbadian entertainment services providers with a contract for services in EC Member States may go to those countries to provide their services; however, there are some restrictions.

A Barbadian wishing to provide these services must not be working on a contract that exceeds 12 months, and must have been an employee of the business for at least one year before the application for entry and have at least three years professional experience in their field.

The Barbadian is also not allowed to collect remuneration other than what is paid by the Barbadian company for the contract during their stay, and may not stay for more than six months cumulatively – or for the duration of the contract if that is less.

Only the number of people from the Barbadian company necessary to fulfill the contract will be allowed and they may not conduct any other business while in the Member State.

In addition to those general conditions throughout the EU, there are some country-specific conditions:

Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Germany, Denmark, Estonia, Greece, Spain, Finland, France, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Latvia,  Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Sweden & United Kingdom: Qualification may be required. Economic needs test will be applied

Austria: Advanced qualification may be required. Economic needs test will be applied.

SloveniaThe duration of stay for Barbadians supplying the services is limited to 7 days per event.  For circus and amusement park services, the duration of stay is limited to a maximum of 30 days per calendar year.

Belgium: There is no commitment to permit the supply of these services via this form of supply.

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What about the staff of entertainment services entities? Provided that the proper permissions are granted in the EU country, what members of staff are allowed to live and work in the country from Barbados?

Key personnel, those considered to be managers and specialists from the Barbadian entertainment services firm, may live and work for up to three years, subject to the normal visa requirements.

Those senior staff whose responsibility is limited to setting up the entertainment services business are allowed to be there for 90 days during any 12-month period, and graduate trainees for up to one year – once again – subscribing to normal visa requirements.

Note, however, that the one exception in the EU is in France where the necessary authorization for the access to management functions is subject to a condition of nationality when the authorisation for more than two years is required.

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Other than the restriction on the provision of audio-visual services, are there any other restrictions on Barbadian firms in the entertainment services field doing business in the EU?

The following conditions exist in these countries:

Cyprus, Czech Republic, Finland, Malta, Poland, Romania, Slovenia & Slovakia:  There is no commitment to permit the supply of these services. 

Bulgaria: There is no commitment to permit the supply of these services via this form of supply except for theatrical producer, singer group, band and orchestra entertainment services, services provided by authors, composers, sculptors, entertainers and other individual artists and ancillary theatrical services.

Estonia: There is no commitment to permit the supply of these services via this form of supply for other entertainment services except for cinema theatre services.

Latvia: There is no commitment to permit the supply of these services via this form of supply except for cinema theatre operation services

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