I’m an independent Barbadian travel agent, working for myself, and I’ve been awarded a contract to provide my services to a company in the EC. Does the EPA allow me to service the contract and travel to the EC?

February 09 2012 | Travel Agents, Tour Operators and Tour Guides

Yes it does, with some conditions.

Generally, these conditions are:

• When you are applying for temporary entry as an Independent Professional, you must be a self-employed person established in Barbados and you must have obtained a service contract with the entity in the European Community for a period that is not more than 12 months.
• You also must have at least 6 years professional experience in the travel industry.
• When you apply, you must have a university degree or equivalent qualification, and professional qualifications where they are required by law.
• Once it is approved, your 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).
• Your visa will only allow you to work on the contracted service activity.  You are not permitted to work on other business activities.

 

There are some individual countries in the EC that impose additional conditions on Independent Professionals wishing to contract with local businesses. Bulgaria and Hungary have no commitment to permit the supply of travel agency and tour operator services through this form of supply, and there are also no commitments for tour guide services in the following countries: Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Hungary, Italy, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia & Slovenia