FAQs under Advertising

What about the European company that has offices here in Barbados? Are Barbadian Advertising Service firms allowed to provide services to these entities?
Our Company here in Barbados would like to offer our Advertising Services from here to an EC company. Is such an arrangement permitted under the EPA?
I am an Independent Advertising Professional. I’ve been offered a contract to provide my services to a client in Europe. Does the EPA have provisions for me to travel to the EU to fulfill the contract?
Would a Barbadian Advertising Agency be allowed to service a contract in the EC that doesn’t require staff to relocate to the European country on a permanent basis, but travel there to service the project?
Once a Barbadian Advertising company has been given permission to operate in the EU under the Agreement, what are the options for sending staff from this country to work in Europe.

What about the European company that has offices here in Barbados? Are Barbadian Advertising Service firms allowed to provide services to these entities?

Barbadian service providers can provide Advertising Services to EC consumers in Barbados. No limitations of a market access or national treatment type have been imposed by the EC on this form of supply.

The Barbados Private Sector Trade Team is here to answer any questions you may have about conducting trade in the European Community under the terms of the CARIFORUM-EC Economic Partnership Agreement. If after reading these questions and answers you still have queries, please contact us directly by email at info@tradeteam.bb, or by speaking with one of our Trade officials at 1-246-430-6541.

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Our Company here in Barbados would like to offer our Advertising Services from here to an EC company. Is such an arrangement permitted under the EPA?

A Barbadian services provider can supply Advertising Services from its home state (i.e. Barbados) to a consumer in the EC. No limitations of a market access or national treatment type have been imposed by the EC on this form of supply.

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I am an Independent Advertising Professional. I’ve been offered a contract to provide my services to a client in Europe. Does the EPA have provisions for me to travel to the EU to fulfill the contract?

As an Independent Professional you are allowed under the EPA to travel to Europe to service a contract under the following conditions:

In order to apply for temporary entry, you must be self-employed established here in Barbados (or another CARIFORUM territory), and your contract in Europe may not be for a period longer than 12 months. You are required to have at least six (6) years of experience in the field and must possess a university degree or equivalent qualification, and professional qualifications where required by law.

Your temporary entry will be for no more than six (6) months cumulatively during any 12-month period or for the length of the contract, whichever is less (this period is 25 weeks in Luxembourg) and only the work under the contract is permitted during your stay in Europe. You will not be permitted to perform any other work.

The following countries impose conditions on Independent Advertising Professionals from Barbados wishing to work in their countries:

Belgium: Economic needs tests will be applied, except for Commercial Service Suppliers (CSS) when the annual wage is above the amount defined by the relevant laws and regulations.

Austria, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Greece, Finland, Hungary, Lithuania, Latvia, Malta, Romania & Slovakia: Economic needs tests will be applied.

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Would a Barbadian Advertising Agency be allowed to service a contract in the EC that doesn’t require staff to relocate to the European country on a permanent basis, but travel there to service the project?

Yes. The EPA has provisions for Advertising Agencies that have a contract with a consumer in EC Member States to travel to these countries to provide services with the following conditions:

Conditions in which these services can be provided

The person from Barbados applying for temporary entry must be supplying a service as employee of a business that has obtained a service contract for a period not exceeding 12 months.

The person must have been an employee of the business for 1 year before applying for entry, and must have at least 3 years professional experience in the relevant sector.

The Barbadian national applying for temporary entry must have a university degree or equivalent qualification, and professional qualifications where required by law.

The person shall not receive remuneration during their stay, other than that paid by their employer.

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 number of persons covered by the services contract shall not be larger than necessary to fulfil the contract.

There are some additional conditions on staff traveling to service an advertising service contract in the following countries:

Belgium: Economic needs test will be applied, except when the annual wage to be paid is above the amount defined by the relevant laws and regulations.

Austria, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Greece, Finland, Hungary, Lithuania, Latvia, Malta, Romania & Slovakia: Economic needs test will be applied.

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Once a Barbadian Advertising company has been given permission to operate in the EU under the Agreement, what are the options for sending staff from this country to work in Europe.

Generally, the senior Barbadian staff responsible for establishing a commercial presence in Europe may stay for 90 days in any 12-month period. Key personnel will be allowed to work in Europe for a period of up to 3 years, and graduate trainees may stay for one year. Staff in these categories will be, of course, subject to normal visa and immigration requirements.

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