Working in Europe if UK passport?

[Igetalittlebitcloser]

Is this possible at ALL any more? Dd is starting an MFL degree in September and is already planning how to spend next summer. She only has a UK passport - is it possible to work at all anymore in France / Italy / Spain? Can it be done? I assumed it probably wasn’t possible any more but if anyone knows of any loop holes / types of jobs that might still be available that would be helpful. We have been looking online but not finding much…

TIA

#1 job offer #2 visa / work permit based on job offer
so tricky unless you also have citizenship of said continental European nation or fabulous connections.

Yes this is what we thought - that casual work in a bar or whatever isn’t possible any more - I wondered if there were any schemes or something we had missed. Probably not. Sigh. I hate Brexit so much.

Would french speaking Canada work? There’s Camp Canada or schemes for under 30. Not sure if any in French speaking areas but worth checking.

https://campfire.wagggs.org/event/volunteer-our-chalet-summer-2025
Switzerland opportunity if involved in girlguiding

Thank you, we’ll take a look at those! I’m not sure she’s so keen on Canada as the French culture is what really interests her but it may be more of a needs must - thank you, we hadn’t thought of that.

You can still au pair in some European countries - Americans and Australians for example have always been au pairs in France

https://www.france-visas.gouv.fr/jeune-au-pair

My dc’s friend has just had a gap year working as an au pair in France but I assumed she had Irish grandparents and EU passport. Maybe not.

Yes of course you can

Working for a French company on a short fixed-term contract
You need a short-term work permit if you want to work on a fixed-term French contract for up to 90 days.
To qualify you must:

• have a signed fixed-term employment contract with a company in France be on French payroll
• complete a labour market test if your role is not on the skills shortage list

This would be fine for work in tourist sector for the summer for example as they are shortage of workers

But she can also get a student visa. It’s for students in Europe but also outside who require overseas to complete uni course requirements. So this might be easier

Very very difficult to do legitimately now and it depends on each Member State’s legislation etc. Not impossible but the Employer would have to be very motivated to jump through all the admin hoops…

Lots of brilliant Scottish ski instructors are no longer able to work seasons in the Alps now…such a shame.

Mine was an au pair in Madrid for 8 weeks in 2023 on a British passport, no issues if under 90 days.

Yes it’s possible to get 90 day work visas in most tourist hot spots, go on the website for the country she’s interested in. Recruiters for the sector may be a good option too. Expect it not to be cheap though. However towards the end of this year they are supposedly looking at various options for youth movement and it’s possible (no guarantees) that this may be part of it, no idea of time frame but would be worth keeping up to date with

yes I assumed @Yolo12345was correct mostly in that you need an employer to give you the job first, and then get the visa. Would they really be bothered to do this for someone from the UK when they could get someone from any other European country who doesn’t need one? It seems like a lot of hassle for them for just someone doing bar work… while it IS possible, I’m not sure in reality it’s actually that easy.

Aupairing is a good shout, I had forgotten that was still a thing. Thank you, that’s a good possible avenue.

And yes @minnienonolets hope that’s a possibility soon - I had heard the laws were relaxing for younger people 🤞

I think so. We live in mainland Europe and loads of places can’t find staff. Lidos, mountain huts, restaurants, hotels, cafes, museums etc. I think most would bite your arm off if you’re willing to work July and August. Most are advertising with increased pay, options for part time or other combinations. So I’m sure they would happily fill out a 90 day visa application.

Ok @Caspianbergthat’s interesting, thank you. It may be worth looking into it a bit more then before she gives up! Thanks.

Ds worked in Paris for 3 weeks at the Lido but I think there is a specific 90 day exemption for artists/production team of shows.

@Igetalittlebitcloser my DD has just completed Year 2 of her MFL degree. She spent a year in France before Uni as an au pair. only has a UK passport and got an au pair visa with little bother.

To be accurate the first 6 months she was an au pair then lost patience with her over demanding family and left them. She then rented a room in a shared flat and on her au pair visa was allowed to do agency nanny / childcare / elderly care. She did agency child care work mostly for after school and on Wednesdays when no school.

She also did some English tuition to children on an informal basis.

Despite the drama with the original family it was a huge success as a year. She registered with Alliance Francaise for French lessons - very good value for au pairs €1000 for 16 hrs a week for 4 months - ended up with her C1 qualification.

DM me if you’d like any details.

@Jujathank you for the info, that sounds like a great year out (in the end!) - sounds like aupairing is relatively straightforward. Did your daughter manage to make friends doing it? I worked as an aupair in the USA and found it a little lonely and hard to meet people…

@Igetalittlebitcloser I’ll DM as I don’t want to out DD by giving too many details but in short being an au pair in a city helped massively making friends.

Even British companies like Eurocamp who want English speaking reps for the season now specify "EU passport holders" only in their recruitment info
#brexitbenefits 🤬

Even the British embassy in Madrid was advertising for staff recently - and said they had to have the right to work in Spain!