Guidance
Working, performing and touring in Europe – guidance for musical artists and accompanying staff
A checklist for musical artists and accompanying staff working, performing or touring in an EU country, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein.
This checklist is designed for musical artists (such as soloists, groups and orchestras) and any accompanying staff (for example sound engineers) looking to work, perform or tour in an EU country, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein..
1. Important checks
If you are travelling to an EU country, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein, you should:
- Ensure your passport complies with the passport rules
- Ensure you have appropriate healthcare and travel insurance cover
- Carry your UK driving licence with you (if you are intending to drive)
If you are a musical artists or accompanying staff travelling to work, perform or tour in an EU country, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein, you need to consider the extra requirements for travelling on business.
Find out more:
Visiting the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein
2. Visa/work permits
As a musical artists (which might include teaching and education roles) or as accompanying staff, you must check domestic immigration rules for each European country you are intending to work, perform or tour in. Although some countries allow for touring activities without a visa or work permit, others will require one or both, or other documentation. This may vary depending on the length of your stay and the type of activity.
Some EU Member States use the terms ‘visa’ and ‘work permit’ interchangeably, sometimes with different meanings. It is important that you check the individual rules for the Member State(s) you are travelling to.
Find out more:
Travelling to the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein for work
3. Transporting musical instruments or equipment
Temporarily taking musical instruments or equipment to the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein
If you are taking your musical instrument or equipment temporarily out of the UK to work, perform or tour in the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein, you will need to consider the customs requirements for each country you are visiting.
If your musical instruments or equipment are in your baggage or a vehicle (‘accompanied’ – carried or taken by an individual in their personal baggage, or a vehicle, which have been transported by the individual throughout the journey), you may be able to use temporary admission to pay no duty on them by going through the green or ‘nothing to declare’ channel. You can do this if your musical instrument or equipment is for personal or business use.
If your musical instruments or equipment aren’t accompanied (‘unaccompanied’ – moved as freight by a haulier and/or transport operator where the individual is not present), you’ll need to consider using other temporary admissions procedures. These include:
- an ATA Carnet – there is a cost for this
- a duplicate list – there is no cost but this may be more complicated
If you don’t use an ATA Carnet, duplicate list, or other temporary admission procedures, you may have to declare your musical instruments or equipment and pay duties on them every time you take them through customs.
Find out more:
Taking goods out of the UK temporarily
List of goods applicable to oral and by conduct declarations
Northern Ireland
If you are moving your musical instruments or equipment between Great Britain and Northern Ireland, you can register for the free trader support service to help you understand the requirements.
Find out more:
Sign up for the Trader Support Service
Instruments that contain endangered species (CITES)
If you are a musical artists looking to transport instruments into the EU that contain endangered species or specimens, for example rosewood or ivory, must apply for a CITES permit or CITES certificate. You need to use a designated port of exit and entry when transporting these goods.
Find out more:
Apply for CITES permits and certificates to move or trade endangered species
Trading or moving CITES-listed specimens through UK ports and airports
Returning to the UK
When you return to the UK, if you have used a temporary admission procedure to take your musical instrument or equipment to the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein, you may be eligible for relief from import VAT and any customs duty.
Find out more:
Pay less import duty and VAT when re-importing goods to the UK
4. Transporting commercial goods including merchandise
If you are taking commercial goods in your baggage to the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein, to sell or bringing them back to the UK to sell (for example merchandise), you must check the customs requirements in the country you’re travelling to. You’ll also need to declare your goods to customs.
Find out more:
How to export goods from Great Britain into the EU
Taking commercial goods out of Great Britain in your baggage
Bringing commercial goods into Great Britain in your baggage
5. Haulage
If you are using a UK-based haulier (as a promoter or tour manager, for example) to transport your instruments, equipment or other goods to the EU, you will need to consider the movement restrictions on UK-based hauliers. Once in the EU, UK hauliers will be able to undertake up to two additional movements (cross-trade or cabotage) within the EU, with a maximum of 1 cabotage movement within a 7-day period. Cabotage must be within the same EU country where you first unloaded your goods brought into the EU.
Find out more
Transporting goods between Great Britain and the EU: guidance for hauliers and commercial drivers
6. Social Security and income tax
If you are only working or performing temporarily in the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein, you may be able to get a certificate or document from HMRC to continue paying National Insurance contributions in the UK. This means you’ll not have to pay social security contributions abroad.
You may need to pay UK Income tax on any foreign income you earn from working or performing in the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein.
Find out more:
National Insurance for workers from the UK working in the EEA or Switzerland
Working, performing and touring in Europe – guidance for the performing arts, theatre, opera, dance, circus and other live performance genre
A checklist for performing artists, creatives, management and production staff in the performing arts touring in an EU country, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein.
This checklist is designed for performing artists (for example, dancers, actors, comedians, magicians, circus artists and singers), creative team members (for example, directors or choreographers), management (for example, producers, or agents accompanying artists) and production staff (for example, stage technicians) looking to work, perform or tour in an EU country, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein..
1. Important checks
If you are travelling to an EU country, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein, you should:
- Ensure your passport complies with the passport rules
- Ensure you have appropriate healthcare and travel insurance cover
- Carry your UK driving licence with you (if you are intending to drive)
If you are a performing artist or accompanying staff travelling to work, perform or tour in an EU country, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein, you need to consider the extra requirements for travelling on business.
Find out more:
Visiting the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein
2. Visa/work permits
As a performing artist or as accompanying staff, you must check domestic immigration rules for each European country you are intending to work, perform or tour in. Although some countries allow for these activities without a visa or a work permit, others will require one or both, or other documentation.
Some EU Member States use the terms ‘visa’ and ‘work permit’ interchangeably, sometimes with different meanings. It is important that you check the individual rules for the Member States you are travelling to. This may vary depending on the length of your stay and the type of activity, for example if you are considering teaching or carrying out educational work.
Find out more:
Travelling to the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein for work
3. Transporting equipment to be used as part of the production
Temporarily taking equipment used as part of the production to the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein
If you are taking your professional equipment (for example stage, lighting or sound equipment) temporarily out of the UK to work, perform or tour in the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein, you will need to consider the customs requirements for each country you are visiting.
If your professional equipment is in your baggage or a vehicle accompanied (‘accompanied’ – carried or taken by an individual in their personal baggage, or a vehicle, which have been transported by the individual throughout the journey), you may be able to use ‘temporary admission’ to pay no duty on them by going through the green or ‘nothing to declare’ channel. You can do this if your professional equipment is for personal or business use.
If your equipment isn’t accompanied (‘unaccompanied’ – moved as freight by a haulier and/or transport operator where the individual is not present), you’ll need to consider using other temporary admissions procedures. These include:
- an ATA Carnet – there is a cost for this
- a duplicate list – there is no cost but this may be more complicated
If you don’t use an ATA Carnet, duplicate list, or other temporary admission procedures, you may have to declare your objects and pay duties on them every time you take them through customs.
Find out more:
Taking goods out of the UK temporarily
List of goods applicable to oral and by conduct declarations
Northern Ireland
If you are transporting your equipment between Great Britain and Northern Ireland, you can register for the free trader support service to help you understand the requirements.
Find out more:
Sign up for the Trader Support Service
Objects that contain endangered species (CITES)
Performing artists looking to transport equipment into the EU that contain endangered species or specimens, for example rosewood or ivory, must apply for a CITES permit or CITES certificate. You need to use a designated port of exit and entry when transporting these goods.
Find out more:
Apply for CITES permits and certificates to move or trade endangered species
Trading or moving CITES-listed specimens through UK ports and airports
Returning to the UK
When you return to the UK, if you have used a temporary admission procedure to take your professional equipment to the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein, you may be eligible for relief from import VAT and any customs duty.
Find out more:
Pay less import duty and VAT when re-importing goods to the UK
4. Transporting commercial goods including merchandise
If you are taking commercial goods in your baggage to the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein, to sell or bringing them back to the UK to sell (for example merchandise), you must check the customs requirements in the country you’re travelling to. You’ll also need to declare your goods to customs.
Find out more:
How to export goods from Great Britain into the EU
Taking commercial goods out of Great Britain in your baggage
Bringing commercial goods into Great Britain in your baggage
5. Haulage
If you are using a UK-based haulier to transport your professional equipment or other goods to the EU, you will need to consider the movement restrictions on UK-based hauliers. Once in the EU, UK hauliers will be able to undertake up to two additional movements (cross-trade or cabotage) within the EU, with a maximum of 1 cabotage movement within a 7-day period. Cabotage must be within the same EU country where you first unloaded your goods brought into the EU.
Find out more:
Transporting goods between Great Britain and the EU: guidance for hauliers and commercial drivers
6. Social Security and income tax
If you are only working or performing temporarily in the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein, you may be able to get a certificate or document from HMRC to continue paying National Insurance contributions in the UK. This means you’ll not have to pay social security contributions abroad.
You may need to pay UK Income tax on any foreign income you earn from working or performing in the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein.
Find out more:
National Insurance for workers from the UK working in the EEA or Switzerland
