visa requirements
Every country has its regulations and red-tape. In the last few years, the situation where anyone could pretty much work anywhere has changed significantly.
EU passport holders only?
This is widely open to debate. Most employers insist that you *must* have
an EU passport (to work in Europe), UK working Visa and NI number. However this can vary by country and
resort within a country. This is normally because you will not be working in the UK but will be paid through the UK system. Some companies do pay through the local system and would therefore be able to take you without an EU passport as long as you have a visa for the country in which you are working.
More info can be found at the following:
Australians going to France
Australians and Kiwis going to Austria
Kiwis going to France
South Africans going to France
South Africans going to Austria
Ancestry Visas, Right of Abode, UK Working Visas
These are not normally sufficient to work in EU countries. Ancestry
visas, right of abode and UK working visas do not count as an EU passport. They allow you to work in the UK not in the Alps.
Working 'illegally'
We are not lawyers and simply are not in a position to advise what
is legal and what isn't. If in doubt, make sure you ask your employer
to clarify the situation to you...because if you are found working illegally,
it'll be you who gets deported!
The fact remains that many non-visa holders still manage to find work each year. Ultimately it's your call, but we have to confirm that we would never advise working illegally.
Have you got any European relatives?If
you are not from a EU country an alternatives is trying to get a EU passport.
For many Aussies/Kiwis/Canadians etc there's often a relative somewhere
down that family tree, so get researching.
Non-EU
Countries
While most of these countries retain a degree of flexibility, watch out
for Switzerland. Your employer will find you a visa, but make sure
you have one! Try to make sure you know whether you visa will cover you
for the whole season as many visas are only for three months. Those working
illegally tend to be deported from the big resorts on a fairly regular
basis.
USA/CANADA
About the most common question we get asked at Natives is how to get a
job in North America.
Unfortunately a working visa or US/Canadian passport is required to work legally. British tour operators have to buy these, so they tend not to take risks with first timers and give these jobs to returning staff.
So if you absolutely have to work in North America, try working your way up the ladder!
Some ski resorts in America employ international workers via the H-2B work visa. This visa is issued to a skilled or unskilled worker and is required by an employee who is coming to the United States to perform a job which is temporary or seasonal in nature and for which there is a shortage of U.S. workers. In order to obtain this visa, the employer must file paperwork with the USCIS (United States Citizenship and Immigration Services) and the Department of Labour on the employee’s behalf. This means that you need to secure your job first, and then apply for the work visa."
The full story is on: http://www.usembassy.org.uk/cons_new/visa/niv/work.html.
Snovine
can help you with this.
If you are a student we recommend you approach BUNAC to get a visa. This is possibly the only way to get a visa without already having a job offer (which you usually won't get without a visa!). Non-students can also get a visa through BUNAC however they do tend to go very early each year.
An alternative is to head out to resort and find yourself a job. We know plenty of people who've done this and survived fine. It's estimated that 20% of staff in Whistler are working illegally. But again, it's your call on this - just bear in mind that there were plenty more who went, didn't get a job, ran out of money and went home.
USEFUL LINKS
French
Visas
Austrian
Visas
Swiss
Visas
US
Visas
US Embassy
site
BUNAC
BUNAC UK
Embassies and High Commissions
in the UK
