Who this is for. Roles performed on land rather than on a yacht: chalet and villa chefs, hosts working in chalets, and stewards or hospitality staff in villas, chalets, restaurants and venues. If you work on a yacht (including hosts on 40 to 65ft yachts and stewards on larger yachts), see the yacht guidance instead.
Quick answer. It depends on your nationality and the country. EU, EEA and Swiss citizens can work in EU/EEA countries with no permit. Everyone else, including UK passport holders, needs a work permit or a recognised exemption. A tourist or Schengen entry lets you visit, not work.
How is working ashore different from working on a yacht?
There is no maritime or seafarer route on land. Ashore, ordinary immigration and work-permit rules apply, decided by the country and your nationality, exactly like any other job there. The seaman or transit visas that can apply to yacht crew do not apply to land roles.
Do I need a work permit? EU, EEA and Switzerland
EU, EEA and Swiss citizens can work in EU/EEA countries without a work permit (free movement). Everyone else, including UK passport holders, needs a work permit or a recognised exemption for that country. A tourist or Schengen entry lets you visit, not work.
Ski chalets: France, Austria and Switzerland
France and Austria are in the EU, so EU/EEA/Swiss citizens can work with no permit, and others need one. Switzerland is not in the EU but has a free-movement agreement with the EU and EFTA, so EU/EEA/Swiss citizens can work there (with registration), while non-EU nationals need a Swiss work permit and Switzerland runs strict quotas. Plan early for a chalet season.
Private villas worldwide: Caribbean, the Americas, SE Asia and the Med
Each country sets its own rules, and a tourist entry does not allow work. In the Med it follows the EU logic above. In the Caribbean, the Americas and South-East Asia (for example Thailand, Mexico and the United States) a work permit or the correct work visa is generally required, and the process varies a lot by nationality. For those destinations, use our country pages as a starting point and always confirm with the official source.
Official sources
France: France-Visas.
Austria: migration.gv.at (Red-White-Red Card).
Switzerland: State Secretariat for Migration (working in Switzerland).
Villas elsewhere: check the destination's official immigration site, and see our country pages.
What we ask of you
Keep your nationality correct in your profile; it tells us your EU status.
If you hold a work permit for a destination, tick the work-permit box.
You are responsible for your own tax and any local registration where you work.
Important
Immigration rules change often and vary by nationality. This is general orientation, not legal advice, and Quarterdeck is not an immigration adviser. Confirm your own position with the destination's official immigration source before you travel. We will not place you where you do not hold the right to work.