Work for Canadian citizens travelling to Schengen area
Paid work in a Schengen country needs that country’s work visa or permit. The 90-day visa-free rule does not allow employment.
For a Canadian citizen passport. Permanent residents and other travel documents can follow different rules.
Key facts
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Who it's for | Anyone taking paid employment or long-term work in a Schengen state. · European Commission — EU immigration portal (opens in a new tab) |
| Maximum stay | Set by the national work permit or visa, not the 90-day visa-free rule. · European Commission — EU immigration portal (opens in a new tab) |
| Cost | Work visa fees are set by the country that employs you. See France-Visas (opens in a new tab) for France, or the embassy of your destination Schengen state. · European Commission — EU immigration portal (opens in a new tab) |
| Processing time | Processing times are national. Start from the EU immigration portal (opens in a new tab) and the embassy of the country issuing the work permit. · European Commission — EU immigration portal (opens in a new tab) |
| How to apply | Through the embassy or online portal of the Schengen country that issues the work permit. · European Commission — EU immigration portal (opens in a new tab) |
Each fact above is linked to the authority that sets the rule. Entry Visa Guide does not take applications.
How to apply
- Identify which Schengen country will employ you. That country usually issues the work permit.
- Apply for the national work visa or permit before you travel. The visa-free route is not valid for paid work.
- Enter with the work visa or permit shown at border control.
FAQ
Can I work remotely on a tourist visit?
travel.gc.ca says the visa-free stay is not for paid employment in Schengen. Remote work for a non-Schengen employer is not described on travel.gc.ca.
Is there one Schengen work visa?
Work permission is national. Apply to the country where you will work.
Sources
- European Commission: Schengen short stay (opens in a new tab)
- U.S. State Dept: France (sample Schengen state) (opens in a new tab)
- Canada: France travel advice (opens in a new tab)
Independent guide, not legal advice. Entry Visa Guide is an independent information site. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or run by any government or public authority. Always check official sources before you travel. Spotted something out of date? Report an error.