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When traveling to Peru, your nationality and the types of activities you will conduct during your trip will determine whether you may travel lawfully as a business visitor or if you require work authorization. Please seek advice from your immigration counsel if you are uncertain about the specific types of activities that constitute business or work.
As a business visitor to Peru, you may engage in the activities below. While this list is not exhaustive and other activities could qualify as business, you may:
Most foreign nationals, including those of the United States, will be required to obtain a visa from a Peruvian Consulate or Embassy prior to travel if they intend to conduct business activities in Peru. Visa waivers allowing visitors to enter and conduct business activities in Peru without a visa are available for nationals of a few select countries including Brazil, Colombia and the Schengen Area countries.
Peru is a member of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), and foreign nationals in possession of valid APEC Business Travel Cards (ABTC) endorsed with “Valid for travel to PER” are eligible to enter Peru on visa-waivered status.
Please obtain an individual assessment before traveling to determine your eligibility for a visa waiver or a Business Visa.
The activities below, whether paid or unpaid, generally constitute work under Peruvian law. This list is not exhaustive, and many other professional activities are considered work in Peru, even if conducted for a short duration.
In limited circumstances, foreign nationals may engage in certain short-term specialized technical assistance or similar activities without obtaining work authorization. As eligibility is determined on a case-by-case basis, an individual assessment is required prior to travel to determine whether a work authorization exemption is applicable.
The requirements for work authorization depend on your qualifications, on the nature and duration of your work and on whether your employer has an entity in Peru. In general, work authorization in Peru is granted under the Appointed Worker Migratory Status or the Worker Migratory Status. The most common types of work authorization issued under these statuses are:
Peru does not offer long-term work authorization exemptions.
Inevitably, the legal and strategic considerations impacting visa selection, as well as visa waiver and work authorization eligibility, entail the careful consideration of many factors. We recommend that you consult with your immigration counsel before taking any course of action.
When traveling to Panama, your nationality and the types of activities you will conduct during your trip will determine whether you may travel lawfully as a business visitor or if you require a work permit. Please seek advice from your immigration counsel if you are uncertain about the specific types of activities that constitute business or work.
As a business visitor to Panama, you may engage in the activities below. While this list is not exhaustive and other activities could qualify as business, you may:
Nationals of the European Union, the United States, and many other select countries are eligible for a visa waiver and are not required to obtain a visa in order to enter and conduct business activities in Panama. Additionally, many foreign nationals who normally require an entry visa to Panama but who have a valid visa or residence permit from Australia, Canada, Japan, Singapore, the United States, the United Kingdom, South Korea or have a Schengen Visa may also be exempt from the entry visa requirement.
If your nationality is not eligible for a visa waiver, you must obtain a Tourist Visa from a Panamanian Embassy or Consulate prior to travel. Please obtain an individual assessment before traveling to determine your eligibility for a visa waiver.
The activities below, whether paid or unpaid, generally constitute work under Panamanian law. This list is not exhaustive, and many other professional activities are considered work in Panama, even if conducted for a short duration.
Business visitors traveling to Panama to engage in select professional activities, such as establishing business subsidiaries, carrying out commercial transactions and/or participating as a bidder of public tenders, may be eligible to apply for a Short Stay Business Visa after arrival to Panama. Please consult with your immigration counsel for additional information and to determine your eligibility for a Short Stay Business Visa.
The requirements for work authorization depend on your qualifications, nationality, on the nature and duration of your work and on whether your employer has an entity in Panama. The most common types of work authorization for Panama are:
Panama does not offer long-term work authorization exemptions.
When traveling to Ecuador, your nationality and the types of activities you will conduct during your trip will determine whether you may travel lawfully as a business visitor or if you require work authorization. Please seek advice from your immigration counsel if you are uncertain about the specific types of activities that constitute business or work.
As a business visitor to Ecuador, you may engage in the activities below. While this list is not exhaustive and other activities could qualify as business, you may:
While business visitors are not currently required to obtain an additional permit for business activities, it is recommended that you consult with your immigration counsel prior to travel for an individual risk assessment.
Nationals of most countries, including European Union member states and the United States, are eligible for a visa waiver and are not required to obtain a visa to enter and conduct business activities in Ecuador. However, visa-waivered nationals are required to obtain a T-3 Stamp at the port of entry upon arrival.
If your nationality is not eligible for a visa waiver, you must obtain a Tourism Visa from an Ecuadorian Embassy or Consulate prior to travel. Please obtain an individual assessment before traveling to determine your eligibility for a visa waiver.
The activities below, whether paid or unpaid, generally constitute work under Ecuadorian law. This list is not exhaustive, and many other professional activities are considered work in Ecuador, even if conducted for a short duration.
The requirements for work authorization depend on your qualifications, on the nature and duration of your work and on whether your employer has an entity in Ecuador. The most common types of work authorization for Ecuador are:
Ecuador does not offer work authorization exemptions.
When traveling to Bahrain, your nationality and the types of activities you will conduct during your trip will determine whether you may travel lawfully as a business visitor or if work authorization will be required. Please seek advice from your immigration counsel if you are uncertain about the specific types of activities that constitute business or work.
As a business visitor to Bahrain, you may engage in the activities below. While this list is not exhaustive and other activities could qualify as business, you may:
Most foreign nationals, including nationals of the United States and most European countries, will be required to obtain a Business Visa (also called a Visit Visa) to enter Bahrain. Depending on the traveler’s nationality, visas may be obtained from a Bahraini Consulate or Embassy prior to travel, online as an e-visa or upon arrival. Nationals of select countries, including Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states (Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates), may be eligible for visa waiver status, which allows visitors to enter and conduct business activities without a visa. Please verify your eligibility for a visa on arrival, visa waiver status or an e-visa prior to travel.
The activities below, whether paid or unpaid, generally constitute work under Bahraini law. This list is not exhaustive, and many other professional activities are considered work in Bahrain, even if conducted for a short duration.
The requirements for work authorization depend on your qualifications, on the nature and duration of your work and on whether your employer has an entity in Bahrain. The most common form of work authorization in Bahrain is the Work Visa and Residence Permit.
Nationals of eligible GCC member states are exempt from obtaining work authorization and may work indefinitely in Bahrain.
When traveling to the United Kingdom (U.K.), your nationality and the types of activities you will conduct during your trip will determine whether you may travel lawfully as a business visitor or if you require a work visa. Please seek advice from your immigration counsel if you are uncertain about the specific types of activities that constitute business or work. See information regarding post-Brexit requirements below.
As a business visitor to the U.K., you may engage in the activities below. Business visitors traveling to the U.K. are only permitted to engage in the business activities specified in Appendix V – Visitors Appendix 3. Permitted Activities for All Visitors. While this list is not exhaustive and other activities could qualify as business, you may:
In addition to the business activities listed above, some foreign nationals may be eligible to enter the U.K. as visitors for specific short-term paid engagements. Please contact your immigration counsel if you are unsure whether your activities in the U.K. would be permissible on Business Visitor status.
Nationals of the United States and many other select countries are not required to obtain a visa to enter the U.K. to conduct business activities, and are eligible for a visa waiver. However, nationals from visa-waivered countries must obtain an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) before traveling to the U.K. for business purposes. This requirement does not apply to Irish nationals and other eligible travelers.
Unless covered by an exemption, foreign nationals must obtain work authorization to engage in active, productive work in the U.K.
The type of work visa required depends on your qualifications, on the nature and duration of your work, and on whether your employer has an entity in the U.K. Work authorization in the U.K. is broken down into different tiers of work visas, each of which contains several categories and subcategories. Additionally, work visa holders applying for stays of more than six months must obtain a Biometric Residence Permit. The most common U.K. work visas are:
Irish nationals are exempt from immigration restrictions in the U.K. Nationals of countries of the EU, European Economic Area (EEA), and Switzerland require work authorization for the U.K. See information regarding post-Brexit requirements below.
The U.K. completed its exit from the European Union on Jan. 31, 2020. Free movement lasted until Dec. 31, 2020. In other words, U.K. nationals and their family members were able to study, live, and work in the EU as they previously had without additional authorization until the end of the transition period. The same applied to EU/EEA/Swiss nationals and their families in the U.K. Until the transition period ended, travel rules for the U.K. and EU also remained the same. With the completion of the transition period, freedom of movement within the EU no longer applies to U.K. nationals, and the U.K. has introduced a new immigration system that applies to all EU/EEA/Swiss and non-EU/EEA/Swiss nationals alike. Irish nationals, however, are not subject to U.K. immigration restrictions, or vice versa, as the current Common Travel Area arrangements remain in place.
The Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA), which governs post-Brexit relations between the EU and the U.K., has altered immigration regulations in the affected countries. Please be sure to contact your immigration representative for full details regarding the TCA’s impact in the U.K.
When traveling to Norway, your nationality and the types of activities you will conduct during your trip will determine whether you may travel lawfully as a business visitor or if you require work authorization. Please seek advice from your immigration counsel if you are uncertain about the specific types of activities that constitute business or work.
What types of activities may I engage in as a business visitor?
As a business visitor to Norway, you may engage in the activities below. While this list is not exhaustive and other activities could qualify as business, you may:
Nationals of Canada, the European Union, the United States, and many other select countries are eligible for a visa waiver and are not required to obtain a visa to enter and conduct business activities in Norway.
Norway is a member of the Schengen Area, a free-travel zone comprised of 29 European countries. If your nationality is not eligible for a visa waiver in the Schengen Area, you will be required to obtain a Schengen C Visa prior to travel. Visa-waivered nationals, as well as those who are required to obtain a visa, are authorized to travel to Norway and throughout the Schengen Area. Please note that travelers may not spend more than 90 days within any 180-day period inside the Schengen Area.
Business visitors are generally prohibited from engaging in productive work activities that are an extension of professional activities, even if only conducted for a few days. Such activities include work relating to the realization of a contract, such as product development, attending workshops, and similar discussion forums (considered part of product development) where participants exchange knowledge and information as part of their everyday tasks in their home country. These activities require work authorization.
In most cases, a work permit is required for professional activities; however, a work permit exemption may apply to some specific activities provided that certain conditions are met. An individual assessment is required before deciding whether a work authorization exemption is appropriate.
The requirements for work authorization depend on your qualifications, on the nature and duration of your work, and on whether your employer has an entity in Norway. The most common forms of work authorization in Norway are:
Nationals from the European Union, the European Economic Area and Switzerland are not required to obtain a work permit in order to work in Norway. However, registrations or other formalities may be required prior to working or residing in Norway.
When traveling to New Zealand, your nationality and the types of activities you will conduct during your trip will determine whether you may travel lawfully as a business visitor or if you require work authorization. Please seek advice from your immigration counsel if you are uncertain about the specific types of activities that constitute business or work.
As a business visitor to New Zealand, you may engage in the activities below. While this list is not exhaustive and other activities could qualify as business, you may:
While nationals of the European Union, the United States, and many other select countries are eligible to travel to New Zealand on visa-waivered status, they must generally obtain a New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA) prior to entry. Additionally, they must obtain a visa waiver visitor visa upon arrival in order to enter New Zealand for the purpose of performing ordinary business activities on a short-term basis.
Foreign nationals who are not eligible for a visa waiver must obtain a Business Visitor Visa prior to travel from Immigration New Zealand either online or from a Visa Application Centre. Please consult with your immigration counsel before traveling to determine your eligibility for a visa waiver or business visitor visa.
The activities below, whether paid or unpaid, generally constitute work under New Zealand law. This list is not exhaustive, and many other professional activities are considered work in New Zealand, even if conducted for a short duration.
The requirements for work authorization depend on your qualifications, on the nature and duration of your work and on whether your employer has an entity in New Zealand. The most common types of work authorization for New Zealand are:
Australian nationals and permanent residents are not required to obtain work authorization in order to work in New Zealand. However, registrations or other formalities may be required prior to working or residing in New Zealand.
When traveling to Israel, your nationality and the types of activities you will conduct during your trip will determine whether you may travel lawfully as a business visitor or if you must obtain work authorization. Please seek advice from your immigration counsel if you are uncertain about the specific types of activities that constitute business or work.
As a business visitor to Israel, you may engage in the activities below. While this list is not exhaustive and other activities could qualify as business, you may:
Nationals of Australia, Canada, the United States, and other select countries are eligible for a visa waiver. However, visa-waivered nationals are required to obtain an ETA-IL (Electronic Travel Authorization-Israel) prior to entering and conducting business activities in Israel.
Foreign nationals who are not eligible to enter Israel on visa-waivered status must obtain a B-2 Visitor Visa from an Israeli Consulate or Embassy prior to travel. Please obtain an individual assessment before traveling to determine your eligibility for a visa waiver.
The activities below, whether paid or unpaid, generally constitute work under Israeli law. This list is not exhaustive, and many other professional activities are considered work in Israel, even if conducted for a short duration.
The requirements for work authorization depend on your qualifications, on the nature and duration of your work and on the industry in which the entity in Israel operates. The most common types of work authorization for Israel are:
Israel does not offer work authorization exemptions.
The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation is an economic forum comprised of several countries across several continents. The agreement affords nationals of APEC member states who hold a valid APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC) the ability to travel visa-free for ordinary business purposes to participating APEC countries and benefit from a faster immigration clearance at designated ABTC lanes.
APEC currently has 21 members, most with coastlines along the Pacific Ocean. The members include: Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Taiwan (Chinese Taipei), Thailand, the United States and Vietnam.
APEC Business Travel Cards (ABTC) allow pre-cleared business travelers visa-free travel for the purpose of conducting ordinary business activities in member countries. The ABTC removes the need to apply for visas or entry permits for participating member countries (exclusive of Canada and the U.S.) and authorizes multiple entries into participating countries for the duration of the card’s validity.
ABTC holders also benefit from faster immigration processing on arrival via special fast-track entry and exit lanes at participating airports.
APEC member economies fully participating in the scheme include Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Chile, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Taiwan (Chinese Taipei), Thailand and Vietnam.
Canada and the United States are transitional members of the scheme.
Business travelers with a valid ABTC are only eligible to participate in visa-free travel to APEC countries that are listed on the ABTC. If the business traveler is authorized to enter a country on an ABTC card, the card will explicitly state that country’s code. If the country code is not listed on the card, the traveler is not authorized to enter that particular destination with the ABTC.
Immigration regulations of each APEC country will determine the duration of time foreign nationals are allowed to remain in country.
The member states of the APEC region remain sovereign and the specific rules regarding working in a specific country vary considerably. The ABTC only authorizes visa-free travel for ordinary business purposes, and regulations regarding work activities should be reviewed on an individual basis.
When traveling to Nigeria, your nationality and the types of activities you will conduct during your trip will determine whether you may travel lawfully as a business visitor or if you must obtain work authorization. Please seek advice from your immigration counsel if you are uncertain about the specific types of activities that constitute business or work.
As a business visitor to Nigeria, you may engage in the activities below. While this list is not exhaustive and other activities could qualify as business, you may:
Nationals of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) member countries are generally permitted to perform short-term, non-remunerated professional activities in Nigeria without obtaining work authorization. Please consult with your immigration counsel prior to travel to determine your eligibility for a short-term work authorization exemption.
Most foreign nationals, including nationals of European Union member states and the United States, are required to obtain a Business Visa from a Nigerian Consulate or Embassy or an e-Visa through the online portal, prior to travel.
Business visitors may also be eligible for a Visa on Arrival, provided that a pre-approval letter from the Comptroller General of the Nigerian Immigration Service has been obtained. However, to avoid risk of complications at the port of entry, it is recommended that an e-Visa or consular Business Visa be obtained prior to travel.
Nationals of select African countries, including member states of ECOWAS, are eligible to perform business activities under a visa waiver.
Please consult with your immigration counsel prior to travel to determine your eligibility for a Business Visa, e-Visa, Visa on Arrival or visa waiver.
The activities below, whether paid or unpaid, generally constitute work under Nigerian law. This list is not exhaustive, and many other professional activities are considered work in Nigeria, even if conducted for a short duration.
The requirements for work authorization depend on your qualifications, on the nature and duration of your work and on whether your employer has an entity in Nigeria. The most common forms of work authorization in Nigeria are:
There are no long-term exemptions from work authorization requirements in Nigeria.