Freelance, Fly, Panic: Adventures in Post-Brexit Europe

The latest U.S. tariffs on UK goods got me thinking—mainly about how red tape seems to be having a global moment. Closer to home, Brexit has quietly transformed international freelancing into a sport of logistics and paperwork, and let’s just say… I miss the simpler times of booking a flight and showing up.

Brexit has changed a lot of things in the UK, and freelancing is no exception. If you’re a UK-based creative working internationally, you’ve probably noticed the extra paperwork, the increased costs, and the general feeling that traveling for work now requires the strategic planning of a military operation.

Fewer Jobs, More Barriers

Before Brexit, I was regularly flying out for 15 to 20 shoots a year in Europe. These days? One or two, if I’m lucky. Some of that is down to COVID, but the reality is that post-Brexit rules have made it significantly more difficult for UK freelancers to work across the EU.

Some production companies go above and beyond to ensure they’re following every new requirement to the letter. Others… well, let’s just say they take a looser approach and hope nobody asks too many questions. Either way, the risks of getting it wrong are real—nobody wants to be the person held up at the border because of an overlooked document.

I learned that lesson the hard way years ago when I was nearly denied entry to the U.S. over a visa issue. Since then, I’ve made it a strict policy to always have my paperwork in order. Immigration officers, as it turns out, do not appreciate improvisation.

Carnets: A Time-Consuming Necessity

One of the biggest post-Brexit changes for freelancers with gear is the introduction of carnets—essentially a passport for equipment. This requires an itemised inventory of every piece of gear you’re carrying, down to serial numbers and values.

The first time I filled one out, it took me a full week to log everything—a task I can confidently say ranks somewhere between assembling flat-pack furniture without instructions and reading tax law for fun.

Beyond the admin headache, there’s also the cost, which varies depending on where you’re going but is never cheap. Then there’s the time factor. Every carnet stamp at an airport can add an extra hour to your trip, which means a simple work flight now includes an unplanned endurance test. On one particularly fun job, I tracked eight hours lost to carnet procedures alone—before even stepping onto set. If I wanted a career in paperwork, I’d have become an accountant.

UK Customs: An Unpredictable Process

You’d think that customs procedures would be clear and standardised. In the UK? Not so much.

At Heathrow, I’ve been given completely different instructions by customs officers at the same terminal on different days. One tells me to go through security first; the next insists I use a hidden red phone before security (a phone that, to this day, I suspect is just for decoration).

In contrast, European customs tends to be more structured. While language barriers or additional checks can slow things down, the process itself is at least consistent. In the UK, it often feels like even the customs officers are figuring it out as they go.

The Visa Uncertainty

Another fun challenge is figuring out if I’m even allowed to work in certain countries. Visa requirements across Europe vary, and the rules aren’t always easy to interpret.

For a job in Switzerland, the process was refreshingly clear—short-term work (under 90 days) was allowed. But for a potential gig in Spain, I ended up spending hours trying to decipher legal documents before finally admitting defeat. Turns out, Google Translate isn’t quite built for contract law.

Some types of work, like conferences, seem to be exempt from visa restrictions, but the rules still feel like a legal minefield, and there’s no one-size-fits-all answer. The result? A lot of missed opportunities simply because the admin burden is too high.

A Silver Lining: My Irish Passport

One unexpected side effect of Brexit was that it led me to rediscover my heritage. My grandfather was Irish, which meant I was eligible for Irish citizenship. In 2020, I started the application process, and after years of waiting, I finally received my Irish passport.

This means I can now work in the EU without worrying about visa restrictions. I still have to deal with carnets (because avoiding unexpected tax bills is always a good idea), but at least one major hurdle is gone.

Now, instead of stressing about visas, I can focus on the usual freelancer worries—like getting paid on time.

Dual-Style

Final Thoughts

For UK-based freelancers, international work has become more complicated, but not impossible. The extra paperwork, costs, and admin can be frustrating, but with the right planning, it’s still possible to navigate.

If you need a freelance camera operator who can work in the EU hassle-free—get in touch. I’ll be the one in the customs line, waiting for an officer to decide what today’s rules are.