Touring visa & work permit checker
Pick a passport and a destination to see whether paid shows are visa-free, conditional, or need a work visa. Built for bands and crew planning international dates.
Pick a passport and a destination to see whether you can perform paid shows, and which visa or permit category applies.
Travelling with gear? Look at carnets.
Work permission covers people, not equipment. Professional gear crossing borders temporarily (backline, instruments, cameras, tools of trade) often travels on an ATA Carnet: a single customs document that avoids duties and deposits at each border. Some countries accept them, others run their own temporary-import schemes, so check before you ship. ATA Carnet, International Chamber of Commerce
Directional guidance, not legal advice
This tool summarizes the common routes for short international performances and links the official immigration source for every destination so you can verify before you book. Immigration rules change, exceptions exist for specific gigs, and the final call sits with border officers. For a filing, consult an immigration attorney or specialist visa service. Last reviewed 2 November 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Is this visa checker legal advice?
No. It is directional guidance built from official government sources, each linked on the results card. Immigration officers decide at the border, and rules change; for an actual tour filing, talk to an immigration attorney or a specialist visa service.
Do I really need a work visa to play a paid show in the US?
Yes. ESTA and B-1/B-2 visitor status do not cover paid performances; touring artists use O-1B, P-1B, P-2, or P-3 classifications filed as a USCIS petition by a US sponsor. Even unpaid showcases at ticketed events have tripped bands up at the border.
What does the Schengen 90/180 rule mean for a tour?
Visa-exempt visitors can spend at most 90 days in any rolling 180 inside the whole Schengen zone, not per country. It controls how long you can stay; whether you can perform paid shows is a separate, per-country question under national work law.
Do I need paperwork for my instruments and backline?
Usually yes, separate from visas. An ATA Carnet is the standard customs document for temporarily carrying professional equipment across borders without paying duties or deposits at each stop.
How current is this information?
We re-check the rules against the official sources and stamp a review date on the tool (currently 2 November 2026). Fees, processing times, and launch dates like ETIAS move faster than any guide, so always confirm at the linked government source before booking.
Paperwork sorted? TourPro keeps the rest of the tour in one place
Visas, flights, hotels, schedules, day sheets, and contacts all end up in the same advancing timeline. TourPro keeps tour logistics in one place so the whole party works from the same plan across web, desktop, and mobile. tourpro.app.