done it before.”
Stuart Collingwood Stuart Collingwood GM EMEA, Anki GM EMEA, AnkiLook into the Tier 1 Exceptional Talent Look into the Tier 1 Exceptional Talent Visa for Digital Technology to see if any Visa for Digital Technology to see if any of your employees are applicable. of your employees are applicable. You can get visa
You can get visa support from TechCityUKsupport from TechCityUK (Maria Palmieri).
(Maria Palmieri). Germany Germany
Citizens of the European Economic Area Citizens of the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland have the right to (EEA) and Switzerland have the right to work in Germany.
work in Germany.
Citizens of the USA and Canada may Citizens of the USA and Canada may enter Germany without a visa and then enter Germany without a visa and then apply for a residence permit within three apply for a residence permit within three months.
months.
Citizens of all other countries must apply Citizens of all other countries must apply for a visa to enter Germany.
for a visa to enter Germany.
Look into whether you/your employees Look into whether you/your employees qualify for an EU Blue Card which can be qualify for an EU Blue Card which can be processed more quickly and also allows processed more quickly and also allows family members to work.
family members to work. Netherlands
Netherlands
You may need a Schengen visa to stay in You may need a Schengen visa to stay in the Netherlands for a maximum 90-days the Netherlands for a maximum 90-days in any 180-day period (short stay visa). If in any 180-day period (short stay visa). If you wish to stay longer than 90-days you you wish to stay longer than 90-days you need an authorization for temporary stay. need an authorization for temporary stay. Ireland
Ireland
Nationals of states outside the European Nationals of states outside the European Economic Area need either a Critical Skills Economic Area need either a Critical Skills Employment Permit or Work Permit in Employment Permit or Work Permit in order to work in Ireland.
order to work in Ireland.
Intra-Company Transfer Visas allow for Intra-Company Transfer Visas allow for the temporary assignment of senior the temporary assignment of senior management, key personnel with management, key personnel with specialist knowledge or trainees to the specialist knowledge or trainees to the Irish operation.
Irish operation. (talk to Adrian Rainey), who offer a $10K
(talk to Adrian Rainey), who offer a $10K starter package for all the basics plus six starter package for all the basics plus six hours free advisory. They have advised hours free advisory. They have advised numerous startups and US companies numerous startups and US companies expanding into Europe, and have offices expanding into Europe, and have offices in the UK, France, Germany, Netherlands in the UK, France, Germany, Netherlands and elsewhere.
and elsewhere. You will need to cover: You will need to cover: · Immigration
· Immigration · Contracts · Contracts ·
· Terms and Terms and conditionsconditions ·
· Data and privacy Data and privacy lawlaw · Domain registration · Domain registration · Stock option planning · Stock option planning · Regulation
· Regulation ·
· Trademarks and intellectual Trademarks and intellectual propertyproperty
Visas
Visas
Visa rules change frequently so check Visa rules change frequently so check with the appropriate authorities before with the appropriate authorities before making plans.
making plans. UK
UK
If you want to bring across an existing If you want to bring across an existing employee who doesn’t hold an EU employee who doesn’t hold an EU passport and has no employment passport and has no employment rights in the UK, you can get a ‘sole rights in the UK, you can get a ‘sole representative’ visa quickly and easily. representative’ visa quickly and easily. But apply before creating a subsidiary, But apply before creating a subsidiary, otherwise it’s harder to do.
otherwise it’s harder to do.
US passport holders can travel to the US passport holders can travel to the UK without a visa, but no longer than six UK without a visa, but no longer than six months in twelve-month period. Watch months in twelve-month period. Watch out for fuzzy rules about what you’re out for fuzzy rules about what you’re allowed or not allowed to do. allowed or not allowed to do.
Once you’ve established the UK office, Once you’ve established the UK office, apply for a sponsor licence to transfer apply for a sponsor licence to transfer employees to the UK under Tier 2 ICT employees to the UK under Tier 2 ICT (IntraCompany Transfer) work permits. (IntraCompany Transfer) work permits.
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Accounting
Accounting
Different firms are good for different Different firms are good for different purposes. Engage a large firm for upfront purposes. Engage a large firm for upfront tax planning and corporate structure. A tax planning and corporate structure. A local firm for ongoing payroll, VAT and local firm for ongoing payroll, VAT and accounts. Natalie Langley at PwC can accounts. Natalie Langley at PwC can provide accounting guidance. iHorizons is provide accounting guidance. iHorizons is a good local London accounting firm who a good local London accounting firm who specialise in startups.
specialise in startups. You will need to cover: You will need to cover: · Corporate setup · Corporate setup ·
· Tax relief Tax relief programsprograms · Options programs · Options programs · Transfer pricing · Transfer pricing
· Cross-Europe VAT registration · Cross-Europe VAT registration ·
· Client Contracts, adjusting T&Cs Client Contracts, adjusting T&Cs forfor International markets
International markets ·
· Employee relocations - Employee relocations - tax,tax,
compensation & options adjustments compensation & options adjustments Most US startups establish a Limited Most US startups establish a Limited Company in the UK rather than a branch Company in the UK rather than a branch office. There are extra disclosure office. There are extra disclosure requirements and liabilities for branches. requirements and liabilities for branches. Many US startups use their UK Limited Many US startups use their UK Limited subsidiary as the holding company for all subsidiary as the holding company for all other European or Worldwide subsidiaries other European or Worldwide subsidiaries they subsequently create. However, this they subsequently create. However, this approach may change depending on the approach may change depending on the outcome of Brexit negotiations.
outcome of Brexit negotiations.
Banking
Banking
If you are setting up in the UK we If you are setting up in the UK we recommend banking with Silicon Valley recommend banking with Silicon Valley Bank if you already have an account with Bank if you already have an account with them in the US. They offer discounted them in the US. They offer discounted rates to Index Ventures companies, but rates to Index Ventures companies, but do not have a banking licence elsewhere do not have a banking licence elsewhere in Europe. Alex McCracken can provide in Europe. Alex McCracken can provide guidance. Otherwise, consider Barclays, guidance. Otherwise, consider Barclays, HSBC or a new hungry entrant such as HSBC or a new hungry entrant such as Metro Bank.
Metro Bank.
When opening UK accounts consider that When opening UK accounts consider that client due diligence is potentially more client due diligence is potentially more onerous than the US. You may have to onerous than the US. You may have to verify details of the business beyond verify details of the business beyond simply identity - notarised address proof simply identity - notarised address proof for owners. Requirements elsewhere in for owners. Requirements elsewhere in Europe will vary but are generally more Europe will vary but are generally more onerous than in the UK.