Was just thinking, does Rick enter European countries like we do, as tourists? Does he have the same Schengen restrictions?
Or does he have to get some sort of business visa? I’d think he’d need one if he is actually guiding a tour, since that is a job which could be done by a local. But, if he’s just researching stuff for his books and writing a blog, that’s not really taking a job.
Does Rick actually lead the tours? I thought he employed European guides to do that. Most countries in Europe have laws concerning who can and can't lead tours. I know that in Italy the certification process is tough. That's why the licensed guides are so knowledgeable.
I thought Rick always guided one tour a year himself, maybe that’s changed.
I would imagine that when Rick appears in-person for the occasional, lucky tour, he's just acting as a volunteer tour-helper/advisor, and technically the tour is being led by one of the regular staff members.
Though I wonder if he does ever bump up against the 90-day Schengen rule...he does spend most of his summers in Europe, so I'm sure he has a strategy to avoid overstaying.
It probably helps that the tours have a start and end date and they know Rick will return to Seattle.
It’s not the case of some restaurant employing a worker who’s just ‘helping out in the kitchen that day’ and doesn’t have work authorisation.
Most likely he stays within the limits of the 90/180 day limit for Schengen and similar limits for other countries. Like most International companies, employees can actually do quite a bit in a foreign country and not be astray of work rules. People often try to split hairs and warn that you can't even check your work email while traveling, but it just is not the case.
Filming shows though probably requires a bit more paperwork and coordination, local permissions, etc.
I read somewhere that he goes twice a year for about 2 months at a time in spring and summer.
While I don't think he answers the visa question, I think his two Monday night travel talks from the last month or so about his travels this year and how he films things and updates guidebooks would be of interest to you
https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/travel-classes/monday-night-travel/2022-trip-report
https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/travel-classes/monday-night-travel/amsterdam
