Schengen Visas is a hot topic among yacht management and non-EU crew. Sometime, in the yachting industry, there is a lack of information about the solutions available to yacht Crew, with much debate around the paperwork required and apparent problems of having non-EU Crew on board a superyacht. This has had a knee-jerk effect on the Crew hiring process, with some jobs advertising only for certain passport-holders.
The visa policy of the Schengen Area discerns between Annex I nationals (the ‘black list’) and Annex II nationals (the ‘white list’).
Nationals on the Annex I list need a visa if they wish to enter the Schengen Area and typically include most countries in Africa, Asia and western parts of South America. Some Annex I countries include South Africa, Philippines, Russia and China.
Nationals on the Annex II list do not require visas to enter the Schengen Area but often require permission for a stay longer than 90-days or for employment activity on land. Some Annex II countries include Canada, America, Australia and New Zealand.
Visa reciprocity between the Schengen Area and Annex II countries like Australia, for example, mean that certain ‘softer’ regulations are in place for tourism and business visits between countries.
SCS Yachting in house legal experts are capable to assist any Captain, yacht manager or directly any non-EU Crew member to sort out immigration formalities and to obtain a Schengen visa to work on board a superyacht based in EU or operated in the EU countries.
