Do I need a Visa to work on Superyachts ?

Before you become yacht crew and do your STCW Basic Safety Training as well as Yacht Crew training it is important to understand what the travel and visa requirements are for Yacht crew.

To work as a Yacht Stewardess or a Yacht Deckhand as seen on below Deck, it is important to make sure you have the right passport and travel/work visas.

What Visas do I need to work on Yachts ?

 For the most part you do not need a work visa to work on Yachts. All that is required is the following:

• You have a Valid Passport
• The Passport should be valid for at least 6 months, but it is better to make sure at least a few years validity before starting to work
• You need to have the a passport or visa that allows you to be in the region where the Yacht currently is.

What work visa do you need to work on Yachts ?

Do I need a visa to work on Superyachts ? To work on the actual Yacht you do not need a work visa. The Yacht operates internationally, which means that you are signed on board the Yacht and not in technically not in the country where the Yacht currently is moored or sailing.

What visas and documents do I need to become Yacht Crew?

 There are a few visas that will help you get a Yacht job to make it easier for the employer. Since we on board wish not to have too much paperwork in terms of crew travel it will benefit Yachts and make it easier to employ you if you have:

• A valid Passport
• A Schengen Visa or Schengen Visa Exemption
• A Seamans Discharge Book (A travel document for Yacht crew and Seafarers. Yachtie careers can help you obtain this.
• A US B1/B2 Visa (To work on Yacht in The United States, Florida or the Caribbean) Yachtie careers can help you obtain your B1/B2 visa after the training.

 What visa do I need to work on a Yacht in Europe (Mediterranean)?

 As mentioned above you do not need a Visa to work on board the Yacht, but you do need a visa to join in the area where the Yacht is located. Do I need a visa to work on Superyachts ?

Example 1: 

• The Yacht is located in France, Europe
• The Crew member is from EU and has an EU-passport

This Crew member does not need any visa. You travel to the yacht with an EU-passport and then become part of the crew on board and signed on to the crew list. You have the right to be in EU and you have the right to be on board the Yacht.

Example 2:

• The Yacht is located in France, Europe
• The Crew member is from (United Kingdom, Australia, Brazil, New Zeeland, United States, Canada, notfrom EU, but has a Schengen exemption (90 days)

Do I need a visa to work on Superyachts ? Just like a tourist you are free to enter EU for 90 days on a Schengen Exemption visa. If you travel in Europe for 87 days and then get employed by the Yacht, the yacht agent and company will sign you on board and you will get stamped out from EU where the yacht currently is located.

This means your days stop counting at 87 and you can remain in EU while employed on the Yacht for months/years or for the duration of your contract.

You do not need a Visa.

Do I need a Visa to work on Superyachts ? – Example 3:

• The Yacht is located in France, Europe
• The Crew member is from (Thailand, Philippines, Mexico, and you do not have a Schengen exemption on arrival to Europe.

Do I need a visa to work on Superyachts ? In this case you need to apply or hold a Schengen Visa for Tourism or visiting purposes. This is just so that you can fly and enter Europe in order to join the Yacht or find work on board. Once you get employed by the Yacht you will be stamped out from Europe and stamped on board the yacht as yacht Crew.

You need a Schengen visa to enter Europe, or sail to Europe but you do not need a work visa to work on board the yacht. When you do the Yachtiecareers STCW Training and Yacht Crew training we can help you with the Schengen Visa application if necessary,

Do I need a Schengen Visa to work on Yachts ?

Crew from the following countries or regions do not need to apply for a Schengen visa to work on yachts in Europe and the Mediterranean:

• All EU- Member states
• All countries that allow Schengen Exemptions for 90 days such as:
  • Other countries in Europe
  • Australia
  • Brazil
  • Argentina
  • United States
  • Canada
  • Switzerland
  • Norway
  • Sweden
  • United Kingdom
  • And many others

If you are from another country or region you will need to apply for a normal Schengen Visa tourist/visitor in order to travel to Europe and join the Yacht, or if already having a contract the company can apply for a transit visa in order to join the Yacht. Yachtie careers will help you with this process.We also help you find a yacht job in Europe.

Do I need a Visa to work on Superyachts ? – Conclusion

We hope this answers the question for you: Do I need a visa to work on Superyachts ? You do not need a work visa to find a yacht job with Yachtiecareers. Simply join the yacht crew training and we take care of the rest.

To become a Yacht Stewardess and get all STCW Basic Safety Training, Visas, Yacht CV and Seaman’s Discharge book you can book your training here:
Yacht Stewardess Training

To become a Yacht Deckhand and get all STCW Basic Safety Training, Visas, Yacht CV and Seaman’s Discharge book you can book your training here:

Yacht Deckhand Training