GREECE MARITIME IMMIGRATION REQUIREMENTS
SIGN ON VISA PROCEDURES FOR SEAFARERS
Depending on the Nationality of the Seafarer (Crew Member) VISA will be Compulsory or it will be VISA Exempt .
VISA Required for Seafarers of Turkish , Egyptian , Indian , Filipino , South Africa etc Nationality and VISA Exempt are UK , USA , New Zealand , Australian and Canadian Nationals .
For more nationalities please check : Lists of third countries whose nationals Need VISA For Greece
Either Transit Schengen visas or Type C certain Procedures and Requirements for Seafarers should be followed in order the procedure to be smooth .
VISA APPLICATION TO JOIN A YACHT or A SHIP (SIGN ON VISA)
Besides all supporting documents that the Consulate or the VISA Center will Require From you you will need from us in our capacity of the Ship’s or Yacht’s Agency the following :
- OK TO BOARD LETTER
- AGENT’S SOLEMN DECLARATION
- AGENT’S ASSUMING FULL RESPONSIBILITY IN FORM OF AFIDAVIT OF SUPPORT TILL EBARKATION
- BERTHING DECLARATION
- RELEVANT ORDER OF THE PORT MASTER TO THE FIRST IMMIGRATION ENTRY
PLEASE BE INFORMED THAT WE WILL NEED A MINIMUM 4 DAYS NOTICE TO PRIOR TO THE SIGN ON OF THE SEAFARER PREPARE THE DOCUMENTATION AND RELEVANT FORMALITIES THUS WE NEED YOUR UNDERSTANDING IN AVOIDING LAST MINUTE REQUESTS AS THERE IS A CHANCE THAT VISA WILL BE REJECTED
CREW FORMALITIES (SIGN ON / SIGN OFF)SIGN ON -
For Crew Member Arriving in Greece for Sign ON we arrange Meet & Greet Service as it is Compulsory By Law at the first Port or Airport Of Entry and arrange all relevant formalities at the Immigration Office of the First Entry and onwards we arrange all formalities at the Sign-ON Port / Marina of the Crew Member’s Final Destination .
After the Stamp In the Country (Schengen ) we arrange at the Port Of Sign-ON the Stamp-OUT of Schengen and officially Signed On as Crew . Thus the VISA Closes for those who need VISA and the Days Counting Stop for those who don’t need VISA but According to Schengen Regulation they have a maximum stay of 90 Days .
SIGN OFF - For Sign-OFF of a Seafarer / Crew Member we will need the following :
STEP 1
- Captain’s Letter Instructing our Agency to Sign OFF the Seafarer / Crew Member
- Copy of Seaman Book
- Copy of Passport
- Repatriation Ticket*
- Filled VISA Application (If the Crew Member Does Not Have VISA and Need Schengen VISA)
- Arrival Crew List
- Agency Appointment from the Yacht / Ship
*The Repatriation ticket should be for the Home Country of the Seafarer / Crew Member or his country of Residency if other . REMARKS : FOR CREW THAT DON’T HAVE VISA AND WILL NEED VISA TO ENTER GREECE / SCHEGHEN WE NEED 48 HOURS NOTICE IN ADVANCE AS PER RELEVANT DIRECTIVE OF THE IMMIGRATION OFFICESTEP 2 TRANSIT VISA : VALID for 3-5 Days After the VISA is approved we will pick up the Seafarer / Crew Member and proceed to the Immigration Office to Finalize the VISA Issuance and onwards we will make all arrangements NOTICE PLEASE :
- For nationalities that do not require visa, the requirements remain the same as the above.
- For crew members travelling with a transit visa (5days max), no extension or further presence into Schengen area can be granted.
