Short answer:
You’re personally responsible for having the visa / work permit your destination requires.
Schengen 90/180-day rules still apply for everyone.
Skippers are more visible to authorities than hosts, and enforcement is stricter – especially in Greece.
When/where you only work one week is generally low-risk, but local rules still apply. (ex: one week charter in BVI/Tahiti)
Schengen rules: how long can I stay?
For most non-EU/EEA passports, the basic rule for the Schengen area (EU) is:
Maximum 90 days in any 180-day period as a visitor.
That 90 days is counted across all Schengen countries combined, not per country. If you’ve already spent a lot of time in Europe before the season, you need to factor that in. If you’re close to the limit, it becomes difficult bordering on impossible to stay on for several weeks of work.
We can’t track or calculate your personal Schengen days for you. Before you apply, use an online Schengen calculator and make sure your total time in Europe (travelling + working) stays within the rules.
Skippers vs Hosts - differences
Skippers
Skippers are listed as skippers on all crew lists.
Port authorities can very easily see:
who is skippering which yacht
how many weeks in a row they appear as skipper
If they see the same name skippering multiple weeks, they will normally assume you are working, not on holiday.
Because of that:
In the EU, skippers are expected to have a valid right to work (for example, an EU work permit / A1 form when applicable).
Similar principles apply in BVI and French Polynesia – you are providing a professional service, so technically you should meet local work rules.
Enforcement reality:
Checks are random and can vary by year and by country.
Greece has historically been the strictest and we expect enforcement to stay tight there.
Croatia has been more flexible in practice so far, but that can change at any time.
The longer you work (many consecutive weeks, or season after season), the higher the chance that someone looks more closely at your status.
Bottom line for skippers:
Legally you should have whatever work permission the local authorities require. It is not always enforced, but it is never “officially allowed” to work without it. If you plan to work several weeks, you should assume they may ask.
Hosts
Hosts are normally listed as crew/guests, not as employed staff operating the yacht.
You are there to provide hospitality services that the paying guests have chosen to bring with them – you are not in command of the yacht, and you are not legally responsible for navigation.
Because of that:
In practice, hosts are checked far less often than skippers.
We have not seen hosts being systematically questioned over multiple weeks in the same way skippers can be.
However, authorities could still:
See that the same person appears as “crew” on several different yachts over many weeks.
Decide that this looks like work, and ask questions about what you are doing in the country.
So while the practical risk is lower for hosts, the basic rule is the same:
You are responsible for complying with local visa and work regulations, even if checks are rare.
Why do/don't countries check and enforce these rules?
It’s worth understanding why authorities care about visas and work status in the first place.
Protecting local jobs and standards
Immigration and labour rules exist to make sure foreign workers don’t undercut local crews and companies, and that anyone working on the water meets minimum safety and competency standards.
Balancing enforcement with tourism needs
Yachting is a critical part of the tourism infrastructure in places like Croatia, Greece, BVI and Tahiti. When there is plenty of local labour and qualified skippers, authorities may enforce work and visa rules more strictly.
When there is a shortage of qualified staff, they are sometimes more flexible in practice, because without enough crews the local tourism economy simply can’t operate. In that sense, international crews are helping countries secure the tourism revenue they rely on.
Where Quarterdeck fits in
Quarterdeck’s requirements for skippers and hosts exceed local minimums in terms of training, certifications and safety standards. Our goal is to make sure we add value to the local industry and never add extra risk.
Even so, the legal rules still apply: authorities have every right to check who is working in their waters and under what conditions, and you should always assume that they might do so.