Start here. You are responsible for holding the legal right to work in the country where your assignment takes place. The rules differ by country and by your nationality, and they change, so treat this as orientation, not legal advice, and confirm your own position with the official source before you travel. If you don't hold the right to work for a destination, tell us and we won't place you there until it is sorted.
New here? Start with Do I need a work permit to work on a yacht? for the quick answer, then open your destination below.
The two things that decide it
Your nationality (and any residence you hold).
The destination and its status. For yachts, the vessel's flag and whether it is private or commercially chartered can also matter.
A tourist or visa-free entry lets you visit; it is not the right to work. Working almost always needs something more.
Quick rule of thumb
EU / EEA / Swiss citizens can work in EU countries with no permit (free movement).
Everyone else (including UK passport holders) generally needs a work permit or a recognised exemption for the country of the assignment.
Watch out: French overseas territories (such as French Polynesia) are not covered by EU free movement, so even EU citizens need local permission there.
Does the type of yacht change things?
It can. Most of our work is bareboat charter: a yacht for up to 12 guests that the guests charter and then hire a skipper for. On a bareboat charter the skipper is providing a service on a boat operating locally, so the ordinary local right-to-work rules on this page apply, EU free movement for EU/EEA/Swiss citizens and a work permit for everyone else.
Crewed charter, private yachts and superyachts can work differently. Crew on those are often treated as seafarers. Where the yacht is not permanently based in the country, they may travel on a seaman's transit or short-stay visa with a crew list and the vessel's papers, and the flag state matters. If that is your situation, the seafarer route may apply instead of a local work permit, so confirm the position for that specific yacht, country and your nationality.
Working ashore (chefs, hosts and stewards in villas, chalets, restaurants and venues) has no maritime element at all: see Do I need a work permit to work in a chalet or private villa?
Open the destination you're headed to
EU / EEA / Switzerland
Other Europe (non-EU)
Further afield
Anywhere else
Other charter destinations (Cyprus, Malta, the wider Caribbean, the Seychelles and more)
What we ask of you
Keep your nationality correct in your profile; it tells us your EU status.
If you hold a work permit for a destination, tick the work-permit box.
Where it applies, an A1 certificate keeps you in your home social-security system while you work in another EU country. We are adding A1 upload; nothing to do yet.
Important
Immigration rules change often and vary by nationality. This page and the destination pages are general orientation, not legal advice, and Quarterdeck is not an immigration adviser. Always confirm your own position with the destination's official immigration source (and, for yachts, the flag state and the marina or agent) before you travel. We will not place you on an assignment in a country where you do not hold the right to work.