Visas & work permits for yacht crew

Do skippers, captains, hosts, yacht chefs and stewardesses need a work permit? Right-to-work rules by destination, with official government sources. Start here, then open your country.

24 articles

Bareboat or crewed: who supplies the skipper decidesA professional aboard does not make a charter crewed. What matters is who supplied them. Under the Croatian Maritime Code, a guest hiring their own skipper keeps the charter bareboat.
EU skippers in Croatia: the declaration you probably have not filedCommanding a vessel is a regulated profession in Croatia. EU and EEA freelance skippers must file a prior written declaration with the Ministry before their first job, and again every…
As a freelance skipper, am I covered by the boat's insurance?Do not assume so. Underwriters warn that bareboat and demise charter skippers are especially exposed, and that owners routinely believe cover extends to anyone at the helm when it does…
Can I sail between the USVI and the BVI mid-season?Yes, but they are two different countries in law. Crossing needs clearance both ways, and how it affects your US status depends on which document you entered on.
B1/B2 or C1/D: which US visa do I need as yacht crew?Private and pleasure yacht crew want a B-1/B-2. C-1/D is the crew visa and it is for commercial vessels and airlines. The State Department excludes private yachts from it explicitly.
Do I need a work permit to work as yacht crew in the BVI?Since November 2022, crew on foreign-based commercial charter vessels do not. Everyone else working in the BVI does, including unpaid work. A British passport makes no difference.
Does my ESTA work if I arrive in the US or USVI by yacht?No. A private yacht is not an approved carrier under the Visa Waiver Program, so ESTA does not cover you arriving by sea. You need an actual visa.
What is an A1, and what do EU contractors need?What is an A1 (PD A1) certificate, why EU/EEA/Swiss crew working through Quarterdeck should hold one, how to get it, and what it does and doesn't cover.
How can I get the right to work in the Caribbean?Want to crew or work in hospitality in the Caribbean (BVI and beyond)? The work permit is tied to a job, so the placement comes first. How Quarterdeck helps you…
How can a non-EU citizen get the right to work in the EU?Non-EU (including UK) and want to crew or work in hospitality in the EU? The honest path: land the job first, because the work permit is tied to it. How…
Do I need a work permit to work on a yacht?Do skippers, captains, hosts, yacht chefs and stewardesses need a work permit? The EU vs non-EU rule, how the yacht type changes it, and where to check the rules for…
Visas & work permits for yacht crew: find your destinationRight to work for yacht crew, by destination. New here? Start with the yacht work-permit overview, then open your country for the rule and the official source.
Right to work: CroatiaDo skippers and yacht crew need a work permit in Croatia? EU/EEA/Swiss citizens can work with no permit; everyone else needs a residence and work permit. Official source and what…
Right to work: GreeceDo yacht crew need a work permit in Greece? EU/EEA/Swiss citizens work with no permit; others need a work visa and residence permit. Official source and what we need from…
Right to work: ItalyDo yacht crew need a work permit in Italy? EU/EEA/Swiss citizens work freely; others need a work visa via nulla osta under annual quotas. Official source and what we need…
Right to work: SpainDo yacht crew need a work permit in Spain? EU/EEA/Swiss citizens work with no permit (get an NIE); others need a work and residence authorisation. Official source and what we…
Right to work: FranceDo yacht crew need a work permit in France? EU/EEA/Swiss citizens work freely; others need a work visa via France-Visas. Note: French overseas territories are not EU free movement. Official…
Right to work: MontenegroDo yacht crew need a work permit in Montenegro? Yes: Montenegro is not in the EU, so everyone, including EU citizens, needs a residence and work permit. Visa-free entry is…
Right to work: TurkeyDo yacht crew need a work permit in Turkey (Turkiye)? Yes: everyone, including EU citizens, needs a work permit from the Ministry of Labour. An e-visa covers tourism only. Official…
Right to work: French Polynesia (Tahiti)Do yacht crew need a work permit in French Polynesia (Tahiti)? Yes: it is French but not EU free movement, so even EU citizens need a work and residence permit.…
Right to work: British Virgin Islands (BVI)Do yacht crew need a work permit in the British Virgin Islands (BVI)? Yes: unless you are a Belonger/resident, you need a work permit approved before you start, even with…
Right to work: ThailandDo yacht crew need a work permit in Thailand? Yes: you need both a Non-Immigrant B visa and a work permit from the Ministry of Labour. A tourist entry does…
Right to work: MexicoDo yacht crew need a work permit in Mexico? Yes: most need a Temporary Resident Visa with work authorisation, sponsored by an INM-registered employer. A tourist entry does not allow…
Right to work: other charter destinationsRight to work for yacht crew in other charter destinations (Cyprus, Malta, Seychelles, the wider Caribbean). The EU vs non-EU rule of thumb, plus official immigration sources to check for…