Cook/Stewardess
Temporary Cook/Stewardess to join a 35m private motor yacht.
Yachting guides
Yachting Visas and Right to Work
Which visa a yacht crew member needs depends on the yacht’s flag, where it cruises, and the crew member’s own passport — most non-EU crew working the Mediterranean rely on the Schengen 90/180 rule, and most crew working US waters need a B1/B2 visa rather than the standard visa waiver. These are the basics most new crew run into first; always check the current requirements yourself before you fly out, since rules and processing times change.
The Schengen 90/180 rule
If the yacht is cruising the Mediterranean, most non-EU crew are limited to 90 days in any 180-day period across the Schengen area. The clock covers the whole zone, not country by country, so time in France and time in Spain both count against the same 90 days. Crew who sign on to a yacht for the season need to plan around this, or hold a passport or residency that is not subject to the limit.
The US B1/B2 visa
Crew working on yachts that cruise US waters, including Florida and the Caribbean legs some itineraries take, typically need a B1/B2 visa rather than entering on the standard visa waiver programme, because crewing a yacht is treated as work. This needs to be arranged ahead of the season; interview wait times at US consulates vary by location and time of year.
Discharge books and flag-state paperwork
Depending on the yacht’s flag state, you may also need a discharge book or an equivalent service record. This is separate from your visa and is usually arranged once you have a job offer, often with the agent or the yacht’s management company.
Immigration and visa rules are not something a recruitment agency can advise on as fact. A good starting point is the relevant consulate’s own website for the flag state and cruising ground in question, confirmed close to your travel dates.
Common questions
Do yacht crew need a visa?
Usually yes, depending on the yacht’s flag state, where it cruises, and the crew member’s own nationality. Crew working the Mediterranean are commonly subject to the Schengen 90/180-day rule; crew working US waters typically need a B1/B2 visa rather than the visa waiver programme, because crewing is treated as work, not tourism.
What is the Schengen 90/180 rule for yacht crew?
It limits most non-EU passport holders to 90 days inside the Schengen area in any rolling 180-day period, counted across the whole zone rather than country by country. Crew on a Mediterranean season need to track this carefully, or hold a passport or residency not subject to the limit.
Do yacht crew need a US visa to work in the Caribbean or Florida?
Yachts cruising US waters, including some Caribbean itineraries that call at Florida, generally require crew to hold a B1/B2 visa rather than entering visa-free, since working on board is treated as employment.
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