A GUIDE TO CREW VISA AND IMMIGRATION PROCEDURES IN ITALY
For Foreigners and Italian Crew
Over the past few years, crew visa regulations have undergone several changes, leading to some confusion about the correct procedures to follow. That’s why we’ve created this guide—to provide you with the clarity and support you need when operating in Italy, with a special focus on Sardinia. Here, we’re fully equipped to assist you with all the procedures listed below.
C-Visa or Schengen Visa
The Type C Visa is a short-term Schengen visa for tourism purposes, allowing a stay of up to 90 days within the Schengen area.
Process:
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Crew members must apply for the visa at the Italian embassy/consulate in their country of residence (appointment must be scheduled independently).
Our Role:
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Drafting a guarantee letter including vessel, seafarer, and flight details, countersigned by the local port authority (the vessel must have already arrived in the harbor).
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Sending the guarantee letter to the Italian embassy/consulate where the crew member has secured an appointment.
D-Visa (Long-Term Crew Visa)
The Italian D-Visa is a long-term entry visa for work purposes. By applying for this visa, crew members can obtain a multiple-entry visa for Italy for up to 365 days. It also allows to travel within Schengen countries for a maximum of 90 days every six months.
It is crucial that crew members requiring a D-Visa have all the necessary permits to reach the Italian embassy/consulate (e.g., a valid type C visa that allows them to leave Italy and visit the Italian embassy/consulate), and that the vessel is moored in an Italian port.
Our role:
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Drafting a guarantee letter, signed by us and countersigned by the local port authority, confirming the vessel's arrival date and mooring period in the port of competence.
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Submitting all required documents to the Italian consulate/embassy for a preliminary check to ensure eligibility for the D-Visa.
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Scheduling an appointment with an Italian consulate/embassy
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Arranging the purchase of flight tickets and all logistics to reach the designated country where the selected appointed Italian embassy or consulate is located. Please reach out to us, so that we can provide full assistance to complete the process.
Stamp-In & Stamp-Out Procedures
Outgoing/Departing Crew Members (Stamp-In)
For every non-Schengen crew member holding a valid Schengen visa and disembarking at a Schengen port, it is mandatory to have their passport stamped-in upon entry into the Schengen area. This allows them to remain in the Schengen area until their departure.
Please note that the stamp-in can be applied by appointment at the airport or port. We will schedule the appointment with border police on the same day of departure or one day in advance, to ensure a smooth and efficient process prior to departure.
Incoming Crew Members (Stamp-in)
The stamp-in procedure is automatically completed upon arrival at the first Schengen airport. No further procedures are required.
Arriving Crew Members embarking on Non-EU Flagged Yachts (Stamp-Out)
Crew members non-Schengen passport holders with a Schengen visa are allowed to have their passport stamped-out without using their period of allowance. It is mandatory that they go to the border police before they go onboard the vessel.
The appointment will be set by NA for the same day of arrival. Please note that the stamp-out procedures can only be completed at the time of embarkation and cannot be processed retroactively.
Transit Visa
A transit visa is required when a crew member’s visa has expired, allowing them to leave the vessel and enter the Schengen area to return home.
Our Role:
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Emailing all necessary documents to border police.
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Scheduling an appointment with border police (on the departure day or the day before).
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Accompanying the crew member to the border police for transit visa issuance.
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The flight plan to the non-Schengen country can only transit through an Italian airport, not any other Schengen airport.
Support for Italian Crew on Italian-Flagged Vessels
For Italian crew members working on Italian-flagged yachts, different regulations apply. We can assist with key procedures such as "rilascio e rinnovo ruolino", "armamento/imbarco", and "sbarco/disarmo". If you need support navigating these processes, don’t hesitate to reach out to us.
Understanding and following visa and immigration regulations is crucial for a smooth yachting season in Italy and Sardinia. We are aware that procedures can vary slightly between ports in Italy and not all ports can fulfill all these formalities. However, we will always be able to guide you to the best possible solution wherever you are.
To know the exact list of required documents, you can reach out to us at agency@nayacht.com or register on The Captain’s Tool, Nautica Assistance’s operational platform designed to simplify the onboard experience for crew and captains.
If you need any assistance with your visa application, documentation, or scheduling procedures, feel free to reach out. We are here to ensure a hassle-free process for you and your crew!