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The Schengen 90/180 Rule for Yacht Crew
How the rule works, where crew commonly get caught, and what to check before a Med season.
The Crew Atelier · 6 min read
The basic rule
Non-EU nationals without a long-stay visa may spend 90 days in any rolling 180-day period inside the Schengen area. The clock is rolling, not calendar-based.
Where crew get caught
Arriving in April for dockwalking, burning 60 days ashore before finding a boat, then discovering there is no time left for the season.
Being crew on a vessel
Some flag and port states treat signed-on crew differently, and a discharge book or crew list can matter at immigration. This is not automatic and it is not universal — do not assume.
Practical steps
- Count your days precisely with a Schengen calculator
- Keep every entry and exit stamp
- Carry proof you are joining or serving on a vessel
- Ask the captain or management company how they handle crew immigration
When to get advice
If you are planning back-to-back Med seasons, speak to an immigration adviser before you book flights. Overstays follow you for years.