Cruising from Spain to Turkey during this virus?!?!

[Montanan]

Note that there will licensing of the vessel and also licensing of the Captain [be that Captain of a crewed charter or of a bareboat charter].

FYI a reference of the requirements for the skipper of the bareboat. Note there are different categories of license, for example, Category C is for boats and smaller yachts:

All types of BOATS
All types of YACHTS up to 30 GT (for private and commercial purposes)
*Definitions of a BOAT, YACHT;

A BOAT is a vessel intended for navigation at sea which is authorized to carry a maximum of 12 passengers, the hull length of which is greater than 2.5 meters and less than or equal to 15 meters, or the total power of propulsion devices greater than 5 kW.

A YACHT is a vessel for sports and leisure, regardless of whether it is used for personal needs or for commercial activity, and whose hull length is greater than 15 meters and which is intended for a longer stay at sea. The term "intended for a longer stay at sea" means appropriate conditions of accommodation and stay that allow persons on a yacht to stay longer autonomously at sea, primarily from the aspect of protection and safety.

Whereas Category B Captains license is:
competent to operate up to 12 Nm from coast and islands:

Passenger boats up to 3 Nm from coast and islands
Cargo and fishing boats
All type’s of pleasure boats
Pleasure Yachts up to 30 GT
Charter Yachts up to 30 GT without professional crew

https://www.yachtingincroatiaacademy...kipper-licence
https://www.skippercity.com/skippers...es-in-croatia/


Republic of Croatia Ministry of the Sea, Transport and Infrastructure.
https://mmpi.gov.hr/sea/6986

Reference to recognition of valid certificates of competency for bareboat charters.
https://mmpi.gov.hr/UserDocsImages/d...%208-12_20.pdf

[Anders]

Sounds like you are staying long enough in Croatia to be considered as a residence. EU residents can't sail a non VAT paid boat within the eu. Do you have a corporate structure that will legally avoid paying VAT as well as lower the tax bite in Croatia.
Work permit?
If you need to import the boat it must be CE certified. If you don't need to import it will the Croatian authorities allow you to charter the boat without it being CE certified?
Will they accept your American commercial qualifications to skipper a boat in Croatia?

[Visarend]

Originally Posted by DougSabbag

We are planning on applying for a

We will have to leave Croatia, (sail to Montenegro?), before 18 months is up, to avoid the EU VAT tax of our boat - Check out of Croatia, check into Montenegro, than check back into Croatia.

This statement needs a correction, because the rule of 90 days applies. According to EU rules, you can stay up to 90 days in the last 180 days period, which is meant to exclude a speedy checkout/check in.

[Visarend]

As for Italy, an almost complete lockdown has been enforced yesterday, and shall last at least until April 6th, thereafter subject to reassessment of the pandemic situation. Especially during the 4-5 April weekend, the whole of Italy shall be considered a red no go zone. Otherwise, the classification of this map applies, with a single white zone for the island of Sardinia -but this does not mean that entering Sardinia is easier, on the contrary. Sardinians are enforcing strict rules for test and quarantine.
My personal adice is to contact the US Embassy in Rome prior to deciding to make route for Italy.

[Joh.Ghurt]

Originally Posted by Visarend

This statement needs a correction, because the rule of 90 days applies. According to EU rules, you can stay up to 90 days in the last 180 days period, which is meant to exclude a speedy checkout/check in.

The leaving quickly is for the boat to prevent paying VAT, not the crew. What you're mentioning is the Schengen visa regulation. It doesn't apply to boats, as those don't need a visa.

[Visarend]

Originally Posted by Joh.Ghurt

The leaving quickly is for the boat to prevent paying VAT, not the crew. What you're mentioning is the Schengen visa regulation. It doesn't apply to boats, as those don't need a visa.

My bad, I was assuming that a professional crew was intended to keep being on board. In fact, even one day can restart the 18 months VAT exempt period.

[chesapeakesailor]

DougSabbag - slightly off topic but I am toying with shipping my sailboat to Greece for the summer and then sailing the med in that region too. If I may ask who you are using and how the pricing works? Did you have to take the rigging down?

My online research says that Greece is opening up for boat charters on June 1 so I presume that whole area will attempt to do the same.

Thanks in advance.

[Montanan]

I'll try to clarify the various periods of time and implications.

There is the Good, which Good has been imported into the EU [or similarly a country outside of the EU], and placed under temporary admission [TA], in this instance, the good is the boat and its accoutrements. A TA needs to be discharged by physically exporting the good from the EU to a foreign place or port within a specified time period, e.g., 18 months. International waters is NOT a foreign place or port, the Good is not discharged from its TA until it has been taken to and entered [cleared customs] of a foreign place or port. The Good can then return and be placed under renewed TA. When a Good is under TA neither duty nor VAT are immediately payable; the payment of such fees that are due are merely suspended for the period of time the Good remains in TA. TA applies to non-residents of the EU, and likewise TA will apply to non-residents of Croatia. If one becomes a resident of Croatia then there can not be a TA associated with importing any good into Croatia. As a resident of Croatia one will need to pay Duty and VAT on all goods that you import, e.g. your boat and its accoutrements. Not rocket science. Same pretty much everywhere in the world, one arrives in a country for a temporary stay and brings things with them and intends to leave and take their goods with them when they leave. No duty, no VAT because there is not intended non-temporary importation. Note that under temporary short stay visas one is not allowed to work in a country, i.e. make a living, be paid by an in country employer, operate a business, e.g., base a chartering operation.

The Persons:
Non-citizens, non-permanent residents can enter a country under a short stay visa; in the Schengen countries that provides for a maximum of 90 days in any rolling 180 day period. Those 90 days can be continuous or a cumulation of a series of short stays. Croatia has similar short stay visa limitations of 90 days in any rolling 180 day period. Croatia is not part of the Schengen.

If a person that is a non-citizen or non-permanent resident desires to stay longer than 90 days in any rolling 180 day period then the person has to apply for and be granted a long stay visa, or a residency permit. If one is a resident then Duty and VAT and other taxes are customarily invoked associated with the privilege of being a resident. If a long stay visa is granted it will be issued with specific permitted activities, what is not included in the permit, is thence not permitted. There be many types of visas, devil in the details. Much like the privilege taxation of the States of the United States which are called Sales or Use taxation wherein the State taxes the privilege of residents as to being allowed to sell, or purchase or use a good in the State.

Then there is the issue of becoming a "fiscal resident" / "tax resident" which is typically not especially well defined term, but generally one will be one if they spend 183 days in any tax year in a country. One can be a tax resident in multiple countries and have the joy of paying and filing in each country. This is where double taxation treaties come to be a factor. Gets complex, way beyond the topic of the CruiserForum. But just to give a glimmer of the complexity I have snipped the following, albeit this is an English translation of French taxation laws and we all know how F.U.d translations can become.

The guidance from the French government states:

"Residency for tax purposes is determined for each member of a household. If you are married or in a civil partnership, and one of you lives abroad and the other in France, then you are a “couple with mixed residency status”. You may be considered a resident of France for tax purposes even if your spouse or partner is considered a non-resident (or vice versa). You will be subject to different tax treatment."

This is particularly the case where, for instance, the household income is generated from entirely outside of France, by a spouse who works and lives outside of France.

According to the regulations:

"If one of you is a French resident for tax purposes and the other is not under the terms of a tax treaty, and if you are married (or in a civil partnership) under a joint property regime, you must declare:

- All the income of the spouse or partner resident in France, and of the children or dependants residing in France for tax purposes;

- The income from French sources of the non-resident spouse or partner, provided that the tax treaty grants France the right to tax this income.

- Nota Bene : Income from foreign sources of the non-resident individual is excluded from the tax base and is not included when applying the so-called “effective tax rate” rule. Non-resident members of the tax household are included for income splitting purposes."

[Britboater]

Originally Posted by DougSabbag

Hello Joh.Ghurt - So, assuming we take delivery in Palma, around the beginning of May, do you think we will be able to go to lunch there?
Thank you,
Doug

No problem. Many restaurants are open during the day, or so I have been told.

[Joh.Ghurt]

Originally Posted by Britboater

No problem. Many restaurants are open during the day, or so I have been told.

They're open until 6 pm, but some may not bother on some days.

[Thetis]

As regards Italy, restrictions are in constant move. Regions become red, orange or yellow (or even white like Sardinia right now) with corresponding restrictions. Infections are rising again and most of Italy is red = strict lockdown. The situation in late April or May is non-predictable. Be prepared to change plans on very short notice. You will have to call the port you want to enter just before you plan to go there. We were informed we could enter just before we left one country and, when we arrived two days later, the rules had changed to no entry.



All the best!

[Montanan]

Europe's already comparatively slow vaccination process is being further significantly delayed do to halting of use of the AstraZenca vaccine, which will likely push back the ability to relax COVID prevention protocols and ease travel restrictions and / or result in yet higher incidence of Covid transmission due to lack of immunization through vaccination.

Alert: Spain's health minister announces a 2-week ban on using AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine.

Spain will stop using AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine for at least two weeks, the government said on Monday, joining a growing list of European countries putting the brakes on the shot over concerns about possible side effects.

Earlier on Monday France, Germany and Italy joined Denmark, Norway and several others in halting use of the drug after reports of blood clots in some patients who had received the vaccine.

Only 3.4% of Spain's population has received both jabs and 8.1% has had the first jab. Spain has a long ways to go before becoming safe and eased of this pandemic.



Have you obtained your long-term visa from Croatia [EU Type D]? If you have a Type D visa issued by an EU member country or a Schengen country then Spain will permit your entry from the USA.

As to planning to arrive in Palma, I recommend that you promptly get in touch with the Spanish consulate that has jurisdiction of your region of residency in the USA and line up an appointment to discern initiating a visa to permit air travel to Spain, if the Spanish consulates are even open for arranging in person visa interviews. Most all consulates around the world have closed their facilities and discontinued processing visa during the pandemic.

Attached and linked below is the notice issued March 11, 2021 from the Consular Section of the Embassy of Spain in Washington D.C. regarding who is permitted to depart the USA and be allowed to enter Spain.

http://www.exteriores.gob.es/Consula...11.03.2021.pdf

As you will read, IF one's circumstance as to essentiality of purpose of travel meets one or more of the specified categories then you will need to submit written documentation to the Spanish Embassy in Washington D.C. at least 72 hours in advance of departure to attempt to obtain a visa for entry.

Whereas, all other prospective passengers who's travel purpose is NOT included in the specified categories of qualification for essential travel purposes, [e.g. recreational cruising in the archipelago] must check in advance with enough time, with the Consulates of Spain in the USA with jurisdiction for your region of residency in the USA, to discuss the possibilities of entry in Spain.

Now if it is your desire to be with your vessel upon its delivery to the archipelago then one had best discern the issuance of Spanish visas long before reserving arrangements for transport of the boat from the USA, or the embarking of your yacht on the transport ship, because you might find that your boat is on its way and you may not be able to travel. Recognize that an issued visa may be cancelled without notice, if Spain feels compelled to further restrict its travel protocols. That has happened to tens of thousands of person during the pandemic. No assurances are issued with the issuance of a visa for future travel.

Been through similar issues with select few of our employees and our key suppliers. If their reason for travel was not essential from the country's perspective then visas were not granted and / or if alternative arrangements could feasibly be made such as remote guidance to skilled in country personnel to resolve technical issues, then permission to enter was denied. Realize for as long as the USA restricts travel from the EU to the USA, the EU will likely restrict travel from the USA to the EU. Reciprocity of travel is going to be necessary to avail crossing the pond.

Stay healthy, stay safe. All the best.

[com5984]

Originally Posted by DougSabbag

So, almost all boats do have their flag displayed while entering port?

And, there isn't an Anti-American attitude especially from the Trump / Xenophobic USA, USA, USA nationalism?

We've all heard and seen the videos of Americans screaming at 'foreigners' in USA to 'go home', if they hear an accent. I wonder how that has reverberated over there - are they almost assuming we are like those small minded Trumpsters, or will they approach us with a truly wide open mind?

I know this is a lot to ask, i.e., how are Americans seen in Europe, but we are planning on not just visiting, we are moving there.

You might be surprised how popular Trump is to people who don't follow main stream media. I'd be more worried about the embarrassment that is the current leadership.

[com5984]

Originally Posted by Joh.Ghurt

I'd say about 100% or very close to it.

First, we don't need the help of the USA to do stupid xenophobia or nationalism. We're very capable in that department ourselves and we have over 40 flavours compared to your single one. Our flavours of stupidity are far more convoluted than just the colour of the hat.

As to not liking Americans, we don't like the British, German, Russian and most other tourists either. You as Americans don't even qualify as a remarkable nuisance. Is overweight and clueless in shorts and Aloha shirts worse than the nationals reserving the pool-chairs at sunrise with their towels or the drunk over-cooked lobsters barfing on the beach?

About Trump or whatever presidential puppet you're sporting at the moment: Every country has the leaders it deserves.

People might think you're crazy or stupid, they might even not like what you're country is doing, but that's no reason not to be friendly. And there are also quite a few people who prefer the Americans to a collection of other nationalities with awful behaviours, even with all their faults.

Just leave the Us-Against-Them attitude on your side of the Atlantic and you'll be fine. If in doubt, offer a beer and things will go easy.

Great advice

[Montanan]

Specific notice from the Spanish Consulate that has jurisdiction for Florida, Georgia and South Carolina.

Reference link:

Visa Appointment


7/17/2019

COVID 19- Important information

Due to the high increase in COVID 19 cases that are occurring in south Florida, this Consulate has decided that from now on and until further notice, we will only accept residence visa applications (student visas, work visas, non-profit visas, etc..) BY POSTAL MAIL.

The applicant must send only originals of the forms required for each type of visa, duly completed and signed, along with the photographs and the "Money Orders" to pay the corresponding fees. The rest of the documents must be photocopies.

Please check before mailing your application that you have all the required documents. Incomplete applications will not be processed, and therefore there will be a delay in the processing of your application and its approval.
Once the application is approved we will notify the applicant to come in person to collect the visa, providing the original documents that were previously advanced by mail, along with original passport.

Regarding Schengen visas for stays of less than 90 days, we inform you that due to the current travel restrictions to Spain for foreign citizens, these visas will only be issued when it is duly accredited that there are imperative family reasons, force majeure reasons or humanitarian reasons. In these cases, please send an email in advance to cog.miami.vis@maec.es so that your request for authorization to enter into Spain and the corresponding visa issuance can be evaluated.



Dear visa applicant,

Please note that this Consulate General of Spain in Miami has jurisdiction over the following States: Florida, Georgia and South Carolina.

Please visit the following link for visa requirements:

Visa Requirements


From July 1 2019 onwards, all short stay Schengen visa applications (type C, up to 90 days of stay) - including tourist and business visas must be submitted at BLS Visa Service for Spain (250 Catalonia Ave, Suite 706, Coral Gables Miami 33134). Appointments can be obtained through the following website:


https://usa.blsspainvisa.com/miami/
Notice at the above linked website, the BLS Visa Service for Spain in Miami is closed as per below.

In the interest of public health and safety from the COVID-19 outbreak, the BLS Spain Visa Application Center in Miami will remain closed from April 2 until further notice. All existing appointments must be canceled and re-booked. Kindly call or email us for more information. Travel Insurance is mandatory for travelling to Spain. To get your travel insurance, please click here.

Also note that the BLS Visa Service for Spain office in New York is closed until further notice, meaning that there are no BLS Visa Service for Spain offices open in the USA.

Importance Notice
As of 2nd February’ 2020
The deadline for submitting a visa application is extended to 6 months instead of 3 months. In case of Seafarers they may be presented with a maximum advance of 9 months.
Visa application form has been changed.


info.miami@blshelpline.com


Ph (786) 329-7199

For the rest of the visas modalities (studies, residence…), the Visa Section of this Consulate will continue to receive visa applications in person, from Monday to Friday (8:30 AM-1:30 PM). In these cases it is not necessary to request an appointment. We kindly suggest applicants to arrive early at our premises.

It should be noted that all visa applications may ONLY be requested within three months prior to the departure.

The visa application needs to be handed in personally. Unfortunately, NO visa applications may be accepted by mail.