Mediterranean Visa for Aussies - Help !

[dlymn]

I am faced with the same "Shengen" visa issue; we want to spend six months a year cruising the Med.
Foreigners working in the EU get a work visa (400+ euros)
I am now exploring the possibility of getting residency in, say, France. I think that any EU resident can travel around the EU without worrying about Shengen.
It is a very bureaucratic and expensive process, clearly designed to put off tyre kickers and freeloaders.
Get in touch with the French Embassy in Oz.

[Roaring Girl]

Yes it's complicated and I've never had to study it in detail. Of course you're not talking about one country - but at least Greece, Croatia, Italy, France and Spain, many of whom have fought centuries of wars, so keeping the peace has been a tortuous process.

Australia isn't that easy, going that other way, where as a Brit not wanting to work or pay Aus tax, I can only get a tourist visa:

An Australian tourist visa (ETA) will allow you to enter Australia for the purpose of tourism. This visa is valid for 12 months from the date of issue, and allows multiple entry into Australia.

An ETA will allow you to stay in Australia for up to 3 months on each visit.

So yeah, I can stay up to a year but only 90 days at a time, and where the hell am I going to go to restart my time?

And the US is even more complicated.

[multihullsailor6]

[QUOTE=dlymn;622522]I am now exploring the possibility of getting residency in, say, France. I think that any EU resident can travel around the EU without worrying about Shengen.
QUOTE]

dlymn,

I am not sure that this is correct!? Even as a permanent resident in Germany it is my understanding that I, as a South African citizen and passport holder, still fall under the 90 out of 180 days "Schengen-countries rule" with the exception of Germany of course in my case.

Your statement is correct for persons holding a "Schengen-countries" passport.

Can you clarify your opinion, please!

[goboatingnow]

if you have a work or residency visa for a particular EU country, The schengen rules still apply when you travel to other Schengen areas

Also be careful of residency visas, They can nulify the TI relief on VAT on a foreign boat and make you subject to the local registration, boat taxes and competency certs as well. Boats were never imagined in residency visas.

Dave