EU Visas

[symgardiner]

My family and I are looking to buy an ex-charter Lagoon 440 in the Med at the beginning of 2018. We are wondering how we can stay in the various EU countries longer than the 90 days out of 180 days limit.
Have other cruising families dealt with this issue and if so how did you manage?
We anticipate needing more than 3 months to learn to run the boat and then do various work on it.

[Prairie Chicken]

Welcome aboard symgardiner.

I suggest you search this forum for Schengen. There are many, many threads discussing this issue.

Enjoy the reading!

[symgardiner]

When I've looked at the posts on this there are lots of maybe's and mights. We are from New Zealand and there were bilateral agreements in place with most EU countries before Schengen. Some people say that these could give a way to stay longer.
I'm keen to hear if anyone has actually done this and can give guidance on what worked for them.
In our case we are all on NZ passports. We envisage spending 6-12 months in the Med/Black Sea learning to sail a big cat and converting from charter to ocean going.

[boatman61]

As you are envisioning spending 6-12mths in the Med and Black Sea your best bet may be to plan your voyaging to make use of the non Schengen countries like Turkey, Cyprus, Crimea etc to balance their stay.. likely a lot easier than the EU hoops one has to jump through.

[chuckr]

Originally Posted by boatman61

As you are envisioning spending 6-12mths in the Med and Black Sea your best bet may be to plan your voyaging to make use of the non Schengen countries like Turkey, Cyprus, Crimea etc to balance their stay.. likely a lot easier than the EU hoops one has to jump through.

Forget Crimea unless you want trouble from EU countries and potentially your home country. It is internationally embargoed (which is simply stupid in our opinion). And if you go to Crimea you need a Russian visa which is doable but time consuming.

Also do not forget Tunisia a great and wonderful country. Unless things changed Albania - an incredible country that is simply wonderful - Croatia are also outside Schengen.

Beyond that good luck

[Kenomac]

Make use of non-Schengen countries like Croatia, Albania and Montenegro... that big patch of grey right in the middle of the Med on boatman's picture. Also, ask the Italian authorities who will likely grant a stay for yacht repairs in their country.

FYI: For cruising the Med, Croatia is where you want to be, just plan on spending more time there.

Are you able to obtain a second passport from another country like Ireland or the UK?

[symgardiner]

We have no links to other countries so only have NZ passports. On the up side a Kiwi passport is a ticket to not being bothered by anyone.

Thanks for the advice. It looks like we will pick the boat up, get out of the Schengen area as much as possible and then figure out where the best place is to do the boat work (and what needs doing).

[John Holbrook]

I had a look at the Schegen rules and it appears your 90 days in 180 days start when you first arrive in Schegen zone.

So if you arrive stay days 1 to 5 say, exit days 6 - 96 return days 97 - 180 and leave on day 180 that should be fine. Question is if on day 180 you stayed for another 90 days until day 270 and left is that ok? Days 181 - 270 being part of a second 180 day period.

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by symgardiner

We have no links to other countries so only have NZ passports. On the up side a Kiwi passport is a ticket to not being bothered by anyone.

Thanks for the advice. It looks like we will pick the boat up, get out of the Schengen area as much as possible and then figure out where the best place is to do the boat work (and what needs doing).

Do some research on New Zealand bilateral treaties in Europe. These are the best there are, so a Kiwi passport is a big plus. There are several European countries which will allow you to stay more than the standard Schengen periods.

Just keep in mind that those Schengen countries which do NOT have bilateral treaties with New Zealand will not subtract your time in the bilateral treaty countries, so you will need to stay out of those once you have exhausted your Schengen days.

"New Zealand has bilateral visa waiver agreements with many of the individual countries in the Schengen area. Some of these visa waiver agreements allow New Zealanders to spend a limited time in the relevant country, without reference to time spent in other Schengen area countries. Entry, and the length of stay under these visa waiver agreements, is subject to the decision of the local immigration authorities. "

https://www.safetravel.govt.nz/trave...-travel-europe

[ccannan]

Originally Posted by John Holbrook

I had a look at the Schegen rules and it appears your 90 days in 180 days start when you first arrive in Schegen zone.

So if you arrive stay days 1 to 5 say, exit days 6 - 96 return days 97 - 180 and leave on day 180 that should be fine. Question is if on day 180 you stayed for another 90 days until day 270 and left is that ok? Days 181 - 270 being part of a second 180 day period.

Only 90 days in any 180 day period.

[Prairie Chicken]

This isn't a particularly friendly calculator, but it gives the answers & it is from the 'official' website. Go to the Home area for more details & instructions.

https://ec.europa.eu/home-affairs/co...-calculator_en