Questions or insights related to specific regions and destinations including crew offered and sought
Wanted: Recommendation for Extended EU Visa
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John Stone Posts: 3
13 days ago
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Hello OCC Members
I am a US citizen with a US flagged vessel. I am planning an Atlantic crossing to Europe in the summer of 2026. I'd like to cruise EU waters for a year and wonder how to overcome the unworkable 90 day visa restrictions for a US citizen. Leaving my boat behind for 90 days is not an option for me. I am investigating applying for what I have heard called a resident visa, extended visa, retired visa, or pensioners visa. Does anyone have insight into this approach? Any specific countries easier to gain this type of visa than others? Any information on how to pursue this is be appreciated.
Thanks
John Stone
SV Far Reach
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Simon Currin Administrator Posts: 826
13 days ago
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The experts on this are Charles and Lisa Lenhoff who, I am sure, will see this thread and respond.
Simon
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Simon Currin
S/V Shimshal simon@medex.org.uk
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John Stone Posts: 3
9 days ago
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Anyone else have info on best way to approach an extended visa?
Thanks.
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Charles.Lenhoff Posts: 5
8 days ago
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Thanks Simon!!! But in my ignorance...
John,
Please consult this document covering pre-Schengen Bi-Lateral Agreements in effect if you want to extend you time in Schengen past 90 days...and double check the information with live immigration office in the country you intend to stay:
https://www.theca.org.uk/node/63970#:~:text=https%3A//op.europa.eu/en/publication%2Ddetail/%2D/publication/c067e92d%2D5a8b%2D11e9%2D9151%2D01aa75ed71a1
I share with you my Kafkaesque recent experience:
We checked out of Norway last week at the Bergen airport and headed to Shetland.
Here's a few things we took note of from our experience:
1. You can only check out in Bergen at the airport, and not at the Police station in center ville. The #1 train from the bus station is easy and runs every 10 minutes. The police station is on the LEFT side of the departure terminal and is supposed to be open daily from 07000 to 2300 hr, but the officer is also making the rounds in the airport so we had to wait 40 minutes.
2. For yachts under 15 meters, checking into Norway can be done via emailing the police in the district you are checking in, but also it is important to email the police in the district where you are checking out of PRIOR to arriving at the airport to get your passport stamped. Also, you have to check into customs whether or not you have anything to declare and they will register your MMSI into their system.
3. For yachts over 15 meters, they have to go through SafeSeaNet for entry and exit documentation prior to arriving at the airport for a passport exit stamp.
4. And for citizens of the USA, there is a bi-lateral treaty with Norway that allows for an additional 90 day in NORWAY only, once 89 days in Schengen countries outside Norway has been incurred. for example, Sally the Sailor is a USA citizen and enters Paris on January 1st, 2026 and spends 89 days shopping and stimulating the economies in Paris, Londo, Milan and Berlin. On the 89the day, she goes to Oslo immigration and they stamp her passport with an exit stamp and swing her around the Norwegian flagpole with a welcome to Norway ONLY bonus stamp which she can only use for Norway. How the 90/180 day rules apply for her return to Schengen is uncertain but believed that the clock starts on exiting Norway.
That's all for now.
~Captain Lisa Lenhof
USCG MMC
mv Ho'okipa
Selene 4326
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John Stone Posts: 3
1 days ago
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Lisa
Thanks. I appreciate you sharing the info. I am really more interested in a separate long term visa. But, maybe extended the 90 days is the best I can do. If anyone else has additional info that would be great.
Happy sailing,
John
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