Schengen Transit: Which Visas Seafarers May Need
The visa category required by a seafarer depends on the itinerary and on whether the traveller must leave the airport’s international transit zone and formally enter the Schengen area.
What is the difference between Type A, C and D visas?
According to guidance on Schengen visas for seafarers, Type A is intended for airport transit without leaving the international transit zone. Type C is used for short-term entry, including travel to join a vessel, take part in a crew change, or transit overland between ports. A national Type D visa may be considered for a longer stay ashore, such as training, an internship, or waiting for a contract.
| Category | Scenario |
|---|---|
| A | A connection within an airport’s international transit zone without entering the country |
| C | Short-term entry to join a vessel, change crew, or transit overland |
| D | A longer stay governed by the national rules of the relevant country |
If the itinerary involves changing airports or leaving the transit zone, the traveller needs the legal right to enter the Schengen area. Remaining in the transit zone does not mean that a Type A visa is required in every case: the requirement depends on the traveller’s nationality, itinerary, and the rules of the transit country.
What applies to Ukrainians with biometric passports?
Ukrainians holding biometric passports may travel in the Schengen area without a visa for up to 90 days, provided that they comply with the conditions of the visa-free regime. This is also stated in the information about transit through Poland.
A non-biometric Ukrainian passport does not by itself provide visa-free entry. In that situation, the traveller should determine in advance whether another legal basis for entry applies or whether a visa is required.
What should be checked before travelling?
Before purchasing tickets, a seafarer should establish:
- whether the itinerary requires leaving the international transit zone;
- whether it involves changing airports;
- through which country the traveller will enter the Schengen area;
- which visa category corresponds to the route and purpose of travel;
- which supporting documents the competent consulate requires.
Document requirements should be confirmed with the consulate handling the application. For example, the Embassy of Italy in Panama lists a copy of the employment contract, a copy of the seafarer’s identity documents, and evidence of the need to transit through the Schengen area among the documents for a seafarer transit visa.