Why this decides which jobs you can take
Vacancy listings often state a visa requirement in the first line, because it is a hard filter rather than a preference. A candidate without a B1/B2 cannot join a yacht heading to Florida, however good they are.
Getting the paperwork straight before the season is one of the few things entirely within your control.
B1/B2 — the United States
The visa that matters most for anyone wanting Caribbean and Florida programmes. Yachts based in or transiting the US will list it as mandatory, and many will not consider candidates without one.
It takes time to obtain and appointment availability varies considerably by country. Start early — crew regularly miss the Caribbean season because they applied in October.
Schengen 90/180 — the Mediterranean
Non-EU nationals can spend 90 days in any rolling 180-day period in the Schengen area. For a full Med season this is the constraint that bites, and it caught out a lot of British crew after Brexit.
Yachts manage it in different ways — time outside Schengen, careful itinerary planning, or hiring EU passport holders for long Med programmes. Be honest with an agency about your position rather than discovering it mid-season.
Seaman’s book
A Seaman’s Discharge Book records your sea service and is issued by a flag state. It is not a visa and does not grant you the right to work anywhere. What it does is document your time on board, which matters when you come to apply for certification that requires qualifying sea time.
Some ports and some flag states expect crew to hold one. Get it when you have a boat, not before.
Flag state, and why it appears in job adverts
A yacht is registered under a flag — Cayman, Marshall Islands, Malta, Red Ensign and others are common. The flag determines which regulations apply to the vessel, which certificates the crew must hold, and the form of your employment agreement.
You do not need to be a national of the flag state. It matters to you mainly because it sets which certificates are accepted and what your contract looks like under MLC 2006.
Your employment agreement
Under MLC 2006 you are entitled to a Seafarer Employment Agreement, to examine it before and after signing, and to keep a copy. It sets out pay, leave, repatriation and notice.
Read it. If something is unclear, ask before you sign — not after you have flown out.
What to have ready before the season
- Passport with at least six months validity, and plenty of blank pages
- B1/B2 if you want any US or Caribbean programme
- A clear understanding of your Schengen position
- STCW certificate and a valid ENG1
- Seaman’s book once you have a vessel
Visa status is one of the first things any agency will ask. Put it plainly at the top of your CV — see the CV format guide.
This is general guidance, not immigration advice. Requirements change, and your position depends on your nationality. Check current rules with the relevant embassy before making plans.