Updated 25 November 2024
With effect from 1st January, 2024, yacht crew will be able to stamp out (on board) in Palma de Mallorca only upon presentation of a Seaman’s Book.
An official communiqué from the border force police, issued on December 15 2023, states that employment letters, contracts, etc, will no longer be accepted as proof of seafarer status. As such, any non-EU arrivals embarking yachts in Mallorca from January 1st will be subject to regular visa controls, with their permitted days in Schengen counting down.
As before, crew members disembarking and entering Spanish territory must be in possession of the necessary visa to stay in or travel through the territory, as well as the economic means to support themselves during their stay. Proof of accommodation for the duration, an invitation letter, or a flight ticket are required. A key change is that in the absence of a Seaman’s Book, immigration officials will only stamp the disembarking crew member’s passport but not the crew list. In other words, the boat will have no official record of that person leaving the boat.
This measure has been affecting a large number of crew. Anyone without a Seaman’s Book is strongly advised to apply for one without delay. In the meantime, as a workaround, our Palma office does have a supply of ‘Record of Sea Service’ books, which immigration police officials have been accepting to date. No guarantee is offered that this will remain the case in the medium or long term, though to purchase one, contact us at palma@estelashipping.net or call +34 971 722 532.
For complete information about the Seaman’s Book and how to obtain one, should read our comprehensive guide HERE, which also contains links to the main issuing authorities.
