1 Year Travel Visa?

[maine50]

In April 2014 there was a proposal for a possible 1 Year Travel Visa that would have applied to Americans and others instead of the 90 day in 180 rule. It was
proposed to be voted on by the member countries by April 2016. Anybody with insite where this proposal is or went to? Thanks--

[ozskipper]

It would help if you mentioned the counties you are talking about. There are multiple international agreements via all sorts of govts and organisation.

[maine50]

This was a EU proposal for those countries under the Schengen rules.

[MarkJ]

I think it passed the EU parliment and is waiting for ratification from each member country. But the refugee crisis may be slowing it down.


Sent from a stupid phone that replaces words with weird stuff.

[maine50]

Thanks Mark -I'm guessing same thing but hoping somebody in EU has more concrete info-

[patprice]

Originally Posted by maine50

In April 2014 there was a proposal for a possible 1 Year Travel Visa that would have applied to Americans and others instead of the 90 day in 180 rule. It was
proposed to be voted on by the member countries by April 2016. Anybody with insite where this proposal is or went to? Thanks--

We (Australians) obtained a 12 month visa for Greece. Tenuous to get, had to fly to Canberra, pay fee $A300 each. Apparently worth it, we did it as we have a yacht in Greece.

[Nikki S]

We were going to apply for a 12 month Italian visa, from Melbourne Australia, in 2014. It seemed simpler than a couple of other countries because the embassy is in Melbourne and Australia has a close relationship with Italy. All we really needed was a residential address there (or someone over there to act as guarantee) and ample money in the bank and a return ticket. I think maybe we had evidence of jobs, a home and a family to return to, too. Unfortunately our boat + address at the Marina we had booked a birth in, was not an adequate residential address.
Germany looked like another possible relatively easy avenue too, but that was going to be done once we got there by having our good friends give their address as our residential address for the year, but unfortunately our friend was too talkative and honest when she got to the office and told them we were going to be sailing in the med for most of the year and not actually residing in their house for the majority of the time. I am lead to believe that if she had just handed over the form without saying much at all, we would have obtained a long-stay visa.
So we ended up with a 3 month visa for a 12 month trip and consequentially spent loads of money in Romania, Bulgaria, Turkey and Morocco, living like kings because it was cheaper there, and seeing places we never would have gone to if we had spent the whole 12 months in the EU. Sailing the Aegean was incredible! Would have been nice to be able to land on those Greek islands we passed, but that would have just meant less time for amazing places like Knidos.

[boatman61]

Doubt anyones working on it.. all attentions focused on the 'Brexit' Referendum right now.. how to prop up the domino's just in case we leave..

[chuckr]

Originally Posted by boatman61

Doubt anyones working on it.. all attentions focused on the 'Brexit' Referendum right now.. how to prop up the domino's just in case we leave..

And the migrants and of course the never ending issue of the Greek debt - I think the 1 year visa went from the back burner to the outside bbq that is not even lite yet

[Drummer Buoy]

Unfortunately, the refugee and terrorism crisis has put this on a back burner----way back. The officials have more pressing things to think about than cruising yachtsmen.

We have been here in Europe for the last four years and it has been very tedious to remain legal---impossible actually----IF you want to stay on board and travel at 4 knots.

We have reverted to the 90 days in Schengen and fly home scenario.

It has become virtually impossible to do much else, unless you want to "carry on as usual" and hope that no one notices the dates.

We were inspected four times last summer and each time it was only to see that the photos, names etc matched what was placed on the marinas forms. No dates were checked(Spain) I suspect that, as always they preferred to not rock the tourist boat. But, all it takes is ONE official (a newbie) on ONE day to turn the page and look at a stamp and then it starts. We saw that happen to someone last summer. It ended Ok but it was a bit tense. Normally, the Spanish are pretty mellow but the Portuguese are another matter entirely.
In 2005 we got nailed in the Azores---we had officially cleared out of the Azores for our crossing to Panama and stopped for 5 gal of fuel in Ponta Delgada--only to be told that we were ONE DAY over the Schengen limit. It turned into a real scene---boat impounded at the dock for two weeks while we TRIED to sort it out---unsuccessfully, eventually I gave up--I walked into the Immigration office and told them point blank--I'M leaving. Shoot if you want but I,m going. I was not trying to stay here, I was cleared out and trying to leave! It was maddening!

For the last 4 years we have been trying desperately to find a legal solution that actually works but to no avail. Unless, of course, you don't mind hiding out in Morocco for 90 days. That is the only solution we could find. Its a nice pace and very friendly but 90 days is a long time.

We wanted to sail back out the Azores this summer but by the time you get out there, have a good time and try to sail back you have used your 90 days and, should your return landfall be in Portugal, they count whatever time you are at sea as still being in country so---even if you decided to row back and take 90 days to do it--you still lose.

We have decided to just "call it a day" and as of now, we are planning to return home this season.
Maybe some day things will change but don't hold your breath.


It is too bad because Schengen was created to do this. It is actually a GOOD thing for people who live here. This was just something that happened because no one took "retired people who travel at 5 knots" into consideration. I mean, who would do such a thing?

If anyone out there finds a "workable, legal solution" you would do all of us a great favor by telling us what you did. God knows, we certainly tried and failed.

[hoppy]

Originally Posted by boatman61

Doubt anyones working on it.. all attentions focused on the 'Brexit' Referendum right now.. how to prop up the domino's just in case we leave..

Nah... The EU parliament is busy setting up committees and debating important changes to Commission Regulation (EC) No. 2257/94

[Prairie Chicken]

Drummer Buoy, search Kennomac's posts on Schengen, or contact him. He's found a way that he feels is legit. Some of us find it too sketchy, but he's been doing it for a while & it was suggested to him by officials.

[Christian Ho]

Hello Globetrotters,
as for a stupid joke
"Anybody with insite where this proposal is or went to?"
Obviously it went on a Europe trip!!!

Thinking about the problem, you can find some solutions on the Schengen - map: Schengen Visa Countries List - Schengen Area
Obviously not """the cheapest""", but one 90 days Schengen - escape would be Monaco. You can live on your boat.
Another escape would be San Marino, but no harbour!
The way I see it, the only good alternatives to Morocco are the Ex-Yugoslavian countries, such as Croatia, Montenegro, Albania and they shouldn't be too expensive.
Visa Requirements for Croatia - Visit Croatia - a travel guide
Unless already joined, another option is Cyprus.
Who doesn't mind it being a bit fresher and get out of the Med into the Atlantic again has a perfect solution in United Kingdom.
All the best to you, your Christian Ho

[touchngo]

The way we've done it was to winter over in Turkey and take out Turkish Residency. Based on this residency, we were able to apply for and receive a 12 Month Long Stay (Category D) Greek Visa. With this, we can sail and winter in Greece, and as long as we check out of Greece properly, we can spend 3 months in the Schengen area or force the issue of NZ's bilateral agreements with Italy, France and Spain to allow us 3 months in each.

As things stand, we will stay in Greece and apply for permanent residency at the end of the 12 months. If that fails, we will head back to Turkey and repeat the process.

Cheers, PT

[Symphony]

Originally Posted by Nikki S

We were going to apply for a 12 month Italian visa, from Melbourne Australia, in 2014. It seemed simpler than a couple of other countries because the embassy is in Melbourne and Australia has a close relationship with Italy. All we really needed was a residential address there (or someone over there to act as guarantee) and ample money in the bank and a return ticket. I think maybe we had evidence of jobs, a home and a family to return to, too. Unfortunately our boat + address at the Marina we had booked a birth in, was not an adequate residential address.
Germany looked like another possible relatively easy avenue too, but that was going to be done once we got there by having our good friends give their address as our residential address for the year, but unfortunately our friend was too talkative and honest when she got to the office and told them we were going to be sailing in the med for most of the year and not actually residing in their house for the majority of the time. I am lead to believe that if she had just handed over the form without saying much at all, we would have obtained a long-stay visa.
So we ended up with a 3 month visa for a 12 month trip and consequentially spent loads of money in Romania, Bulgaria, Turkey and Morocco, living like kings because it was cheaper there, and seeing places we never would have gone to if we had spent the whole 12 months in the EU. Sailing the Aegean was incredible! Would have been nice to be able to land on those Greek islands we passed, but that would have just meant less time for amazing places like Knidos.

sounds like you had a better time staying out of Schengen!