For seafarers, the Visa Handbook recognises that they are a category of persons for
which “unforeseeable and imperative reasons” are relatively frequent because of
unforeseeable changes of scheduled of the ship (e.g. due to weather conditions).
If for unforeseeable and imperative reasons, a seafarer has not been in a position to
apply for a visa in advance and he needs this visa to cross the border for embarking
on, or disembarking from, or re-embarking on a ship on which he will work or has
worked as a seaman, he may apply for and be issued a visa at the external border
for the purpose of transit. This is particularly valid for seafarers having proved their
integrity and reliability, in particular the lawful use of previous uniform visas or visas
with limited territorial validity and the holding of a corresponding work contract.
The general rules for uniform visas apply to visas issued to seafarers in transit at the
external border. However,
the specific nature of the work of the seafarers
should be taken into consideration by allowing a certain margin in relation
to a transit.
- Examples of unforeseeable and imperative reasons for entry and
consequently application for a visa at the border:
A seafarer from the Philippines, living in a small village on an island a few
hundred kilometres from the embassy, works on a cruise ship with a regular
schedule which leaves from the harbour of Rotterdam (Netherlands) every
three months on the same day and time.
A seafarer from the Philippines, living in a small village on an island a few
hundred kilometres from the embassy, is told by his shipping-agent on 1.5
that he has to embark on a ship in the harbour of Rotterdam (Netherlands)
which is leaving the harbour on 28.5.