Stricter rules for issuance of visas for seamen

The Swedish Border Police Division at Västra Götaland (covering Gothenburg, Stenungsund, Brofjorden/Lysekil harbour areas and the International airports Gothenburg/Landvetter and Gothenburg City airport) has decided to apply stricter rules, starting 15 April 2011, for issuance of visas for seamen. The Border Police Division at the Stockholm County Police has also made similar decision, starting 1 May 2011.

Resume:

• A seaman must get the visa in advance and will only get this at border crossing points stating emergency reasons. Supporting documents can, for example, be a letter from the captain for off signing crew or a letter from the HR-department of the shipping company for on signing crew. The supporting document should clearly state the reason why the crewmember has been unable to get a visa in advance at an embassy or consulate. The supporting document is individually valued in each case and even so the visa application can be denied.
• Shipping companies and shipbrokers are recommended to inform about so called multi-visas (several entries/departure), valid form 6 month up to 5 years, for crewmembers.
  

Preview and details:  (Application of the provisions regarding visas issued to seafarers)

Regulation (EC) 810/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a Community Code on Visas (Visa Code) came into force on the 05.10.2009 and was implemented with certain exceptions of the 05.04.2010. Upon the entry into force of Regulation 810/2009, Council Regulation 415(2003 on the issue of visas a the border, including the isue such visas to seamen in transit, was repealed. On the 19.03.2010 the Commission supplemented the Visa Code with a Decision establishing the Handbook for the processing of visa application and the modification of issued visas C (2010) 1620 final. The provisions of the Visa Code involve modifications of the possibilities to issue visas at the external borders. In accordance with article 35 of the Visa Code such visas may only by issued in exceptional cases and only if certain conditions are satisfied. Furthermore, article 35.b) stipulates tat the applicant should not have been in a position to apply for a visa in advance and submits if required, supporting documents substantiating unforeseeable and imperative reasons for entry.

The seafarer must therefore be able to prove that he/she had no possibility of applying for a visa in advance, i.e. the question of signing on or off must have arisen very suddenly. In addition, he/she must be able to present the police with documents substantiating the unforeseeable and imperative reasons for entry.

The police authority in question may refuse an application for a visa at an external border if It can not be proven that it was possible to apply for a visa in advance of the departure to or from Sweden.

According to article 24 of the Visa Code, multiple-entry visas with a period of validity between six months and five years shall be issued to i.e. seafarers and ships agents apply for such visas at the relevant embassies or consulates to the fullest possible extent. This procedure should benefit all parties e.g. the shipping companies and ship agents, the seafarers themselves and the supervising authorities.

It takes approximately 30 minutes to fill in an application form in the common visa system, VIS, because every single application must be checked in this computer system It is therefore important to apply in boob time or as soon as the shipping company or ship agent knows that the seafarer will arrive in Sweden to sign on or off in order to avoid problems with flights.

The application fee is payable in compliance with the provisions set down in the annex. At present the application fee amounts to 310 SEK (35 EURO) for nationals of: