As is well known, since July 2021 a new procedure has been applied in Italy due to the interpretation of a recent European directive issued by the European Court of Justice, which strongly limits the permanence of extra-EU seafarers in our territory.
In the last months, the associations representing the Italian yachting & cruising industries – Assarmatori, Confitarma, Confindustria Nautica e Genova for Yachting, Federagenti – started an intensive cooperation with the institutions to make them aware and highlight the important problems and numerous economic difficulties that have been occurring since the new procedure was applied in Italy, whilst at the same time presenting different interpretative and normative solutions to allow a rapid resolution of the problem, in compliance with the European Court of Justice’s directive.
The institutions and politicians involved having fully comprehended the situation and with the aim of rapidly solving the problem worked on agreed normative amendments which was submitted to the Italian Government and the end of March 2022.
At the end of last week, the Italian Parliament has approved one of the proposed amendments that allows, thanks to the issuance of a long-term entry visa for work purposes, to offer an initial solution to the ongoing difficulties experienced by non-EU superyacht crew members in Italy.
The new rule offers an alternative to the previous procedure set forth by the Italian authorities which imposed restricted time limits of stays – max 90 days – for extra-EU seafarers who enter the country to join their crews.
Thanks to the political leaders and authorities who have actively worked to the proposal of the new rule, now maritime workers called to embark on ships, including those flying the flag of a non-European Union country, moored in Italian ports are authorised to carry out work activities on board, subject to the acquisition of an entry visa for work for the period necessary to carry out the same work activity and, in any case, not exceeding one year. For the purpose of acquiring the aforementioned visa, a work authorisation is not required.
We are working closely with the institutions and the associations to swiftly obtain a common simple procedure of issuance of this kind of entry visas. We will keep you informed promptly on the next developments.
Please do not hesitate to contact us for any further details on this matter writing to segreteria@g4y.it