Background: 

The Norwegian Ministry of Labour and Social Inclusion is currently considering legislative amendments concerning third-country nationals who stay in Norway for work purposes. This includes, for example, seafarers, aircraft pilots, and other crew personnel whose stay in Norway is directly linked to their employment. Norway is interested in whether other countries apply different requirements to third-country nationals working on board vessels registered in the EEA, compared with those working on board vessels registered in third countries. Within the EEA, the freedom to provide services also applies to maritime services, and it is unclear whether the same requirements can be imposed as for third countries on vessels registered in third countries, or whether more lenient rules must be granted for third‑country nationals working on EEA-registered vessels. 

Respondents:  

23 EMN Member and Observer Countries (including BE) provided public answers to this query.   

Findings:  

A preliminary analysis of the results of the ad hoc query shows:  

• Requirements for residence and/or work permits for seafarers differ among countries and are dependent on various factors. While some countries impose no permit requirements (e.g. AT, UA), other countries indicate these requirements may depend on a combination of factors, such as: the flag of the ship (e.g. HR, EE, FR, ES), the duration of stay and/or the type of work that is carried out (e.g. BE, FI, IT, NL, NO).   

• Multiple EMN Member and Observer Countries (e.g. BE, FI, LT, NL, PL, SI, SK) who indicate that third country national seafarers working on board seagoing vessels are (under certain circumstances) required to have a residence and/or work permit indicate that these requirements apply regardless of whether the vessel is registered in the EU/EEA or in a third country. However, some countries do note that different requirements apply to vessels registered in their own country. 

• Various EMN Member and Observer Countries (e.g. BE, BU, ES, FI, SE) indicate that they require pilots of aircraft and other crew personnel to have a residence and/or work permit, in relation to their work, if they stay on their territory for a total of more than 90 days in a year.  

For more information, please see the compilation of responses attached above.