Which sea carriers need to query the carrier interface?

Sea carriers that transport travellers in scope of the carrier interface (Which travellers are in the scope of the carrier interface?), into the territory of the European countries that use EES or require ETIAS travel authorisation (e.g. ferry companies, cruise ships, cargo ships) need to query the carrier interface.
Private yachts, pleasure boats and cargo ships with no passengers are out of scope and should not query the carrier interface. Nevertheless, rules for 'sea borders', according to Annex VI of the Schengen Borders Code, are still applicable.

What is the definition of a sea crew member?

According to the Practical Handbook for Border Guards, crew members include all persons actually employed for duties on board during a voyage in the working or service of a ship and included in the crew list.

Do sea crew need an ETIAS travel authorisation or a visa?

According to[ Article 3, Annex VII of the Schengen Borders code|https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A02016R0399-20170407#:~:text=.%C2%A0%C2%A0%C2%A0%20Seamen,they%20go%20ashore.], a seaman may be exempt from having an ETIAS travel authorisation or a visa. However, each European country that uses EES or requires ETIAS travel authorisation has a different interpretation of the terms 'sea crew', 'going ashore' and 'in the performance of their duty'.
The exact scope of the exceptions determined by the European countries that use EES or require ETIAS travel authorisation and the measures they have taken pursuant to Article 6 of the Regulation (EU) 2018/1806 have been communicated to the European Commission and published at home-affairs.ec.europa.eu.xlsx (live.com).
The link includes an Excel file, which contains the sheet 'Exemptions Article 6(1)'; starting from row 348, visa exemptions for other categories mentioned in Article 6(1) can be found, indicating the way each European country that uses EES or requires ETIAS travel authorisation allows the exemptions. Thus, the same exemptions currently applying for visas (for visa required countries) are to apply for ETIAS (for visa exempt countries).

Do contractors, entertainers or other staff working on board a ship need an ETIAS travel authorisation or a visa?

All staff working on board a ship may need an ETIAS travel authorisation or a visa, if they do not fall under the exemptions as per the ETIAS or EES regulations, or they do not hold a seafarer's identity document, issued in accordance with the International Labour Organisation Conventions No 108 of 13 May 1958 or No 185 of 16 June 2003 or the International Maritime Organisation Convention on Facilitation of International Maritime Traffic of 9 April 1965.
However, each European country that uses EES or requires ETIAS travel authorisation imposes different requirements and exemptions for sea crew members.
The exact scope of the exceptions determined by the European countries that use EES or require ETIAS travel authorisation and the measures they have taken pursuant to Article 6 of the Regulation (EU) 2018/1806 have been communicated to the European Commission and published at home-affairs.ec.europa.eu.xlsx (live.com).
The exact scope of Article 2(2)(info) of the ETIAS Regulation is therefore determined by each country's measures. Thus, the same exemptions that currently apply for visas (for visa-required countries) are to apply for ETIAS (for visa-exempt countries).

Do sea carriers need to query the carrier interface for crew members and staff working on board?

Carriers do not need to query the carrier interface if the crew members are exempted under the conditions specified by each European country that uses EES or requires ETIAS travel authorisation. European countries that use EES or require ETIAS travel authorisation impose different requirements and exemptions for sea crew members when they disembark from or travel to embark on the vessel. Please see: home-affairs.ec.europa.eu.xlsx (live.com).
According to the Practical Handbook for Border Guards, crew members include all persons actually employed for duties on board during a voyage in the working or service of a ship and included in the crew list.
Therefore, carriers need to query the carrier interface for staff members who do not fall under the definition of crew member and are in the scope of the carrier interface (Which travellers are in the scope of the carrier interface?).

Does a sea carrier need to query the carrier interface for travellers who have already been queried upon arrival into a European country that uses EES or requires ETIAS travel authorisation, if the sea carrier does not intend to visit ports outside the territory of European countries that use EES or require ETIAS travel authorisation?

The sea carrier does not need to query the carrier interface when:

  • transporting travellers who hold a short-stay visa for one or two entries, within the territory of European countries that uses EES,
  • transporting travellers who are required to have an ETIAS travel authorisation within the territory of European countries requiring ETIAS travel authorisation.


When should sea carriers query the carrier interface?

Sea carriers are obliged to query the carrier interface anytime between 48 hours before the scheduled time of departure and the time of departure:

  • travellers who hold short-stay visa for one or two entries, from a port outside the territory of a European country that uses EES to a port of a European country that uses EES;
  • travellers who are required to be in possession of an ETIAS travel authorisation, from a port outside the territory of a European country that requires ETIAS travel authorisation to a port of a European country that requires ETIAS travel authorisation.


Does a cruise ship operator need to query the carrier interface every time the ship exits and re-enters the territory of a European country that uses EES or requires ETIAS travel authorisation during the same trip?

All carriers are obliged to query the carrier interface at the earliest 48 hours before the scheduled time of departure from a third country or territory port if the itinerary includes ports of European countries that use EES or require ETIAS travel authorisation, as described in Q/A 'When should sea carriers query the carrier interface?' and 'When should carriers perform the query?'.
However, when a cruise itinerary includes multiple entries in countries that use EES or require ETIAS travel authorisation, carriers may refer to the recommendations in Sea Scenarios to help them fulfil their obligations.

Are crew members on board a ship flying a Schengen country flag considered to be in the Schengen area when the ship is outside Schengen territorial waters?

No. The flag of a ship defines its nationality and not the ship's status as a territory, according to Article 91(1) of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. Therefore, the flag does not define whether a crew member can be considered to be in the Schengen area when on board.

Do sea carriers need to query the carrier interface for crew members on board a ship flying a Schengen country flag when the ship exits and re-enters Schengen territory?

The flag of a ship defines its nationality and not the ship's status as a territory, according to Article 91(1) of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (please see Q/A Are crew members on board a ship flying a Schengen country flag considered to be in the Schengen area when the ship is outside Schengen territorial waters?).
Therefore, the obligations of carriers referred to in the EES and ETIAS Regulations do not change, and they shall query the carrier interface for crew members who are not exempt (Which travellers are in the scope of the carrier interface?).

Crew members might be exempt under the conditions specified by each European country that uses EES or requires ETIAS travel authorisation: home-affairs.ec.europa.eu.xlsx (live.com).
For more information, please see also Q/A 'Do contractors, entertainers or other staff working on board a ship need an ETIAS travel authorisation or a visa?', 'Do sea carriers need to query the carrier interface for crew members and staff working on board?' and 'Does a cruise ship operator need to query the carrier interface every time the ship exits and re-enters the territory of a European country that uses EES or requires ETIAS during the same trip?'.

Should ferry carriers query the carrier interface for drivers of commercial vehicles?

Drivers of commercial vehicles shall be treated as regular travellers. Carriers need to query the carrier interface to verify those drivers who fall in the scope of the carrier interface (Which travellers are in the scope of the carrier interface?). For more information, please see also Q/A 'Which sea carriers need to query the carrier interface?' and 'When should sea carriers query the carrier interface?'.

Are river carriers obliged to query the carrier interface?

No. River carriers are excluded from the obligation to query the carrier interface, so no registration is required. Please see Q/A 'What is the definition of a carrier, and which carriers are bound by EES and ETIAS?'.

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