In short: a crew change in Monaco goes through the Division de Police Maritime et Aéroportuaire, which handles border formalities for yachts in Monaco’s ports and waters. Send the crew list, passports and travel details to your agent before the yacht arrives, check each crew member’s visa and Schengen status, and coordinate the timing of the change with the flights. With the paperwork prepared in advance, most crew changes are straightforward, even at short notice.
Who handles crew formalities in Monaco?
Yachts calling at Port Hercule, Port de Fontvieille or the Yacht Club de Monaco marina, or anchored in Monegasque waters, complete their formalities with the Division de Police Maritime et Aéroportuaire (DPMA), located on Quai Antoine 1er.
Monaco is not formally a member of the Schengen Area, but it is part of the Schengen space in practice: there are no border checks between France and Monaco, and Monaco’s ports are controlled on behalf of the Schengen Area. For non-EU crew, an arrival or departure by sea in Monaco therefore counts as a Schengen border crossing.
Step 1: check every crew member’s status
Before anything else, check the nationality and travel documents of each person joining or leaving:
- EU and Schengen nationals move freely, but still appear on the crew list.
- Visa-exempt non-EU nationals can stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Check how many days they have left.
- Visa-required nationals need a valid Schengen visa, and their passport should usually be valid for at least three months beyond the planned end of stay.
- Residence permit holders may follow different rules. Check the permit before relying on it.
Since the Entry/Exit System went fully live in April 2026, non-EU crew entries and exits are recorded digitally instead of stamped. We explain what this changes in our guide to EES and ETIAS for yacht crew.
Step 2: prepare the documents
- An updated crew list showing who is signing on and who is signing off
- Passports for everyone concerned
- Visas or residence permits where they apply
- Flight details for arriving and departing crew
- Seaman’s books or discharge books where relevant
- The ship’s registration and the formalities sheets requested by the maritime police
Cash or bearer instruments of €10,000 or more carried by anyone on board must be declared. See our guide to cash declarations.
Step 3: coordinate the timing
The order of events matters. A departing crew member should complete the exit formalities shortly before their flight, and an arriving crew member should be signed on once they reach the yacht. Your agent coordinates the appointments with the maritime police, the transfers between the airport and the port, and any overnight accommodation for crew arriving or leaving outside office hours.
Step 4: handle the formalities on the day
The captain, a crew member or the yacht’s agent presents the passports and documents to the maritime police, who complete the formalities. If the agent handles it, the crew can stay on board and focus on the handover.
What about a last-minute crew change?
Short-notice crew changes happen all the time: illness, a family emergency or a sudden change of plan. They are usually possible, as long as the crew member’s documents are in order. Send your agent the name, nationality, passport copy and travel plans as soon as you know, and they will arrange the formalities, the transfer and, if needed, the hotel.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Waiting until the day of the change to check visas and remaining Schengen days
- Booking flights before confirming the formalities can be completed in time
- Forgetting to update the crew list after the change
- Assuming the rules are the same in every Mediterranean port. They are not, so check before each call.
Our Immigration & Customs team in Monaco regularly coordinates crew changes, from routine sign-offs to urgent replacements. Send us your crew list and dates and we will tell you exactly what is needed.
Frequently asked questions
Send your agent the updated crew list, passports, visas and flight details. The formalities are completed with Monaco’s Division de Police Maritime et Aéroportuaire, which your agent can coordinate on your behalf.
A local yacht agent coordinates crew sign-ons and sign-offs with Monaco’s maritime police, checks each crew member’s requirements and organises transfers.
Since April 2026, non-EU crew entries and exits are recorded in the EU Entry/Exit System rather than stamped. Your yacht agent coordinates the registration of crew joining and leaving the yacht with the relevant authorities.
Contact a local yacht agent as soon as you know, with the crew member’s name, nationality, passport and travel plans. Most last-minute crew changes can be handled quickly if the documents are in order.