Schengen visa while on cruise

Question

We're planning to take a cruise from Kiel, Germany (returns to the same port) for 14 days. However, all the ports we'd be visiting are in Norway.

We're Indian passport holders, applying for a Schengen visa. However, we are unsure whether to apply for it through the German Consulate or the Norway Consulate.

The general guideline is to apply through the country where you spend most days.

We're confused in this case. Do our 14 days count as days in Germany (since the cruise begins and ends in Germany) - or Norway (since we'll be in Norwegian waters, visiting Norwegian ports)?

Has anyone faced this issue? Please help!

Answer 1

However, we are unsure whether to apply for it through the German Consulate or the Norway Consulate.

With good reason.

Neither the Schengen Visa Code nor the German Visumshandbuch deal with the question on how such cruise trips should be dealt with.

Since the cruise ship starts and ends in Germany and you are spending the greater part of the time on the ship itsself, the main purpose of the stay is taking a cruise that starts and ends in Germany (Article 5 (1)(b)):

(b) if the visit includes more than one destination, or if several separate visits are to be carried out within a period of two months, the Member State whose territory constitutes the main destination of the visit(s) in terms of the length of stay, counted in days, or the purpose of stay; or

I would then suggest that German Consulate should be tried first.

The consulate themselves may know, since yours is probably not the first such case that they have dealt with. So a call to them may clarify on how they wish this to be dealt with.

When in doubt what the main destination is, then Article 5 (1)(c) comes into play:

(c) if no main destination can be determined, the Member State whose external border the applicant intends to cross in order to enter the territory of the Member States.

Answer 2

When applying for a Schengen visa, the general rule is to apply through the consulate of the country where you will spend the most days. In your case, since your cruise starts and ends in Germany but spends most of the time in Norwegian waters visiting Norwegian ports, it can be a bit confusing.

Here's a detailed breakdown to help you:

Days in Norway: Count the total number of days you'll be in Norwegian ports. This is crucial as it likely will be the majority of your trip.

Days in Germany: Since you will start and end your cruise in Kiel, Germany, you typically do not count the day of departure and the day of return as full days in Germany.

Given that most of your time will be spent in Norwegian ports, you should apply for your Schengen visa through the Norway Consulate.

Has anyone faced this issue before? Yes, cruise travelers often face similar questions, and the standard practice is to apply through the consulate of the country where the majority of days will be spent. In this scenario, it would be Norway.

It’s always a good idea to confirm with the consulates directly for any specific requirements or clarifications.

Answer 3

When applying for a Schengen visa, the general rule is to apply through the consulate of the country where you will spend the most time, known as the "main destination." If the duration of stay is equal in multiple countries, you should apply through the consulate of the country of first entry.

In your case, since your cruise departs from and returns to Kiel, Germany, but the majority of your time will be spent in Norwegian ports, the days spent in Norway would count as the primary destination. According to Schengen visa guidelines, even though your cruise begins and ends in Germany, the days spent in Norwegian waters and ports are considered time spent in Norway. Therefore, you should apply for the Schengen visa through the Norwegian Consulate, as that is where you will spend most of your time.

To ensure a smooth visa process, you may want to provide a detailed itinerary, highlighting the time spent in Norwegian ports, when you submit your application to the Norwegian Consulate.

For further clarification, you can refer to the official Schengen visa rules on the consulate websites.