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Old Apr 1, 2010 | 12:31 pm
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Pilot visas

I sat next to a NetJets pilot on a recent commercial flight and we chatted about how he usually flies on a day's notice to anywhere within his jet's range (but mostly the Caribbean & Mexico).

I've been thinking about what he said and now wish I had asked him one more question: how he deals with visa issues. A day's notice is not usually sufficient to secure a business visa to most countries. So, how do international pilots do it? Do they just perpetually renew multi-entry business visas to every country they could possibly fly to? I'd imagine this is easier for scheduled service since you can do your schedule & staffing plans well in advance, but juggling border formalities must be a huge headache for chartered & fractional pilots.

Anyone have any insight into this?
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Old Apr 1, 2010 | 1:55 pm
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Many countries have different, generally more flexible, visa rules for working aircraft crews and maritime ship crews.

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Old Apr 1, 2010 | 2:05 pm
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Originally Posted by kopflyer
Anyone have any insight into this?
I watched a number of flight crews walk into Panama on Saturday without anyone paying them a second glance. They just walked through the middle aisle of the lines and out the other side. I would guess that many other countries have similar rules for crew in transit.
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Old Apr 1, 2010 | 4:21 pm
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Most countries allow crew to enter without a visa given the nature of their arrival

One of the few countries that does require crew to have a visa - the USA

I believe Russia is another country that requires visas as well
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Old Apr 2, 2010 | 4:38 am
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Many pilots also have multiple passports. I have a friend who flies private charters/bizjets in a small company. She actually has three passports (one citizenship) since one or sometimes two are away for visa applications for a while.
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Old Apr 2, 2010 | 9:06 pm
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Originally Posted by marbe166
Many pilots also have multiple passports. I have a friend who flies private charters/bizjets in a small company. She actually has three passports (one citizenship) since one or sometimes two are away for visa applications for a while.
I was thinking that they would have to as they'll be using their passports all the time, no time out to get visas or even to renew.
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