On the 1st of January 2010, both the New Norwegian Immigration Act and Regulations were implemented. According to the Act's section 9, the Regulation's section 3-1 on Exemption from the visa requirements states in the first paragraph, letter K, that the following foreign nationals are exempt from the visa requirement to Norway: “the holder of a Philippine “Seafarer’s Identification and Record Book” or a Philippine national passport (...)”. -But the Philippine national “(...) must produce written information from the ship owner or the ship owner’s representative that the holder is to take up a post in a Norwegian port,”
Previously, this was considered to be with regards to the embarking of a ship in a Norwegian port only, but now, according to a new clarification from the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration, it has been made clear that both the Agreement on Maritime Transport between the Government of the Kingdom of Norway and the Government of the Republic of the Philippines of 22 October 1999, and the new Immigration Legislation states that Philippine seafarers are exempted from the Visa Requirement for both embarking and disembarking a ship in Norway.
However, please note that that the seafarer cannot transit through any other Schengen Country on the way to or from Norway without a Schengen Visa.
Generally, this Visa should be obtained from the transit country. However, the Embassy wishes to provide good service to the seafarers and recognises that the ship’s plans may be uncertain and may change during its course. Therefore, if it is likely that the seafarer will either embark or disembark in Norway, the Norwegian Embassy will be happy to assist in these cases, if desirable.
Seafarers going to Norway to attend meetings, training courses, seminars, conferences, etc (onshore) are still required to obtain a Schengen Visa to Norway.