Methods and apparatus for coding occlusion layers, such as occlusion video data and occlusion depth data in 3D video, are disclosed. A decoding method comprising the steps of: extracting an indicator representative of an original format for received occlusion data, the original format selected from one of a sparse occlusion data format and a filled occlusion data format; arranging 2D data, which is associated with the occlusion data, at location 0 in a reference picture list; decoding the occlusion data to produce decoded occlusion data; when the indicator indicates the sparse occlusion data format for the occlusion data, filling a non-occlusion area of the occlusion data with data indicative of a defined characteristic to produce decoded occlusion data; when the indicator indicates the filled occlusion data format for the occlusion data, replacing the occlusion data in a non-occlusion area of the occlusion data with sample values from a corresponding area of associated 2D data to produce decoded occlusion data; and outputting the decoded occlusion.