942 Crew Travel Authority (subclass 942)

At a Glance

Item	Details
Visa name	Crew Travel Authority (subclass 942)
Visa record	Electronic immigration record
Stay	Up to 30 or 5 days
Cost	Free
Eligibility timing	Register before travelling
Eligible applicants	International aircrew and safety inspectors
Work rights	Eligible international airline duties only
Study	Not stated in the source
Medicare	Not stated in the source
Travel facility	Multiple entries while authority valid
Authority validity	Until passport expiry
Citizenship	Not stated in the source
Family sponsorship	Family cannot be included
Processing	Immediate carrier notification
Application method	Carrier registration online

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Purpose

The Crew Travel Authority (CTA) is an electronic immigration record under the Special Purpose visa framework. It allows eligible international airline crew, positioning crew and aircraft safety inspectors to travel to Australia for their work.

The CTA is linked digitally to the holder’s passport. No visa label is issued.

Eligibility

You must be registered as crew by your air carrier and travel on an eligible international airline flight:

• Commercial passenger flight
• Chartered passenger flight
• Freight or cargo flight

You must be one of the following:

Applicant	Requirements
Airline crew member	International carrier aircrew travelling for work
Positioning crew member	Aircrew arriving as passenger for work
Aircraft safety inspector	Foreign-government inspector travelling for work

Airline crew members and safety inspectors must leave Australia by air, either as part of their job or as a passenger. Positioning crew must leave Australia as aircrew.

Stay

• Airline crew members: Up to 30 days.
• Aircraft safety inspectors: Up to 30 days.
• Airline positioning crew members: Up to 5 days.

The period begins when you arrive or disembark in Australia. You cannot extend the CTA or Special Purpose visa. To remain longer, apply for another visa.

Work and Conditions

You may:

• Work as an international airline crew member.
• Work as an aircraft safety inspector employed by a foreign government.
• Arrive as positioning crew to move an international aircraft from Australia.

You must not:

• Travel to Australia as a passenger, unless you are positioning crew.
• Work on more than one domestic Australian flight leg.
• Work a domestic leg unless it forms part of an international arrival or departure flight.

You must obey Australian laws.

Travel

You may leave and return to Australia as often as needed while working as airline aircrew or an airline safety inspector, while the CTA remains valid.

The CTA registration:

• Is valid for the life of the passport.
• Is based on the passport expiry date.
• Does not extend for time spent outside Australia.
• Must be used with the passport linked to the CTA.

Renew your passport before your carrier registers you for a CTA if you plan to renew it.

Required Documents

Airline crew members

At arrival, you must have:

• Valid passport or travel document.
• Valid Airline Identity Card.
• Inclusion on the carrier’s crew list.

Crew on freight flights should also be listed on the General Declaration Form signed for the air carrier.

Positioning crew members

You must have:

• Valid passport or travel document.
• Employer letter confirming you are aircrew.
• Travel purpose in the employer letter.
• Departure arrangements in the employer letter.

Aircraft safety inspectors

You must have:

• Valid passport or travel document.
• Valid foreign-government identity document showing employment as an inspector, or an ICAO Safety Inspector Certificate.
• Inclusion on the carrier’s crew list.

How to Apply

1. Check your passport. Travel using the passport linked to your CTA.
2. Prepare required documents. Requirements differ by crew category.
3. Have your carrier register you. Carriers register crew through the Carrier Portal.
4. If the carrier lacks portal access, it can email appinfringements@abf.gov.au.
5. Travel with supporting documents. Border officials may require them on arrival.

The carrier is notified immediately if registration succeeds. No processing times are available.

Obligations After Registration

Tell the Department if you change:

• Phone number
• Address
• Passport details

You can also notify the Department if you want to withdraw the application. For other issues, email appwebsite@abf.gov.au.

Family Members

You cannot include family members on a Crew Travel Authority.

Important Warnings

• Private flight operators cannot register for or use a CTA.
• The flight must be a commercial or chartered passenger, freight or cargo flight.
• Australian and New Zealand passport holders do not need a CTA.
• The CTA does not allow a longer stay than the applicable 30-day or 5-day period.
• Carriers and border officials can verify CTA status through Advance Passenger Processing.

New Zealand Passport Holders

New Zealand citizen crew members who want to remain beyond the crew stay period should not use SmartGate on arrival. Instead, approach a border clearance officer and apply for a Special Category visa (subclass 444) by completing an incoming passenger card and presenting a New Zealand passport.

An SCV allows the holder to live, visit, work and study in Australia. Entering as crew on a Special Purpose visa rather than an SCV may affect social-security residence status.