988 Maritime Crew visa (subclass 988)

At a Glance

Item	Details
Visa name	Maritime Crew visa (subclass 988)
Purpose	Foreign crew on eligible ships
Stay	Up to three years
Cost	Free
Apply from	Outside Australia only
Decision location	Inside or outside Australia
Work rights	Eligible ship operational crew duties only
Study	Not stated in the source
Medicare	Not stated in the source
Health costs	Personally liable for healthcare costs
Travel facility	Multiple sea entries while valid
Air travel	Another valid visa required
Citizenship pathway	Not stated in the source
Family sponsorship	Family may travel on same ship
Visa record	Digitally linked to passport
Processing	Use processing-time guide tool

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Purpose

The Maritime Crew visa allows foreign crew to enter and leave Australia by sea while working on an eligible ship travelling internationally. It also covers eligible partners and dependent children travelling on the same ship.

Eligibility

You must:

• Apply while outside Australia.
• Be an articled crew member, or have an offer to be one, on a Maritime Crew Visa (MCV)-eligible ship travelling internationally to Australia.
• Meet Australia’s character requirement.
• Meet health and quarantine requirements.
• Repay, or arrange repayment of, Australian Government debts for yourself and relevant family members.
• Not be an Australian citizen or Australian permanent visa holder.
• Have immigration history that does not prevent grant; previous refusals or cancellations may affect eligibility.

An articled crew member includes a person under contract or subcontract performing usual ship duties or maintenance at sea. It can include scientific researchers on a foreign government-owned and operated research ship.

It does not include people who work only while a ship is in port or dry dock, unless travelling with the ship.

Eligible ships

An eligible ship must be one of the following:

• A commercial cargo ship travelling between Australia and international ports.
• An international passenger ship carrying paying passengers.
• A foreign government-owned and operated scientific research ship.
• A ship granted Public Vessel Status by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
• A qualifying imported or home-consumption ship registered on the Australian International Shipping Register.

Ineligible ships

This visa cannot be used to enter Australia on:

• Small marine craft, private yachts, yachts or superyachts.
• Most fishing vessels, trawlers or cable-laying vessels.
• Research vessels not owned and operated by a foreign government.
• Petroleum export tankers visiting both an offshore resource activity area and an Australian port on the same international journey.

Stay and travel

The visa is generally valid for three years.

While valid, you may enter and leave Australia by sea as a crew member of an eligible ship as many times as needed.

You may:

• Stay while signed on to an eligible ship.
• Sign off to leave Australia or join another eligible ship.
• Hold another visa at the same time.

You cannot enter Australia by air on this visa alone. If flying to Australia to join a ship, you need another valid Australian visa, such as a Transit visa or another visa permitting air entry.

Work rights and restrictions

You may only work in Australia in normal operational duties as a crew member of the eligible ship.

You cannot:

• Work in port or at sea outside ship operational duties.
• Work on an ineligible ship.
• Remain as a visitor, tourist or permanent resident under this visa.
• Bypass Australian health or quarantine requirements.

A Visitor visa may be held at the same time if you want to visit or sightsee while not working as crew.

When the visa can cease

The visa can cease if you:

• Enter Australia or work on an ineligible ship.
• Perform work unrelated to normal ship operations.
• Arrive by air but do not sign on within five days, or before another visa ends, whichever is later.
• Sign off and do not leave Australia, obtain another visa, or join another eligible ship within five days or a Department-specified period.
• Leave a vessel after arriving without immigration clearance.
• Hold another visa that is cancelled, other than for character grounds.
• Are assessed as undesirable to continue holding the visa.

If you cannot leave Australia within five days of signing off, a small extension may be available in limited circumstances. Contact the Department while the visa remains valid.

You cannot apply for another Maritime Crew visa while in Australia. Apply for another visa before your current visa ceases.

Family provisions

Members of your family unit may apply if:

• They travel on the same ship as you.
• The vessel master permits their travel.
• Each person lodges a separate application.

Family members cannot work in Australia on this visa.

A family member’s visa will cease if:

• Your Maritime Crew visa ceases.
• They enter Australia without you and hold no other valid visa.
• They stop travelling with you and do not leave Australia or obtain another visa.

Dependent children

A child aged 18 to under 23 must be dependent on you or your partner.

A child aged 23 or over must be dependent because of physical or cognitive limitations that prevent self-support.

For children under 18, obtain consent from non-travelling persons with legal authority over where the child lives. Provide either:

• Form 1229, or
• A statutory declaration of consent.

If the child will not stay with a relative or legal guardian in Australia, provide Form 1257.

For dependent children aged 18 or over, provide Form 47a and evidence of dependency.

Required documents

Submit identity, employment and qualification documents with the application. Missing documents may delay a decision.

Identity

Provide:

• Colour passport pages showing photo, personal details, issue and expiry dates.
• National identity card, if held.
• Evidence of any name change.

A seafarer’s identity document is generally not accepted, except Chinese, Russian and Vietnamese seafarer passports. If you hold both a seafarer’s and national passport, apply using the national passport.

Employment and qualifications

Provide:

• Evidence that you are, or will be, employed on a non-military ship that will be in Australia.
• A statement from the vessel’s local shipping or handling agent stating:
  • Your name.
  • Your employer.
  • Ship name.
  • Australian arrival date.
  • Expected port and date of joining.
• Evidence of your highest recognised crew-related qualification, such as a degree or diploma.

Character

Provide military service or discharge records, if applicable. The Department will advise if police certificates are required.

Family evidence

Partners must provide identity and character documents plus either:

• A current marriage certificate; or
• Evidence of a de facto relationship of at least 12 months before applying.

Dependent children must provide identity, relationship and relevant character documents.

Document requirements

• Translate all non-English documents into English.
• Include both originals and translations for online applications.
• Scan or photograph documents in colour and clearly.
• Save multi-page documents as one file.
• Do not attach the same document more than once.

For paper applications:

• Send original police certificates.
• Send certified copies of other documents.
• Keep a copy of the application.

How to apply

1. Check whether an existing Maritime Crew visa remains valid through the Maritime Crew visa status enquiry.
2. Ensure you have a valid passport before applying.
3. Gather required identity, employment, qualification, character and family documents.
4. Apply online through ImmiAccount.
5. Attach documents and submit family applications together.

Each traveller, including each child, needs a separate application and visa.

If unable to apply online, complete Form 1273 and post or courier it to the address on the form. Mark the envelope “Attention: Maritime Global Processing Centre.”

After applying

The Department will confirm receipt and may request further information through ImmiAccount.

Tell the Department about changes to:

• Address, telephone number or passport.
• Marital or de facto relationship status.
• Birth of a child.
• Your intention to withdraw the application.

To correct an application error, submit Form 1023.

If granted, the Department will provide the visa grant number, start date and conditions in writing. Keep the decision notice.

Obligations and health cover

You and accompanying family members must comply with all visa conditions and Australian laws.

You are personally responsible for healthcare costs in Australia. Medical insurance may reduce financial liability. Some countries have reciprocal healthcare agreements with Australia.

Use VEVO to check visa status, conditions and entitlements.

Important warnings

• Do not travel to Australia without a valid visa.
• Check that every ship you join in Australia is MCV-eligible.
• You must hold a valid visa for your entire stay.
• A Maritime Crew visa is digitally linked to your passport; no passport label is issued.
• Use the passport provided in your application when travelling.