Passport requirement for seafarers
1 November 2003 - Legislation change
Client summary
Amendments to immigration law that are due to come into effect from 1 November 2003 under part 1 of schedule 9 to the Migration Regulations will require members of the crew of non-military ships to present both a passport and another identity document in immigration clearance.
Technical details
Additional information: currently members of the crew can present either a passport or an identity document.
The purpose of the change to the regulations is to tighten the requirement for members of the crew of non-military ships to present both a passport and an identity document for immigration clearance purposes.
The proposed regulation change will move towards aligning the immigration clearance requirements of members of the crew on non-military ships with previous changes to the regulations that required airline crew members to present a passport in immigration clearance (from 1 November 2002).
Additionally, the requirement for members of the crew of non-military ships to present a passport will assist in electronic processing, proposed as a part of Australia's move towards mandatory Advance Passenger Processing (APP).
Transitional arrangements: the amendments will apply to members of the crew of non-military ships arriving in Australia on or after 1 November 2003.
Forms: changes to form 25, Master to report absent members of the crew and form 876, Transit Visa application form, have been made.
Instructions: MSI 362 - Travel Documents, MSI 363 - Special Purpose Visas, MSI 283 - Carrier Obligations and Offences, MSI 362 - Travel Documents and MSI 373 - Immigration Clearance at Airports and Seaports and PAM 771 - Transit Visas will be changed to reflect the amendments.
Effect on delegations: nil.
Effect on systems: nil