About the Maritime Crew Visa

What is the Maritime Crew visa?

The Maritime Crew visa (MCV) is a visa for foreign sea crew. The MCV replaces the Special Purpose visa for foreign crew.

Applying for the MCV requires a formal visa application process which will enable security checking, thereby bringing the arrangements for foreign crew into line with other temporary entrants to Australia.

Key features include:

• Foreign sea crew (other than New Zealand citizens) are required to hold an MCV for arrival and stay in Australia. This includes supernumerary crew. Partners and dependent children of crew may hold an MCV if accompanying crew
• Visa applicants must be outside Australia at the time of applying for an MCV
• MCV is free of charge
• MCV is granted for three (3) years
• MCV is only valid for travel to Australia by sea as ships' crew
• MCV allows multiple entries to Australia by sea during the three (3) year validity
• MCV does not allow travel to Australia by air. Crew need to obtain another visa for air travel, such as a Transit visa or an Electronic Travel Authority.
• An MCV only permits work associated with the duties performed as crew with the vessel.
• An MCV application may be completed by a third party, such as a shipping agent, on behalf of an individual applicant.

When is the Maritime Crew visa mandatory?

The Maritime Crew visa (MCV) is mandatory from 1 January 2008. From this date, crew must hold:

• a valid national passport
• an MCV granted for the same passport
• another document that establishes the crew member's employment on the vessel.
  Example: crew list, articles, seaman's book, contract.

Penalties

Foreign crew who fail to meet the above requirements may be restricted on board the vessel. The operator, master, charterer, owner and agent may also be liable for a fine of AUD $5000 for each person who is refused immigration clearance.

Who is the Maritime Crew visa for?

The Maritime Crew visa (MCV) is for foreign crew (including supernumerary crew) of non-military ships. Crew includes articled ships' crew, or crew under an employment contract and listed on the supernumerary crew list.

Non-military ships includes:

• vessels used for commercial trading purposes
• vessels owned and operated by a foreign government to do scientific research
• vessels approved for 'public vessel status' by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

In general terms, non-military ships are commercial vessels (cargo vessels, cruise ships, fishing vessels and so on). Crew of yachts would not normally qualify for this visa.

The MCV permits crew to enter Australia by sea only, for the purpose of allowing them to work on their ship.

Any foreign crew on board a vessel that is 'imported' (that is, subject to an entry declaration) by Australian Customs, must hold another visa (not the MCV) to remain lawfully in Australia.

For information about suitable visas and maritime activities in Australia.
See: A Guide to Visas for Foreign Sea Crew

How do I apply for the Maritime Crew visa?

There are two ways to apply for the Maritime Crew visa (MCV): via the internet or by sending a paper application to Brisbane (Australia).

With the knowledge and consent of applicants, a third party, such as a shipping agent, can complete and lodge an application based on information provided to the third party by the applicant.

With the applicant's consent, a third party may also be the contact person and authorised recipient for written communications about an application for an MCV.
See: Apply for a Maritime Crew Visa

Internet applications

The quickest and easiest way to apply for an MCV is to lodge an internet application from this website. Internet applications require just one simple electronic form to be completed and are lodged and processed much faster than paper applications.

Most internet applications are expected to be finalised within three (3) days.
See: Apply for a Maritime Crew Visa

Paper applications

A paper application form may be sent by mail or courier to the Brisbane Global Processing Centre in Australia. The paper application form is available from this website, or an Australian Embassy, Consulate or High Commission.
See: Apply for a Maritime Crew Visa

Note: Australian Embassies, Consulates or High Commissions outside Australia cannot accept MCV applications.

Most paper applications are expected to be finalised within four (4) weeks from the date of receipt.

Where a paper application is submitted by an agent acting on behalf of an applicant, Form 956 Appointment of a migration agent or exempt agent or other authorised person may also be required to be completed by the applicant to authorise the agent to act for them.
See: Form 956 Appointment of a migration agent or exempt agent or other authorised recipient (149KB PDF file)

When does a Maritime Crew visa cease or become invalid?

A Maritime Crew visa (MCV) will automatically cease and become invalid:

• after three (3) years
• if crew leave a vessel on arriving in Australia without being immigration cleared by Australian Customs
• if crew do not sign-on to a ship within five (5) days of arriving in Australia by air on a Transit visa and hold no other visa (other than an MCV) to remain in Australia
• if another visa held by crew is cancelled by the department
• if a person is in Australia on another type of visa (other than an MCV) and that visa expires
• if crew sign-off a ship and do not depart Australia within five (5) days, obtain another type of visa, or sign-on to another non-military ship in that time
• if the ship on which the crew travel to Australia is ceasing its international voyage status and is declared 'imported' by Australian Customs, and within five (5) days crew do not depart Australia, or sign-on to another non-military ship, or do not obtain another suitable visa from the department to authorise their continued lawful stay in Australia
  Note: The master of the vessel should inform the crew if Australian Customs 'imports' the vessel.
• if crew no longer satisfy the legal requirements under which they were granted the MCV
• if crew perform work while in Australia other than work that is required in relation to the usual operational requirements of their ship
• if the presence of a crew member in Australia is determined to be 'undesirable' by the Minister or his/her delegate.

If an MCV ceases or becomes invalid, crew may re-apply for the MCV outside Australia. However, the grant of a new MCV will depend on the reason for the MCV ceasing or becoming invalid in the first place.

Can I check that crew hold a Maritime Crew visa?

A check to find out if a Maritime Crew visa (MCV) is held may be conducted at any time using the person's passport number, nationality of passport and date of birth.
See: MCV Online Status Enquiry

A check to find out how an MCV internet (online) application is progressing may be conducted at any time using a transaction reference number (TRN) which is provided when an online application is lodged.
See: Check the progress of an application

Note: An MCV is electronically recorded against a passport (the same passport detailed in the visa application). No visa label appears in the passport.

Crew sign-ons in Australia

Crew travelling to Australia by air to join a ship must hold a valid visa for air travel such as a Transit visa, Tourist visa or an Electronic Travel Authority (ETA). Transit visas for crew will not be granted until crew hold a Maritime Crew visa (MCV).

Crew holding both a Transit visa and an MCV will have five (5) days from arrival in which to sign-on to a ship.

Crew must be lawfully in Australia and hold an MCV at the time of signing on to a vessel or they may face being restricted on board.

Crew are not permitted to sign-on to an imported vessel with a MCV. They must hold an appropriate visa such as a 457 business visa.

If crew, at time of sign-on, hold only a visa other than an MCV, such as a Tourist visa or ETA, that visa may be ceased as it does not permit work in Australia. Crew may consequently face restriction on board and this may have serious consequences for any future visa applications.

An MCV will cease where crew overstay their sign-on period and become unlawful in Australia. This may affect any subsequent visa applications by crew.

A Pre-Sign-On Notification Form will be introduced by Australian Customs to enable visa checks of crew prior to sign-on. Agents must provide this to Customs 24 hours prior to sign-on.
See: Australian Customs and Border Protection Service

Crew sign-offs in Australia

Crew signing off a vessel will have five (5) days, as a general rule, to depart Australia or sign-on to a non-imported vessel.

Extensions to the sign-off period may be available in compelling circumstances. Crew seeking to remain in Australia in excess of five (5) days for specific reasons such as a holiday or medical treatment would be expected to apply for a visa appropriate to their purpose of stay.

The Maritime Crew visa (MCV) will cease where crew overstay their sign-off period and become unlawful in Australia. This may affect any subsequent visa applications by crew.

Information for crew manning agents

Essential information on the Maritime Crew visa for crew manning agents.

Masters / Agents can check if crew hold an MCV using the MCV Online Status Enquiry.
See:
MCV Online Status Enquiry
Information for crew manning agents ( 35KB PDF file)

Information for shipping operators

Essential information on the Maritime Crew visa for shipping operators.
See: Information for shipping operators ( 33KB PDF file)

Information for Australian shipping agents

Essential information on the Maritime Crew visa for Australian shipping agents.
See: Information for Australian shipping agents ( 35KB PDF file)