Customs Entry and Coastal Trading
Information on Customs entry and coastal trading permits/licences and the visa status of foreign sea crew on commercial vessels.
Customs Entry
When a ship arrives in Australian waters and that arrival constitutes a break in the continuity of an international voyage because the ship will remain in Australia, Customs normally treats the ship as having been imported. Importation requires the owner to lodge a Customs entry.
Foreign sea crew lose their Maritime Crew Visa status 5 days after Customs entry/import. Foreign crew are required to depart Australia unless they hold an appropriate work visa which will usually be required to be applied for offshore.
Coastal Permits
Vessels holding a Single or Continuing Voyage Permit issued by the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government (Infrastructure) retain international voyage status for the duration of the permit (not exceeding 3 months). As such, Customs does not enter or import vessels which hold a Single or Continuing Voyage Permit and foreign sea crew on such vessels continue to hold a Maritime Crew Visa for the duration of the Permit.
Vessels must depart Australia before the permit expires. Infrastructure and Customs monitor the departure of such vessels from Australia to ensure they comply with the terms of the permit. Where a permit has ceased and the vessel and foreign sea crew remain in Australia, the crew are considered to be unlawful and will be subject to restriction on board the vessel and immediate departure from Australia.
Infrastructure regulates ships engaged in the Australian coastal trade, for further information see the Infrastructure website.
See: Infrastructure Website
Coastal Trading Licences
Vessels that hold a Coastal Trading Licence issued by the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government (Infrastructure) and which undertake coastal (domestic) trade in Australia are subject to Customs entry / import.
Foreign sea crew lose their Maritime Crew Visa status 5 days after Customs entry / import.
Foreign crew are required to depart Australia unless they hold an appropriate work visa which will usually be required to be applied for offshore.
Infrastructure regulates ships engaged in the Australian coastal trade, for further information see the Infrastructure website.
See: Infrastructure Website