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Managing Australia's Borders

Crew Sign-on & Sign-off

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Crew leaving a vessel in Australia

All foreign crew are required to sign-off when leaving their vessel for repatriation, hospitalisation or to transfer to another vessel. A Customs officer must give approval before a crew member is permitted to sign-off a vessel.

Crew members signing-off for a holiday or to reside in Australia (other than Australian and New Zealand citizens) must present a valid passport with a valid visa or travel authority. Australian citizens must present their Australian passport.

Crew joining a vessel in Australia

All foreign crew arriving in Australia to join a vessel as crew will require a Maritime Crew Visa or another visa appropriate for crew in order to sign-on to the vessel. A person 'signs-on' to a ship when they have signed the ship's articles and a Customs officer has confirmed that:

  • the crewmember is lawfully in Australia (that is, holding a Maritime Crew visa)
  • they hold a valid passport and a document identifying them as a seafarer employed on the ship
    and
  • their name is on a prescribed crew list.

Foreign crew who fly in to Australia to sign-on to a non-military vessel must hold a valid visa or travel authority to enter by air, as well as a Maritime Crew visa or other appropriate visa. Crew members arriving by another vessel as crew can be signed-off one vessel and signed on to another vessel. That sign-on should occur within five (5) days of signing off the first vessel.