Australian Seafarer Visa Application Process

The Australian seafarer's visa is a type of visa that allows non-military ship captains and crew to enter and exit Australia by sea. Persons who are on the crew of a non-military ship and have a seafarer's visa with a visa class code of Subclass 988 can stay in Australia while they are part of the crew. The seafarer's visa is also called a seaman's visa or a ship's crew visa.

What are the Australian Seafarer Visa Requirements?

Australian seafarer visa requirements are listed below.

You must be outside Australia when applying for a seafarer visa.
It is necessary to have an offer to be a member of the crew of a non-military vessel making an international voyage to Australia.
It is not necessary to hold any permanent Australian visa.
You must not have an Australian visa that has been refused or cancelled in the past.
Must have a clean criminal record.

What Types of Ships Can I Work On to Get an Australian Seafarer Visa?

To obtain an Australian seafarer's visa, you must be a member of the crew of a ship operating in certain sectors. The ship you are a member of the crew may be used for commercial purposes or to carry paying passengers.

Crew members of ships commissioned by a foreign country to conduct scientific research are eligible to apply for a seafarer's visa. Persons working on ships granted government ship status by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and on ships registered on the Australian International Shipping Register brought to Australia for sale are eligible to apply for a seafarer's visa.

Who is not eligible for an Australian Seafarer Visa?

Persons who cannot obtain an Australian seafarer visa are listed below.

Persons on the crew of a yacht, boat or small ship
Crew members of ships that do not meet the status of non-military ships
Foreign navy crew members who do not have DIPCLEAR status or diplomatic clearance
Crew members of vessels imported for Australian use but not registered on the Australian International Shipping Register or AISR

How to Apply for an Australian Visa for Seafarers and Captains?

Australian visa applications for seafarers and captains can be made online through the ImmiAccount application portal on the Australian government website. After creating an account through the ImmiAccount application portal, the system must be logged in.

On the visa type selection screen, Subclass 988 Australian seafarer visa must be selected and the application form must be filled out completely and with accurate declarations.

The application is completed by uploading the required visa documents to the system. The Australian Embassy Ankara Home Affairs Office sends an e-mail to the applicant stating that the application has been received and that biometric procedures must be completed.

After receiving the e-mail, an appointment must be made for one of the VFS Global visa application centers located in Istanbul, Ankara or Gaziantep. The application process is completed by performing the fingerprint procedures in person on the appointment date.

What are the Required Documents for an Australian Seafarer Visa?

The documents required for an Australian seafarer visa are listed below.

Passport: Color photocopies of the pages of the passport containing the photograph, personal information, passport procedures and expiration dates, valid for at least 6 months after the end of the trip, and copies of previous passports, if any, are required.
Australian seafarer visa application form: A fully completed online application form with accurate statements and in English is required.
ID card : A Republic of Turkey ID card is required for citizens of the Republic of Turkey, and a Republic of Turkey residence permit is required for foreign citizens.
Seaman employment contract: An employment contract showing that you are currently working on a non-military ship's crew or will be working on one in the near future is required.
Letter of appointment: A letter from the ship's local forwarding or shipping agent is required, stating the applicant's name, the company's name, the ship's name, the date of arrival in Australia, the name of the port and the expected date of re-embarkation.
Education documentation: A diploma proving the highest level of education and qualifications relevant to crew member employment is required
Criminal record: A criminal record showing past crimes is required.

The documents required for online application via ImmiAccount are specified. The requested identity, education and work documents must be uploaded during the application via ImmiAccount. If the documents are not uploaded during the application, the application may be delayed. In applications made as a partner or dependent of a crew member, identity documents and other documents must be uploaded to prove that they are members of the same family.

How Much Does an Australian Seafarer Visa Cost?

Australian seafarer visa applications are free of charge. A service fee of 63 Turkish lira is required for biometric procedures performed in person at the intermediary application center.

How Many Days Does It Take to Get an Australian Seafarer Visa?

The Australian seafarer visa application is finalised within an average of 10 days after it is processed.

How Long Does a Seafarer's Visa to Australia Last for?

A seafarer's visa to Australia allows the holder unlimited entry and exit to Australia for the duration of the visa. The Australian seafarer's visa remains valid for 3 years as long as the crew of a non-military vessel is present. Australian seafarer's visa holders can enter Australia on a non-military vessel as long as the visa is not cancelled.

Reasons for Australian seafarer visa cancellation are listed below.

Working outside of ship's essential duties in Australia
Not entering the ship within 5 days of arriving in Australia by air with a Subclass 771 transit visa
Cancellation of visas of persons with another type of visa for reasons other than character requirements
Remain in Australia within 5 days of leaving the current ship without registering for a new non-military ship or applying for another visa

Can Family Members of a Seafarer Visa Holder Travel to Australia?

Family members of a seafarer's visa holder may apply for a seafarer's visa if they are travelling on the same ship as the visa holder, with the approval of the ship's captain. Family members must submit separate applications. Crew members who come to Australia on a seafarer's visa do not have the right to work in Australia.

Can I Work in Australia With a Seafarer Visa?

A seafarer's visa may only carry out work in Australia that is in line with the requirements of the ship. Ship crew members cannot engage in any offshore sourcing activities, except for an international oil export vessel crew member who will arrive from an offshore port and return to an offshore port to pick up products for export from an offshore production or storage facility.

People coming to Australia on a seafarer's visa cannot work in any land or sea job that is not directly related to the essential activities of the ship they are affiliated with.

Can I Travel to Australia as a Tourist with a Seafarer's Visa?

You cannot travel as a tourist in Australia with a seaman's visa. You must obtain a tourist visa to go on a tourist trip in Australia.

People who come to Australia with a seafarer visa can apply for an Australian tourist visa to travel to Australia when they are not working as a crew member. Both an Australian tourist visa and a seafarer visa can be obtained at the same time.

What is an Australian Sailor Transit Visa?

An Australian seafarer's transit visa is a type of visa issued to crew members who will travel by air to join their ship in Australia.

Transit visa holders can stay in Australia for 5 days until they join a new crew. An Australian transit visa is valid for one flight and a new transit visa must be obtained for each flight to Australia by air.

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