Visa file / Visitor and other visas
Maritime Crew visa 988
Free visa for foreign crew arriving by sea on an eligible ship on an international voyage.
In force
Who it is for
Articled crew members of an eligible ship (such as a cargo or passenger ship) on an international voyage to Australia, and their partner or dependent child travelling on the same ship with the master's permission.
Published eligibility
- Be outside Australia when you apply.
- Be a crew member, or have a current offer to be one, on a Maritime Crew visa eligible ship; some ships are ineligible.
- Meet health and quarantine requirements and character.
Where you apply from
Outside Australia. You can be in or outside Australia when it is decided. Do not travel without the visa.
From first enquiry to grant and after.
The usual steps, and where a registered migration agent can help at each one. Immi Worldwide gives general information and settlement support, never advice about your visa.
- 01
Apply online
Apply before the voyage.
Where a registered migration agent can helpUsually not needed.
- 02
Arrive by sea
Stay while signed on to an eligible ship; sign off only to join another eligible ship or leave.
Where a registered migration agent can helpAdvises if you need to stay after signing off.
- 03
Stay longer
You cannot apply for a new Maritime Crew visa in Australia; apply for another visa before this one ceases.
Where a registered migration agent can help
Charges and processing times.
| Charge | Amount |
|---|---|
| Main applicant | Nil |
Source: Home Affairs Current visa pricing table, charges from 1 July 2026. Check the Visa Pricing Estimator before you rely on a figure.
| Stream | 50% decided within | 90% decided within |
|---|---|---|
| Maritime Crew | less than 1 day | 3 days |
Home Affairs visa processing time guide. Read 22 October 2026. Times change monthly and are not a promise. Global visa processing times.
Common refusal reasons
- Ship not eligible, or not an articled crew member.
- Character.
Drawn from the published criteria and general practice experience. They are not Departmental statistics.
Document checklist
Application
A general list. The Department's own document checklist for your application is the one that counts. Ticks stay on this page only.
What changed, and what people ask.
No recent changes are listed for this visa. Check the Home Affairs page for the latest information.
Sources
Information checked 22 October 2026. General information only, not advice about your circumstances.
How any of these rules applies to a particular person, which visa to choose, and any application are immigration assistance, given only by a registered migration agent.
Immi Worldwide does not give immigration assistance. For advice about your own situation, Immi Worldwide can refer you to Sukh Sandhu, Registered Migration Agent, MARN 1384130, of The Immigration Worldwide Pty Ltd, or you can choose any registered migration agent.
The referral form opens with the box to pass your enquiry to the registered agent already ticked. Immi Worldwide does not charge for a referral.