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Maritime Crew visa (Subclass 988)

AustraliaWork

Explore the five recorded questions, answers and sources for this pathway.

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What type of worker, employment situation, occupation or professional activity is this pathway actually designed for?

The route is for an articled crew member (or a person with a current offer to be one) on an MCV-eligible ship, such as a cargo or passenger ship on an international voyage to Australia; crew of, or those seeking to join, ineligible ships (private research vessels, most fishing vessels, yachts or superyachts) are excluded.

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Does the applicant need a job offer, employer, sponsor, transfer relationship or other employer involvement? What is important about that employer relationship?

The applicant must be an articled crew member, or have a current offer to be one, on an MCV-eligible ship such as a cargo or passenger ship on an international voyage to Australia.

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What are the few decisive professional characteristics of the pathway: occupation, qualifications, experience, salary, skill level, shortage status, labour-market condition or equivalent?

The decisive characteristic is being an articled crew member, or having a current offer to be a crew member, on a Maritime Crew visa eligible ship taking an international voyage to Australia, such as a cargo or passenger ship. Articled crew members include people under contract or subcontract involved in the usual day to day routine maintenance or duties of a ship while it is at sea, and people doing scientific research on a research ship owned by a foreign government; it does not include those who only work on a ship while it is in port or dry dock unless they are travelling with the ship. Applicants provide evidence of their highest recognised qualification that relates to their employment as a crew member. The official source does not state a salary, experience or skill-level threshold.

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What work does the permission allow? Is the holder tied to an employer, occupation or sector? Can family accompany where clearly established?

Holders may only perform work in Australia that meets the normal operational duties of a crew member on their MCV-eligible ship. Members of the family unit (partner or dependent child) can hold the visa if travelling on the same ship with permission from the vessel master; a family member's visa ceases if the main applicant's visa ceases, if they enter Australia on a ship without the main applicant without another valid visa, or if they stop travelling together without leaving Australia or obtaining another visa. Family members are not permitted to work in Australia on this visa.

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How long is the permission normally granted for, how is it renewed, and what longer-term residence direction exists if officially stated?

Maritime Crew visas last for three years unless ceased earlier — for example, if the holder tries to enter or work in Australia on a non-eligible ship, does work unrelated to the ship's operation, arrives by air and does not sign on within five days, or signs off the ship without leaving Australia, holding another visa, or signing onto another eligible ship within five days. While valid, the holder can enter Australia by sea as many times as needed; the visa cannot be renewed from within Australia, and holders must apply for another visa before it ceases if they want to stay longer.

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These are the answers currently recorded in the catalogue. A missing or partial answer is not an eligibility decision.

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