The Maritime Crew Visa (988) is for crew members of non-military ships and their immediate family. This visa permits travel and entry to Australia by sea.
You must apply for this visa while outside of Australia and will not be entitled to work other than on the normal operational requirements of the ship.
The ship must be either:
- used for commercial trading
- used for carrying paying passengers
- owned and operated by a foreign government to do scientific research, or
- approved for ‘public vessel status’ by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
The Maritime Crew Visa (988) is valid for three years. If you sign off from your ship and do not join another ship, you must leave Australia within five days.