Australia: Important information for maritime crew visa

by The Editorial Team

November 23, 2021            

The Australian Department of Home Affairs has issued a factsheet with important visa information for the commercial maritime industry.

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According to the latest factseet, all travellers need to hold a valid visa to enter Australia, including seafarers.

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For Maritime Crew Visa (MCV) applications and approvals:

• Just lodging an application is not a guarantee that one will be granted. Make sure that your application is lodged AND granted before travelling to Australia.

• If you arrive in Australia without a valid visa, you will be prevented from entering and the shipping company, ship’s master and agent may become liable to be fined.

• Make sure you lodge a fully complete application at least four weeks before you depart for Australia to give time to process the application, and for your and the shipping company to make alternative arrangements, if your application is delayed or refused.

• Sometimes you may need to give additional information to support your application. As a result, you need to provide the requested information as soon as possible.

Check your declarations                   

You are required to make a number of declarations before you can lodge the application. Make sure that you read them carefully and answer them correctly. False declarations, even where unintended, will delay the processing of the application and may lead to your application being refused.

• Make sure the declarations you make about your health, any criminal convictions and your visa history to Australia and other countries, including where previous applications have been refused, are completely
  accurate.