Subclass 988
Maritime Crew visa
A visa for foreign crew of eligible ships entering Australia by sea on an international voyage, and for their partner or dependent child travelling on the same ship.
Overview
With this visa you can
- Arrive and depart by sea as crew of an eligible ship
- Sign off to join another eligible ship or to leave Australia
Requirements
The official page lists these main requirements. Each stream adds its own.
- Be a crew member, or have an offer to be one, on an eligible ship
- Meet Australia's health and quarantine requirements
Documents & forms
The official page lists the documents to provide with an application. Open the documents list on Home Affairs.
Published processing times and charges
Official processing times
Home Affairs publishes how long it took to decide past applications: the time within which 25, 50, 75 and 90 per cent were decided. Each stream keeps its own reporting period.
YourVisaSite compares this list with the Home Affairs processing times on a regular schedule. Our copy last changed on 21 October 2026. The source reports 12 October 2026 for this version; this is separate from our check date. A successful check does not independently verify every underlying fact. The official source remains the authority; open it before you rely on an entry.
| 25% of applications | 50% | 75% | 90% | Reporting period ended | Source published |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Less than 1 day | Less than 1 day | Less than 1 day | 3 days | 31 August 2026 | 29 September 2026 |
Source: Australian Government Department of Home Affairs, CC BY 3.0 Australia with source-specific exclusions (Australian Government Department of Home Affairs, CC BY 3.0 Australia with source-specific exclusions). Past decisions only; not a prediction for any application. Current official processing times ↗
Processing times for this visa, by stream, with the reporting period.
Visa application charge
| Application | Main applicant | Each additional applicant 18 or over | Each additional applicant under 18 |
|---|---|---|---|
All applicationsOfficial conditions and notesNote The maritime crew visa is usually available to crew of non-military ships and is generally not valid for air travel to Australia. N/A* Means that additional applicants are not eligible for this visa. get_app Go to visa page | No charge | — | — |
YourVisaSite compares this list with the Home Affairs price list on a regular schedule. Our copy last changed on 21 October 2026. A successful check does not independently verify every underlying fact. The official source remains the authority; open it before you rely on an entry. Other costs, such as health checks or a second instalment, may apply, and government charges are separate from any professional fee. Current official pricing ↗
Updates & sources
Source: Australian Government Department of Home Affairs. This summary was written from the official page on 20 October 2026.
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This page is general information written from the official page. It does not assess anyone’s eligibility, is not migration advice and has not been reviewed by a lawyer or registered migration agent. The official page is always the current source. Spotted something out of date? Report a correction.
Registered practitioners
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Registered migration agents and lawyers appear here once they have chosen to be listed for this visa. For requirements and how to apply, the official page is the place to start.