988 — Maritime Crew visa (subclass 988)

The Australian Maritime Crew visa (subclass 988) lets foreign crew on qualifying commercial ships — cargo or international passenger vessels — enter Australia by sea while on an international voyage. The visa is free and typically processed within 1–3 days.

Stay duration is tied to your signed-on status aboard the ship; there is no fixed end date while you remain active crew. Work is limited to shipboard operational duties — no land-based employment is permitted. Dependent partners and children may hold the visa if travelling on the same vessel.

This visa is ideal for professional mariners — deckhands, engineers, officers — working on international commercial voyages to Australian ports who need a fast, cost-free entry mechanism.