Maritime Crew Visa Subclass 988

Subclass 988 visa is a temporary visa in Australia and is more popularly known as the Maritime Crew visa. It allows foreign crew members to be in Australia as long as they are a crew member of a commercial (non-military) ship that is in Australia. The applicants are only allowed to arrive and depart by sea under this visa category.

Why to apply for a Subclass 988 Visa

Subclass 988 visa is a temporary permit to the Country. This visa allows its holders to-

Stay in the country as long as they are signed on the duty of a commercial ship in Australia.
Perform work as a crew member of the ship.
Arrive and depart Australia by sea.
Travel to and fro to Australia by sea any number of times till the validity of the visa.
An accompanying partner (spouse or de-facto) of a crew member on a ship can also apply for this visa.
An applicant can only include their partner or dependent child in their MCV 988 visa only after they have been granted the visa.

The subclass 988 visa is usually valid for three years and is linked to the passport number of the applicant. To know more about the provisions under subclass 988 or your specific or general queries on eligibility, conditions, migration, and processing, contact our 988 visa consultants or immigration agents.

What are the Eligibility Requirements for a Maritime Crew Visa 988

To be eligible to apply for a subclass 988 visa, the applicant must meet the Department’s required eligibility conditions.

The applicant must be outside Australia while making an application.
The applicant must be an articled crew member on a commercial (non-military) ship en route to an international voyage through Australia.
The applicant should not be a holder of a permanent Australian visa.
The applicant must pay back or make arrangements to pay back all the dues (If any) that they owe to the Government of Australia.
The applicant must meet all the health and character requirements as specified by the Department.
The applicant must not have had a history of any previous visa being canceled or an application being refused.
The applicant must only undertake work as a maritime crew on the ship.

The applicant must abide by the conditions attached to the visa and not undertake any other work apart from their designated crew duties. The applicant must fulfill the required eligibility conditions at all times; if there is a failure to do so, the visa may get canceled.

For being eligible to apply, an applicant should ensure that the commercial ship they are on should meet the definition of being a non-military ship in Australia.
Further, visa application processing in Australia is complex and needs professional help. We suggest you book an appointment with our 988 visa consultants/ immigration agents to secure a favorable migration processing.

The shared information is exclusive but not exhaustive; one must comply with all the eligibility requirements before making an application. Immigration laws in Australia can get quite complicated for an applicant to understand.

The assistance of an experienced consultant or agent is paramount to a successful outcome. We advise you to talk to our qualified migration agents to help you understand the complete eligibility requirements before applying. For more information on visa conditions and processing, please contact our immigration consultants to assist you through the entire process. We suggest you book an appointment with our 988 visa consultants/ immigration agents to secure a favorable migration processing.

How to Apply for a Subclass 988 Visa

Before applying for the subclass 988 visa application, the applicant must ensure that they hold a valid passport; The next step lies in the gathering of the relevant evidence. The evidence should be complementary to the facts of the application for the individual visa requirements. An applicant must be able to demonstrate that they are employed or have an offer of employment to work as a crew member on a non-military ship.
Get in touch with our visa consultants/ immigration agents for more details on eligibility conditions and visa processing after you apply.
The duly filled and complete visa application should be filed with the Department along with the requisite fees. If a fee is not paid or some amount is left unpaid, the visa application form might not be considered at all. Contact our visa consultant or immigration agents for detailed information on application processing and form-based eligibility conditions.
After filing the visa application form successfully, the Department informs the applicant that their application assessment is in place and communicates the applicants’ registered mail decision. Talk to our 988 visa consultant or immigration agents to accurately file all the application forms and quick processing. Our specialized visa consultants/ immigration agents are trained to counsel the client based on their eligibility and migration conditions and then provide all the assistance required to ensure a favorable visa decision

Processing Time for Maritime Crew Visa 988

The standard processing time for a subclass 988 visa category is three days for 75% of the applications (approx.) and ten days for 90% of the applications (approx.). There is no visa application charge for this category.
The Department generally asks for additional information both from the applicants and/ or external agencies. Generally, the verification procedure for a temporary visa is less thorough than a permanent visa category.

Contact Us

Complex visa requirements and changing legislation have made the Australian visa application process a little complicated. For most people, applying for a visa is quite a daunting task. Here at E-Help, we specialize in doing the same; if you are looking to secure a visa, our visa consultants/immigration agents can be of immense help. Our team of expert migration agents understand the value of your time and money and know how to cater to your requirements with absolute professionalism and swiftness. Let E-Help provide you with a one-stop solution for all aspects of Australian immigration. Contact us or speak to our immigration agents online. We recommend that you fill up our information form for ready reference and reach us for any form of guidance or assistance regarding your eligibility condition or your application. To book an appointment with our 988 visa agents or immigration consultants, contact us or dial us at +61 7 3172 4965.

Maritime Crew Visa Subclass 988 Visa