Immigration - Before Arrival

All persons arriving in Australia by sea on recreational or commercial vessels are subject to immigration clearance. This applies whether they disembark the vessel or remain onboard.

Before you arrive in Australia you must have in your possession a valid visa and a valid passport.

You will also need to complete an incoming passenger card (which should be provided to you by Customs officers if you enter through an Australian seaport).

The two major types of visa that you are likely to require if you are visiting Australia are either the Temporary Superyacht Crew Visa (for staff and crew working on the superyacht) or the standard visitor’s visa (for tourists entering for recreation).

Temporary Superyacht Crew Visa

•  How the visa works
• Other requirements
• Obligations
• Forms

General Tourist Visas

•  Visa Options
• Further information 
   

Temporary Superyacht Crew Visa

The Australian Government has developed a specific Temporary Superyacht Crew Visa (subclass 488) intended to cater to the needs of overseas superyacht crews entering Australian waters. The Crew Visa allows crew members to work on-board a superyacht and remain in Australia for up to 12 months.
 
The visa defines a superyacht as any high value luxury sailing ship or motor vessel 24 metres or longer in load line length, not carrying cargo, and being used for sport or pleasure.

The Superyacht Crew Visa is designed specifically for superyacht crew members and is not available for the dependents of superyacht crew members. Dependents should apply for an ETA (visitor) (subclass 976) or a Tourist (subclass 676) visa.

How the Visa Works

Crew members must be sponsored to work in Australia by the captain or owner of the superyacht on which they will be working. The Department of Immigration and Citizenship recommends applicants seek their sponsorship from the owner of the vessel.

The captain or owner is considered the employer of the crew member. They must complete the relevant form (Form 1366) in order to sponsor the applicant.

Please visit details and forms for further information. 

Other requirements

The Australian Government imposes a number of eligibility requirements on people seeking a Temporary Superyacht Crew Visa. These requirements relate primarily to Health and Character.

More details on eligibility requirements are available.

Obligations

If you are granted a Temporary Superyacht Crew Visa you will be obliged to advise the Federal Government of any changes to your circumstances, including termination of your employment on the superyacht, changes in your employer and so on.

A number of obligations are also imposed upon your sponsor. Your sponsor will be obliged to repay any costs that may be incurred to the Australian community as a result of the superyacht visa holder’s stay. They will also be obliged to ensure the visa holder complies with all local laws and that they meet the conditions of the visa.

More information is available regarding your obligations.

Forms - Applying for the Visa

Information on how to apply for this visa is available from the Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship.

General tourist visas

If you are not entering Australia as a superyacht crew member it is likely you will be entering as a tourist or other visitor.  Anyone who is not an Australian citizen needs a valid visa/Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) to enter and spend time in Australia.

With the exception of New Zealand citizens, all foreign nationals must have a visa/ETA before travelling to Australia.  New Zealand citizens can obtain a special category visa upon arrival in Australia.

Visas are available from Australian Missions overseas.  They are also available, in ETA form, from travel agents and from airlines in certain countries.

Visa Options

There are two main types of visas used for visiting Australia as a tourist. These are the ETA (Visitor) (subclass 976), eVisitors (subclass 651) and Tourist visa (subclass 676).

Information on these visa options as well as useful tools to help you locate alternative visa options that may be more suitable to your individual circumstances are available at the Department of Immigration & Citizenship website. 

Where to go for more information

For more information on Australian visa requirements, please contact an Australian Mission overseas or visit the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) website.

Disclaimer:
The information on this site is subject to change and that for the most up to date information the relevant government agencies should be consulted via their websites.  It remains the responsibility of the owner, master or appointed agent to ensure they are relying on current information as to their specific obligations.