At a glance
To get a certificate of recognition, you need to:
- Have the right to work in Australia
- Hold a valid STCW certificate from a recognised country
- Get an AMSA Certificate of Medical Fitness (303)
- Complete a sea service assessment and pass an oral exam (Masters and Officers only)
- Apply to AMSA
On this page:
- What is a certificate of recognition?
- Eligibility requirements
- How to get a CoR
- How long it takes
- How much it costs
- Expiry and validity
- Endorsements
- Alternative certificates
- Apply now
What is a certificate of recognition?
A certificate of recognition (CoR) lets you work in Australia using your existing overseas STCW certificate.
A CoR:
- recognises your existing STCW experience and training
- allows you to perform the duties shown on your overseas certificate
- is issued at the same STCW function and level as your primary (overseas) certificate
- is valid for up to 5 years.
Other countries may call this:
- an STCW recognition endorsement
- an endorsement attesting recognition
- certificate of equivalent competency.
A certificate of recognition does not guarantee employment in Australia.
Eligibility requirements
You can apply if you:
- are an Australian citizen, permanent resident or hold a current Australian work visa
- hold a valid STCW certificate issued by a recognised country
- hold a valid AMSA Certificate of Medical Fitness (303).
If you hold an STCW certificate from a non-recognised country
If your certificate is not issued by a recognised country, you cannot apply for a certificate of recognition.
You will need to apply for a new Australian-issued STCW certificate of proficiency or competency and meet all training and sea service requirements.
How to get a certificate of recognition
Follow these steps to prepare and apply for a certificate of recognition.
- (1) Check your certificate is eligible
Your overseas certificate must:
- be issued under STCW
- be current and not expired
- be issued at a recognised STCW function and level (for example II/1, II/2, III/1, III/2, II/4, II/5, III/4, III/5)
- be issued by a country recognised by AMSA.
We do not recognise domestic, near-coastal, national or state-issued certificates, or STCW certificates limited to near-coastal voyages.
- (2) Get an AMSA medical
Before you apply, you must hold a valid AMSA Certificate of Medical Fitness (303).
You must complete your medical examination in Australia with an AMSA approved medical practitioner.
We do not accept overseas or flag State medicals (such as ENG1 or OEUK/OGUK).
Find out how to get an Australian medical fitness certificate
- (3) Check Australian training and sea service requirements
Your overseas certificate does not automatically meet Australian requirements.
Before you apply, check:
- which STCW training courses are required
- how much qualifying sea service is required.
You must have evidence of your training and sea service ready to submit with your application.
What you need depends on your certificate level:
- officers need a sea service assessment and must pass an oral exam
- ratings need a sea service letter.
- (4) Apply for a sea service assessment (officers only)
You must get a sea service assessment before you apply for a certificate of recognition if you hold an STCW certificate of competency (officers).
This applies to:
- deck or engineer watchkeeper
- chief mate
- master
- second engineer
- chief engineer.
You do not need a sea service assessment if you hold a certificate of proficiency (rating).
During the assessment, we check that your sea service meets Australian requirements.
After the assessment, we will send you a sea service assessment letter that tells you:
- if your sea service is accepted
- if you need to complete additional sea service or training to meet Australian requirements.
Sea service assessments can take up to 90 days.
- (5) Book and pass an AMSA oral exam (officers only)
If you hold a certificate of competency (officer), you must also pass an AMSA oral exam before you apply.
Do not book your oral exam until you have received your sea service assessment letter.
You must:
- Book your oral exam with AMSA, using your sea service assessment letter as evidence
- Pass the oral exam before you apply for your certificate of recognition.
If you do not pass on your first attempt, you may book and sit the exam again.
We recommend reviewing the relevant Australian syllabus and oral examination checklist before your exam.
You do not need to sit an oral exam if you hold a certificate of proficiency (rating).
- (6) Prepare your documents
When you are ready to apply for your CoR, you must provide.
Identity documents
- Proof of identity
- Proof you are allowed to work in Australia
- A passport-style photograph (if you live overseas)
Certificates
- Your overseas STCW certificate
- Required supporting/ancillary certificates
- AMSA Certificate of Medical Fitness (303)
Sea service evidence
- Sea service letter using the sea service letter for international seafarer’s template (if applicable) (ratings only)
- Sea service assessment letter (officers only)
Do not submit additional documents unless we ask for them.
Find out more about how to provide supporting documents.
- (7) Submit your application
To apply for a certificate of recognition, you must complete AMSA Seafarer form 419.
How you submit depends on where you live.
If you live in Australia
You must:
- complete AMSA Seafarer form 419
- lodge your application in person at a participating Australia Post outlet
- bring your original proof of identity
- have your photograph taken at Australia Post
- pay the application fee
If you live overseas
You must:
- complete AMSA Seafarer form 419
- sign the declaration and sample signature box
- scan your completed form and all supporting documents
- include a passport-style colour photograph (JPG format)
- combine all documents into one file (maximum size: 10MB)
- email the complete application as one attachment to STCW.applications@amsa.gov.au
We will email you payment instructions after we start checking your application, not when you apply.
How long it takes
We won't start assessing your application until it is complete. This means:
- the application has been filled out correctly
- we have received all required documents
- you have paid the application fee.
It will delay processing if anything is missing or incorrect in your application.
Allow 28 business days for us to assess your application
This period starts from the day we've received your complete application and payment.
This does not include postal delivery time.
Allow the full 28 business days before contacting us about your application.
We also verify your overseas certificate with the issuing administration. This can affect processing times.
We will notify you by email when your certificate has been approved and issued.
Your certificate will be sent by standard mail through Australia Post. Delivery times vary and tracking is not provided.
Courier delivery is available for overseas addresses only. Additional fees apply, check fees for STCW certificates and services.
How much it costs
The fee to apply for a certificate of recognition is:
- $190 (most certificates)
- $112 (GMDSS radio operators)
Read more about STCW fees and charges.
Expiry and validity
A certificate of recognition expires on the earliest of:
- the expiry date of your overseas (primary) certificate
- the expiry date of your Australian visa
- 5 years from the date of issue.
You cannot work in an STCW role on an Australian vessel using an expired certificate.
Keep your certificate current
You cannot work on Australian-flagged vessels once your certificate of recognition expires.
You must carry both your primary (overseas) certificate and your AMSA-issued certificate of recognition onboard.
Find out how to revalidate your certificate of recognition.
Endorsements
If your overseas certificate includes endorsements, your certificate of recognition will recognise them where they meet Australian requirements.
Most endorsements are not listed separately on the CoR but still apply.
If you hold a tanker endorsement (oil, chemical or gas) issued by your flag State, you can apply to AMSA for a similar standalone endorsement.
You may also apply for a standalone endorsement if you complete an STCW short course in Australia with an approved AMSA training provider.
Learn more about endorsements for international certificates.
Alternative certificates
Depending on your situation, you may need a different type of certificate.
If you do not want to maintain your overseas certificate
A certificate of recognition is only available if you keep your primary (overseas) certificate valid with the issuing country.
If you do not want to maintain your primary (overseas) certificate, you will need to apply for an Australian-issued STCW certificate instead.
You will need to meet all Australian eligibility requirements, including completing AMSA approved training in Australia and meeting sea service requirements.
If you are working on an AISR vessel
A certificate of recognition is different from a certificate of equivalence.
A certificate of equivalence applies only to crew working on ships registered on the Australian International Shipping Register (AISR).
If you are working on an AISR vessel, you may need a certificate of equivalence instead.
Apply now
Complete AMSA Seafarer form 419
Do you need a sea service assessment?
If you are applying as an officer, you must have completed your sea service assessment and oral exam before you submit your application for a CoR.