Superyacht Crew (Subclass 488)

This temporary visa allows crew members to work onboard a Superyacht and remain in Australia for up to 12 months.

A Superyacht is any high value luxury sailing ship or motor vessel which is all of the following:

• 24 metres or longer in load line length
• not carrying cargo
• used for sport or pleasure

This visa is available to Superyacht crew members. It is not for the dependants of Superyacht crew members, dependants should consider applying for an ETA (visitor) (subclass 976) or a Tourist (subclass 676) visa.

There is no visa application charge.

If you are granted this visa, you can:

• enter Australia on multiple occasions during the 12 months validity of the visa
• work to support the usual operational requirements of the Superyacht while you are in Australia

Sponsorship

Crew members must be sponsored to work in Australia by the captain or owner of the Superyacht on which they will be working.

The captain or owner who is the employer of the Superyacht Crew member must complete Form 1366

Superyacht Crew visa holders who change employers are required to lodge a new visa application sponsored by their new employer.

Superyacht Crew visa holders who transfer to another superyacht owned by the same employer are not required to lodge a new visa application.

Visa validity period

The Superyacht Crew visa allows multiple entry into Australia for 12 months from the date it is granted. When applying Superyacht crew can nominate to stay in Australia for up to three (3), six (6) or 12 months on each visit.

Superyacht Crew visa holders can apply for a further Superyacht Crew visa while in Australia.

Eligibility

Crew members must meet the following eligibility requirements.

You must meet health requirements.

You must meet character requirements.

You should provide details of the vessel operator, shipping company or agent with which you are employed.

You will need to provide all of the following additional documents with your application:

• signed employment contract or agreement between you and the captain or owner of the yacht or agent, confirming employment, conditions and dismissal terms
• letter from Superyacht owner confirming the employment of the captain
• evidence of Superyacht vessel registration
• copy of vessel insurance or ship’s survey.

Applicant Obligations

You must notify the department of any change in your circumstances.

If your employment ceases, you must do one of the following:

• find another employer who is willing to sponsor you and apply for another Superyacht Crew visa
• apply for another type of substantive visa
• leave Australia within 28 days unless your visa expires before that time, in which case you must leave Australia prior to visa expiry

Visa conditions

If your application for a Superyacht Crew visa is approved, the following work conditions will apply.

You may work only as a crew member of a Superyacht while in Australia.

You must not:

• stop working for the Superyacht captain who sponsored you (that is, become unemployed or change employer)
• work for another person or for yourself while working for the sponsor.

If you want to change employer, a new sponsorship and Superyacht Crew visa application will be required