Letter of registration
To use your New Zealand certificate in Australia, you will need to apply for a letter of registration.
Please note, an employer may still require you to hold an AMSA-issued near coastal certificate.
A letter of registration:
- permits you to work on Australian domestic commercial vessels
- lists the capacities and limitations allowed by your New Zealand certificate
- cannot grant privileges that are greater than those of your original certificate.
We cannot list any capacities that are greater than those granted by any Australian near coastal certificates. E.g. AMSA’s near coastal engineering certificates only allow you to operate engines up to 3000 kilowatts.
The letter expires when your New Zealand certificate expires.
When your letter of registration expires, you will need to reapply.
Perpetual (ring-fenced) certificates
If you have a perpetual (ring-fenced) New Zealand certificate:
- your letter of registration will be valid for 5 years
- we recommend you obtain a new transition seafarer certificate from Maritime New Zealand before seeking work in Australia.
Eligibility
To get a letter of registration, you must hold a current New Zealand certificate of competency.
How to apply
To apply:
- Fill out Notice of registration Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition Act 1997 for seafarers (form 887).
- Gather your supporting documents:
- a certified copy of your current passport
- a copy of all pages of your certificate of competency issued by Maritime New Zealand
- Email form 887 and copies of your supporting documents to nearcoastal.applications@amsa.gov.au.
Pay the fee
A letter of registration costs A$190.
After you apply, we will contact you with instructions on how to pay.
After you apply
Once we receive your application and payment we will do an authenticity check with Maritime New Zealand.
Allow up to 28 days for us to assess your application. It may take longer if we don’t receive all of the information or documents we need.
Once your application is approved, we will send your letter of registration by email.
The regulations
Under the Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition Act 1997 (TTMRA), if you are registered to practice an occupation in New Zealand you are entitled to practice an equivalent occupation in Australia.