Seafarer licensing

A range of maritime qualifications are available in New Zealand; from introductory level to those required when operating a vessel commercially. Learn about the qualifications and the application process.

Contacting seafarer licensing

Types of qualifications

Approved training providers

Recognition of non-New Zealand certificates

Examination permits and fees

Frequently asked questions

Qualifications and Operational Limits review

Contacting seafarer licensing

Contact the licensing team by emailing qualifications@maritimenz.govt.nz or
phone +64 4 473 0111 between 0800 and 1300 hours, New Zealand Standard Time (NZST).

Types of qualifications

Engineering qualifications – guidelines and application forms

Deck qualifications – guidelines and application forms

Skipper qualifications – guidelines and application forms for the Local Launch Operator (LLO) and Inshore Launchmaster (ILM) qualifications

STCW-95 short courses – guidelines and application forms for the Standards of Training and Certification of Watchkeepers ’95 short courses

Approved training providers

Approved training providers run maritime courses on behalf of Maritime New Zealand.

List of approved training providers and the courses they run

Recognition of non-New Zealand certificates

New Zealand recognises many other administration’s maritime licences.

Process to get recognition for non-New Zealand certificates

Examination permits and permit fees

An examination permit is required by people seeking a seagoing qualification.

Examination permit – fees and application process

Frequently asked questions

Read the answers to our most frequently asked questions about seafarer qualifications, including suspended seafarers information.

Frequently asked questions about seafarer qualifications

Qualifications and Operational Limits review

Feedback on the future shape and direction of New Zealand's maritime qualifications and operational limits is now being sought by Maritime New Zealand (MNZ) as part of a major qualifications and operational limits review (QOL Review).

Qualifications and Operational Limits review