If you need to get a seagoing qualification (certificate) to work commercially in New Zealand’s maritime industry, you must first apply to Maritime New Zealand to check if you are eligible to be examined for that qualification. You will be provided with an examination permit if you are eligible.

Applying for an examination permit

If you do not have a permit you cannot be examined for a qualification.

It is important that you apply to Maritime New Zealand for an examination permit as early as possible.

The Maritime Rule says that an application must be made at least 21 days before the examination, or before the start of the course, if a course is needed.

An examination permit will be issued when all checks that must be made on an application are completed. There can be a considerable delay if any of the required permit application information is not supplied, or is incorrect.

Fees for issuing examination permits

Maritime New Zealand’s fees for issuing examination permits are given in the table below.

Please note that these fees are subject to change and should only be used as an indication.

Masters And Mates Certificates
Certificate to be issued	Rule Part	Fee
Certified deckhand	32.3	$231
Local launch operator (LLO)	32.9	$407
Revalidation of local launch operator	32.9	$231
Local launch operator endorsements	32.9	$231
Inshore launchmaster (ILM)	32.10	$407
New Zealand offshore watchkeeper (NZOW)	32.11	$533
New Zealand offshore master	32.12	$713
New Zealand offshore master holding NZOW	32.12	$231
STCW95 (for offshore master)	32.13	$305
STCWF endorsement (for offshore master)	32.14	$305
Mate of a deep sea fishing vessel	32.15	$713
Master of a deep sea fishing vessel	32.16	$713
Officer in charge of navigational watch of a foreign-going ship	32.17	$713
Chief mate of a foreign-going ship	32.18	$1,018
Master of a foreign-going ship less than 3000 gross tonnage	32.19	$720
Master of a foreign-going ship (master mariner)	32.19A	$720
New Zealand chief mate (yacht)	32.19A	$713
New Zealand master (yacht less than 500 gross tonnage)	32.19B	$713
New Zealand master (yacht)	32.19C	$713
Pilot’s licence	90.6	$231
Master’s pilotage exemption	90.10	$231
Marine Engineers Certificates
Certificate to be issued	Rule Part	Fee
Marine engineer class 6	32.20	$512
Marine engineer class 5	32.21	$512
Marine engineer class 4	32.22	$512
Marine engineer class 3	32.23	$512
Marine engineer class 2F	32.24	$1,061
Marine engineer class 2	32.25	$1,018
Marine engineer class 2 endorsed C/E	32.26	$305
Marine engineer class 1	32.27	$512
Ratings Certificates
Certificate to be issued	Rule Part	Fee
Advanced deckhand	32.4	$407
Advanced deckhand fishing endorsement	32.5	$407
Deck watch rating certificate	32.6	$231
AB certificate	32.7	$231
Engine room watch rating certificate	32.8	$231
Miscellaneous
Certificate to be issued	Rule Part	Fee
GMDSS radio operator	32.29 & 32.46	$231
Tanker endorsements (class 1 and 2)	32.30 & 32.47	$231
Ro-ro passenger ship endorsement	32.31 & 32.48	$231
Sailing vessel endorsement	32.32	$231
High speed vessel endorsement	32.33	$231
Revalidation of certificate of Competency	31A & 31C	$231
Compass adjuster	45.35	$305
Replacement certificates and licences (when lost)		$231
Second or subsequent examination Attempt	32	$163
Recognition of non-New Zealand certificate as equivalent to master of foreign-going ship	s4 MTA	$1,067
Recognition of non-New Zealand certificate as equivalent to first/second mate of foreign-going ship	s4 MTA	$1,067
Recognition of non-New Zealand certificate as equivalent to marine engineer class 1	s4 MTA	$1,067
Recognition of non-New Zealand certificate as equivalent to marine engineer class 2	s4 MTA	$1,067
Recognition of non-New Zealand certificate as equivalent to marine engineer class 3	s4 MTA	$1,067

Other fees that are payable

It is important to note that examination permit fees are not the total cost you will pay to get a certificate.

For most certificates you must undertake a course with a Maritime New Zealand approved training provider before being examined. Training providers charge for these courses.

Course fees will vary according to the course and the training provider. Contact the training provider you would like to study with for further information about their fees and charges.

There may also be other costs such as:

fees for medical and/or eyesight examinations
fees for short courses that may need to be taken in addition to the certificate course.

Even if a course is not required, you will still have to pay the examiners' fees.

Maritime New Zealand’s approved training providers