Examination permits and permit fees

An examination permit is required by people seeking a seagoing qualification. Maritime New Zealand charges for issuing these permits.

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