As an aspiring South African seafarer wanting to work on a superyacht, you must be thinking of either the Mediterranean or the Caribbean. That’s a given as these two destinations experience the liveliest superyacht scene in the world. However, competition there can be fierce. And that is why, to increase your chances, you must look beyond these two destinations. In this article, let’s explore the Australian superyacht scene and how to get the Australian Crew Visa (Temporary Activity Visa) in Australia for work.
The Australian Superyacht Scene
Since Australia passed the Special Recreational Vessel Bill in 2019, the country has experienced an ever-booming superyacht scene. The Western Australian Superyacht document from March 2024 claims that Australia experiences about 750 superyacht visits bi-annually and that is saying something.
It is screaming OPPORTUNITY for all aspiring seafarers, Australian and International. That includes all the fellow South Africans who dream of working on a superyacht.
The Superyacht Australia, Australia aims to promote and further develop to accommodate more superyachts. Visit their website for more information.
With wonders to explore and beautiful beaches to experience, Australia’s superyacht industry shows a promising future.
Getting the Australian Crew Visa for Superyacht Work: Temporary Activity Visa
As Australia is a hub for Australian and International superyachts alike, finding employment on Superyachts in Australia should not be a problem.
You can find work while you visit Australia on a tourist visa. Once you have an offer from a superyacht in Australia, you must convert the visa to a Temporary Activity Visa (Subclass 408) specifically made for Superyacht Crew members. Technically, you would be leaving the country if it was about converting to a Work Visa. However, the Temporary Activity Visa is an exception.
This visa requires a sponsor, which MUST be your employer. If you secure a job on a superyacht during your visit to Australia, the document process for obtaining a Temporary Activity Visa should not be a hassle.
To work on any Australian-flagged superyacht, your STCW qualification will also require an AMSA endorsement. If you are from South Africa, you can apply for an AMSA Certificate of Recognition on your Superyacht qualification.
With this visa, you can work on a superyacht within Australia for a maximum of 12 months.
What is the Best Season to find Work on a Superyacht in Australia?
When it comes to finding work on a superyacht, you would want to understand the yachting seasons. Australia has two yachting seasons that occupy almost the entire year.
There’s the Whitsunday season, which includes charters around the Great Barrier Reef, and then there is the summer season, which runs from October/November to January/February.
We advise you to find superyacht work in Australia from late February to late March as there are plenty of employment opportunities around this season. There is the annual Superyacht Australia Soirée, generally hosted in March. Besides that, there is the Sanctuary Cove International Boat usually hosted in May.
These international events significantly improve your chances of finding superyacht work in Australia. For more information, please refer to the links above.
Final Thoughts
When it comes to finding superyacht work in Australia, we usually do not recommend Greenhorns to explore this option as it is not as populated and popular as Med or Caribbean. Besides, to work on an Australian-flagged superyacht, you will require the AMSA Certificate of Recognition, which is only obtainable with an Australian work visa. This is also not recommended as the process is tedious and costly.
However, if you still wish to find work in Australia, we advise you to find work on foreign-flagged vessels mooring in Australia. Better yet, you may consider going to Med in September or early October and try your luck at finding a job on a vessel heading to Australia. This way, you can also obtain a Certificate of Recognition as you would be on the Australian Crew Visa while your vessel is moored in Australia.
For more information about the visa process or if you are looking for Superyacht Courses in South Africa, contact us today