All seafarers on board Norwegian vessels are required to provide a medical certificate issued in accordance with Regulations of 5 June 2014 No. 805 on medical examination of employees on Norwegian ships and mobile offshore units to ensure that they are medically fit for service.
Non-EEA citizens may obtain such medical certificates from seafarer’s doctor approved by Norwegian authorities or by the authorities of a flag state approved by NMA. A list of approved doctors in Oceania may be found on NMA's website.
Any foreign seafarer holding a national certificate issued under the chapters II, III, IV or regulation V/1 paragraph 2 of the 1995 STCW Convention who is to serve on board ships registered with the NIS or NOR, must apply for a Norwegian endorsement based on the seafarer's national STCW'95 certificate. Such endorsement is valid only when accompanied by the valid original certificate.
Applications for endorsement may be registered online by the manning agent, the company or by the seafarer (if holding a STCW certificate issued by a country Norway has an agreement with). Online applications ensure quicker processing, and a Certificate of Receipt of Application (CRA) may be issued for the seafarer automatically via Altinn. Guidance to applications for endorsements and links to the application form, are available on the NMA's website: Apply for endorsement.
Please note that special rules apply for non-EEA applicants who are to serve as captain on board a Norwegian ship. For such applicants, a CRA cannot be issued until an application for exemption has been received by post and has been registered by the Norwegian Maritime Authority. Information regarding applications for exemption is available here.
GMDSS Certificates may also be endorsed. However, such applications must be sent by post to Telenor Maritime Radio. For more information and links to the manual application form, please click here.
Norwegian Seafarer's Identity Card
The Seafarer’s Identity Card is an identity document for Norwegian citizens who are employed on board Norwegian or foreign vessels and mobile offshore units. The card may be used for identification purposes and to document that the holder is employed on board a vessel to facilitate shore leave, work‑related travel abroad, etc.
Norwegian seafarers are entitled to apply for a Seafarer’s Identity Card, but there is no obligation to hold one.
To obtain a Seafarer's Identity Card, you must apply, using your BankID, via the Norwegian Maritime Authority’s online portal “My Page – Seafarers”. When applying for a Seafarer’s Identity Card, you must identify yourself using your most recently registered valid, machine‑readable passport or a Norwegian national ID card with the right to travel.
The Seafarer’s Identity Card is valid for five years from the date of issue.
If you have previously been issued a Sea Service Book, this may be used for as long as it remains valid. You may apply for a Seafarer’s Identity Card if there are less than six months remaining until the expiry date of your Sea Service Book.
Record of Service
The Norwegian Maritime Authority no longer issues Record of Service for seafarers' service onboard Norwegian regsitered vessels. Instead, record of service should be registered by the shipping company by one of the following options:
- Report sea service through the online portal “My Page Qualifications” («Min side kvalifikasjoner»).
- Use the Maritime Authority's API system to transfer information on sea service.
- Issue a confirmation of sea service independently of the solutions described in points 1 and 2.