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Seafarer medical certificate: how long it is valid

Published

Without a valid medical certificate you cannot work on board, so its date matters as much as your CoC. Both main conventions — STCW and the Maritime Labour Convention 2006 — set the same basic limits.

Maximum validity

Unless a shorter period is required for the specific duties or by national law:

  • a medical certificate is valid for a maximum of two years;
  • for a seafarer under 18, the maximum is one year;
  • a certificate of colour vision is valid for a maximum of six years.

National administrations may set shorter periods, and the doctor may issue a certificate for less time if your health requires it.

If it expires during a voyage

If the certificate expires in the course of a voyage, it stays valid until the next port of call where a medical practitioner recognized by the flag State is available — provided that this period does not exceed three months. Do not count on this rule when you plan a contract: check that your certificate covers the whole planned contract plus a margin.

Who can issue it

The certificate must be issued by a duly qualified medical practitioner recognized by the competent authority. Many flag States publish lists of approved doctors or clinics; some accept the national certificate of your home country, others require their own.

Who pays

The national statutory medical certificate is one of the few costs a seafarer may pay personally under MLC Standard A1.4. A recruitment agency may not make a medical "at our clinic" a paid condition of the job. See Seafarers never pay for a job.

Practical tips

  • Book the medical early: results sometimes need extra tests.
  • Keep your previous certificate until you have the new one in hand.
  • Add the medical with its expiry date to your free application form. With Gold we email you 90, 30 and 7 days before it expires.

Sources: STCW Regulation I/9 and Section A-I/9 (imo.org); Maritime Labour Convention 2006, Regulation 1.2 and Standard A1.2 (ilo.org). Always confirm current rules with your maritime administration and the flag of the vessel.