Becoming a seafarer in Indonesia as a career change

Age limits

• The Ministry of Transportation's 2025 school intake (Pola Pembibitan track) accepted applicants only up to age 23.
  Source: BPSDM Perhubungan, Pengumuman PG-BPSDMP 1 Tahun 2025: Penerimaan Calon Taruna Pola Pembibitan, Tahun Akademik 2025/2026
• Under STCW, a deck or engine watch rating must be at least 16.
  Source: IMO, STCW/CONF.2/33 (2010): Manila Amendments to the STCW Convention

Entry through your shore profession

Minimum set of documents

• A Basic Safety Training (BST) certificate.
  Source: Ditjen Perhubungan Laut, KSOP Utama Belawan: Standar Pelayanan Penerbitan Buku Pelaut
• A health certificate from an approved hospital.
  Source: Ditjen Perhubungan Laut, KSOP Utama Belawan: Standar Pelayanan Penerbitan Buku Pelaut
• A Buku Pelaut (seafarer's book).
  Source: Ditjen Perhubungan Laut, KSOP Utama Belawan: Standar Pelayanan Penerbitan Buku Pelaut
• Your first contract through a recruitment agency licensed by the Ministry of Transportation.
  Source: ILO: The alignment of Indonesian laws, policies, and their enforcement with the ILO international labour standards on forced labour

Costs and timing: official fees only

• The government fee for a Buku Pelaut is Rp 100.000 per book.
  Source: Ditjen Perhubungan Laut, KSOP Utama Belawan: Standar Pelayanan Penerbitan Buku Pelaut
• Issuing a Buku Pelaut takes 4 working days.
  Source: Ditjen Perhubungan Laut, KSOP Utama Belawan: Standar Pelayanan Penerbitan Buku Pelaut
• Registration and selection fees for the Ministry of Transportation's schools are not refunded for any reason.
  Source: BPSDM Perhubungan, Pengumuman PG-BPSDMP 1 Tahun 2025: Penerimaan Calon Taruna Pola Pembibitan, Tahun Akademik 2025/2026
• The registration fee at PIP Semarang was Rp 135.000.
  Source: BPSDM Perhubungan, Pengumuman PG-BPSDMP 1 Tahun 2025: Penerimaan Calon Taruna Pola Pembibitan, Tahun Akademik 2025/2026

How to avoid scams

• Only recruitment agencies licensed by the Ministry of Transportation may recruit and place seafarers.
  Source: ILO: The alignment of Indonesian laws, policies, and their enforcement with the ILO international labour standards on forced labour
• The seafarer documents portal publishes the list of licensed crew agencies (SIUKAK) with their status; check an agency there before any payment.
  Source: Ditjen Perhubungan Laut: Dokumen Pelaut portal
• Under the MLC 2006, recruitment fees must not be charged to seafarers.
  Source: ILO, Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 (as amended)
• Applicants to the Ministry's schools are disqualified if they use forged identity or documents.
  Source: BPSDM Perhubungan, Pengumuman PG-BPSDMP 1 Tahun 2025: Penerimaan Calon Taruna Pola Pembibitan, Tahun Akademik 2025/2026

First job: starter vacancies

Krew Guru numbers