Becoming a seafarer in Ukraine as a career change

Official rules for adults who already have a profession on shore.

Age limits

Officer ranks are awarded from age 18.
Source: Постанова КМУ від 30.12.2022 № 1499: Положення про звання осіб командного складу морських суден та порядок їх присвоєння
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

Your profession on shore	Role at sea	Course	Where and on what terms
Adult without maritime education	Deck or engine rating	Rating course at an approved training centre	Approved training centres run second-class able seafarer deck (STCW II/4) courses. Source: Shipping Administration of Ukraine: List of Seafarers' Training Institutions (as of 07.10.2026) A watch rating can qualify through special training that includes at least 2 months of approved seagoing service. Source: IMO, STCW/CONF.2/33 (2010): Manila Amendments to the STCW Convention
Electrician	Ship's electrician (rating)	Ship's electrician course (STCW III/7)	Approved training centres run ship's electrician courses under STCW III/7. Source: Shipping Administration of Ukraine: List of Seafarers' Training Institutions (as of 07.10.2026)
Cook	Ship's cook	Ship's cook course	Approved training centres run ship's cook courses. Source: Shipping Administration of Ukraine: List of Seafarers' Training Institutions (as of 07.10.2026) No seafarer under 18 may work as a ship's cook. Source: ILO, Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 (as amended)
Graduate without maritime education	Officer (deck, engine or electro-technical)	Maritime professional pre-higher or higher education	Every officer rank requires a maritime education diploma, so an officer career needs maritime studies first. Source: Постанова КМУ від 30.12.2022 № 1499: Положення про звання осіб командного складу морських суден та порядок їх присвоєння

Minimum set of documents

A medical fitness certificate.
Source: Кодекс торговельного мореплавства України
Basic safety training (STCW VI/1) at an approved centre.
Source: Shipping Administration of Ukraine: List of Seafarers' Training Institutions (as of 07.10.2026)
A seafarer's service book.
Source: Адміністрація судноплавства: Перелік документів для отримання послужної книжки моряка
A seafarer's identity document.
Source: Адміністрація судноплавства: Посвідчення особи моряка

Costs and timing: official fees only

The seafarer's service book blank costs 298,68 UAH.
Source: Адміністрація судноплавства: Змінилась вартість бланка послужної книжки моряка (31.08.2026)
A new seafarer's identity document costs 1301,60 UAH with standard processing of 20 calendar days.
Source: Адміністрація судноплавства: Реквізити для сплати та вартість послуг (посвідчення особи моряка)
Urgent processing costs 1967,20 UAH and takes 7 working days.
Source: Адміністрація судноплавства: Реквізити для сплати та вартість послуг (посвідчення особи моряка)
Qualification document applications are processed in 7 working days.
Source: Дія: Дипломування членів екіпажів суден

How to avoid scams

Mandatory training counts only under programmes approved by the state; check the training centre in the official list.
Source: Кодекс торговельного мореплавства України
Under the MLC 2006, recruitment fees must not be charged to seafarers.
Source: ILO, Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 (as amended)
Private recruitment and placement services for seafarers must operate under a licensing or certification system.
Source: ILO, Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 (as amended)