How to become a seafarer in Croatia after school

Official rules for school students and school leavers. Check every requirement with the maritime authority before you apply or pay.

Officer: maritime academy or college

An officer of the watch on ships of 500 GT or more (STCW II/1) must be at least 18.
Source: Pravilnik o izmjenama i dopunama Pravilnika o zvanjima i svjedodžbama o osposobljenosti pomoraca (NN 124/2015)
The education route is a nautical secondary school of at least 4 years.
Source: Pravilnik o izmjenama i dopunama Pravilnika o zvanjima i svjedodžbama o osposobljenosti pomoraca (NN 124/2015)
Alternatively, passing all exams of the first years of a university nautical programme qualifies.
Source: Pravilnik o izmjenama i dopunama Pravilnika o zvanjima i svjedodžbama o osposobljenosti pomoraca (NN 124/2015)
A completed undergraduate (bachelor's) nautical degree also meets the education requirement.
Source: Pravilnik o izmjenama i dopunama Pravilnika o zvanjima i svjedodžbama o osposobljenosti pomoraca (NN 124/2015)
An engineer officer of the watch (STCW III/1) must be at least 18 and have a 4-year marine engineering secondary school or equivalent study.
Source: Pravilnik o izmjenama i dopunama Pravilnika o zvanjima i svjedodžbama o osposobljenosti pomoraca (NN 124/2015)

Rating: rating course

A deck watch rating (STCW II/4) must be at least 16 and have completed basic education and special training.
Source: Pravilnik o zvanjima i svjedodžbama o osposobljenosti pomoraca (NN 130/2013)
A deck watch rating needs at least 6 months at sea in the deck department.
Source: Pravilnik o zvanjima i svjedodžbama o osposobljenosti pomoraca (NN 130/2013)
An engine-room watch rating (STCW III/4) must also be at least 16 and have basic education and special training.
Source: Pravilnik o zvanjima i svjedodžbama o osposobljenosti pomoraca (NN 130/2013)
An able seafarer deck (STCW II/5) must be at least 18.
Source: Pravilnik o zvanjima i svjedodžbama o osposobljenosti pomoraca (NN 130/2013)
An able seafarer deck needs 12 months of sea service as a watch rating and completed special training.
Source: Pravilnik o zvanjima i svjedodžbama o osposobljenosti pomoraca (NN 130/2013)

Exams and certification

Certificate exams are taken before a commission of the Ministry or a harbour master's office appointed by the minister.
Source: Pravilnik o zvanjima i svjedodžbama o osposobljenosti pomoraca (NN 130/2013)
Officer of the watch candidates pass an exam under the programme in Annex C6 of the regulation.
Source: Pravilnik o izmjenama i dopunama Pravilnika o zvanjima i svjedodžbama o osposobljenosti pomoraca (NN 124/2015)
Administrative work on certificates of competency is done by the Ministry or a harbour master's office.
Source: Pravilnik o zvanjima i svjedodžbama o osposobljenosti pomoraca (NN 130/2013)

Documents in order

First, a medical fitness certificate from an authorised health institution.
Source: Pravilnik o pomorskim i brodarskim knjižicama te postupcima i načinu prijave i odjave na obvezno mirovinsko i obvezno zdravstveno osiguranje (NN 21/2024)
Then the seaman's book (pomorska knjižica), which records sea service.
Source: Pravilnik o pomorskim i brodarskim knjižicama te postupcima i načinu prijave i odjave na obvezno mirovinsko i obvezno zdravstveno osiguranje (NN 21/2024)
Cadets keep a training record book (vježbenički dnevnik) approved by the Ministry.
Source: Pravilnik o zvanjima i svjedodžbama o osposobljenosti pomoraca (NN 130/2013)
After the sea service and the exam, the certificate of competency is issued.
Source: Pravilnik o zvanjima i svjedodžbama o osposobljenosti pomoraca (NN 130/2013)

Cadet training at sea

A deck cadet needs at least 12 months of sea service, of which at least 6 months on ships of 500 GT or more in international trade.
Source: Pravilnik o izmjenama i dopunama Pravilnika o zvanjima i svjedodžbama o osposobljenosti pomoraca (NN 124/2015)
An engine cadet needs at least 12 months as a cadet in the engine room of a ship of 750 kW or more.
Source: Pravilnik o izmjenama i dopunama Pravilnika o zvanjima i svjedodžbama o osposobljenosti pomoraca (NN 124/2015)
Cadets follow an onboard training programme supervised by a qualified officer.
Source: Pravilnik o zvanjima i svjedodžbama o osposobljenosti pomoraca (NN 130/2013)
The ship's master appoints an officer responsible for supervising the cadet's work.
Source: Pravilnik o zvanjima i svjedodžbama o osposobljenosti pomoraca (NN 130/2013)

Approved training institutions

The Ministry keeps the register of permits for maritime schools and training centres but publishes no list of them, so the institutions block is hidden.

First job: starter vacancies

Live vacancies on Krew Guru for starter positions. Vacancies without any sea experience are rare, so we do not promise a job without it.

No open starter vacancies right now. Upload your CV and we will send you matching vacancies.

Krew Guru numbers

89% of open vacancies on Krew Guru accept citizens of Croatia.

Seafarer profiles from Croatia on Krew Guru: 1,300+.

Changing your career as an adult? Read the career change guide

Checked: 26 Oct 2026. Rules change, so always check with the maritime authority: Ministry of the Sea, Transport and Infrastructure (Ministarstvo mora, prometa i infrastrukture)