Becoming a seafarer in India as a career change
Official rules for adults who already have a profession on shore.
Age limits
- The officer route through the Diploma in Nautical Science is open only up to age 21.
- GP Rating courses accept candidates up to age 28.
- Graduate Marine Engineering (GME) and diploma-holder (DME) pre-sea courses accept candidates up to age 28.
- Age limits are counted on the date the pre-sea course starts.
- The maximum age is relaxed by 5 years for Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe candidates.
- The maximum age is relaxed by 3 years for non-creamy-layer OBC candidates.
- Women candidates get an additional 2 years of age relaxation in each category.
Entry through your shore profession
| Your profession on shore | Role at sea | Course | Where and on what terms |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mechanical engineer (BE/B.Tech) | Junior engineer officer | Graduate Marine Engineering (GME) | Graduate Marine Engineering (GME) is a 1-year DG-approved pre-sea course. GME accepts candidates up to age 28. |
| Diploma holder in mechanical, marine or electrical engineering | Junior engineer officer | Pre-sea training for diploma holders (DME) | Pre-sea training for diploma holders (DME) is a 2-year DG-approved course. A diploma in Mechanical, Naval Architecture, Electrical or Electrical and Electronics Engineering, with the minimum final-year marks, is accepted. |
| Electrical or electronics engineer | Electro-Technical Officer (ETO) | Electro-Technical Officer (ETO) pre-sea course | The DG-approved Electro Technical Officers pre-sea course lasts 85 days. Under STCW III/6, an ETO candidate needs at least 12 months of combined workshop skills training and seagoing service, of which at least 6 months at sea. |
| Welder, fitter, mechanic, electrician or plumber (ITI) | General Purpose Rating | GP Rating | 25% of seats in every GP Rating course are reserved for candidates with additional technical qualifications. Eligible qualifications include welding courses and fitter, mechanic, electrical, plumbing or computer trade certificates from government-approved institutions such as ITIs. |
| Hotel management graduate | Catering crew or steward | Orientation Course for Catering Personnel (OCCP) | Holders of a hotel management degree, diploma or certificate who complete the OCCP and the basic STCW courses can get an Indian CDC. |
| Cook | Ship's cook | Ship's Cook course | Holders of a cook certificate of competency recognised by the Government of India who complete the basic STCW courses can get an Indian CDC. Under the MLC 2006, no seafarer under 18 may work as a ship's cook. |
| Indian Navy sailor or Agniveer | Rating or officer (by qualification) | Basic STCW courses | Agniveers with a discharge certificate and the five basic STCW courses can get an Indian CDC. Retired Indian Navy officers and sailors with a valid discharge certificate and the five basic STCW courses can get an Indian CDC. |
Minimum set of documents
- Medical certificate from a DG-approved doctor.Source: DGMA Training Branch: FAQs
- A DG-approved pre-sea course (or another permitted category) plus the five basic STCW courses.
- An INDoS number and a CDC.Source: DGMA Training Branch: FAQs
- Your first contract only through a licensed recruitment and placement service (RPSL) or an Indian shipowner.
Costs and timing: official fees only
- The INDoS fee is Rs. 1416 (Rs. 1200 plus 18% GST) for Indian nationals.Source: DGMA Training Branch: FAQs
- The government fee for a fresh CDC is INR 3000.
- The exit examination fee for the GP Rating course is Rs 2500 per candidate (base rate; GST is charged separately).
- The GP Rating pre-sea course lasts 6 months.
- CDC fees are non-refundable if you turn out to be ineligible, so check eligibility before paying for basic courses.
How to avoid scams
- Do not pay money for job placement, do not hand your passport or CDC to unknown people, and do not accept job offers via WhatsApp or social media.
- Check on the Directorate's website whether a recruitment agency (RPSL) is valid, invalid or temporarily blocked before any contact.
- Sea service obtained through unregistered agents is invalid and cannot be recorded in the Directorate's system.
- A licensed recruitment agency must not charge seafarers any fee for recruitment or employment.
- Under the MLC 2006, recruitment fees must not be charged to seafarers, other than the cost of a medical certificate, seafarer's book and passport.
- Do not trust promises that the five basic STCW courses alone will give you a CDC or a job at sea.
- The Directorate warns that agents lure young people with false promises, keep them for months without real training and then enrol them only in short basic courses.
- Check that an institute is approved by the Directorate before enrolling.
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 India.
Seafarer profiles from India on Krew Guru: 17,000+.
Checked: 26 Oct 2026. Rules change, so always check with the maritime authority: Directorate General of Maritime Administration (formerly Directorate General of Shipping)