Becoming a seafarer in Poland as a career change
Official rules for adults who already have a profession on shore.
Age limits
- Applicants for officer diplomas and most certificates must be at least 18.
Entry through your shore profession
| Your profession on shore | Role at sea | Course | Where and on what terms |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cook (vocational qualification) | Ship's cook | Sea practice as junior ship's cook and the ship's cook exam | A ship's cook certificate is open to people with vocational education and a cook qualification (cook, catering technician and similar). They also need 6 months of sea practice as a junior ship's cook and must pass the exam for the certificate. A master cook diploma shortens the sea practice to 3 months as a junior ship's cook. |
| Any profession, no maritime education | Deck watch rating | Support-level deck course at a recognised maritime training centre (MJE type D) | An adult can become a deck watch rating through a support-level course at a recognised training centre plus 6 months of sea practice in the deck department. |
Minimum set of documents
- Minimum to start as a junior deck rating: basic safety training certificates, a valid seafarer medical certificate and a seaman's book.
- A seaman's book can be issued to a person who has completed basic safety training.
Costs and timing: official fees only
- Without a maritime school, a deck officer certificate is possible after 36 months of deck sea service in international shipping as a deck trainee or rating, plus an operational-level course and exam.
How to avoid scams
- Recruitment and placement agencies must not charge seafarers for finding them a job; the seafarer pays only for the medical certificate, the seafarer's book and a passport.
- New-design seaman's books are better protected against forgery.
- Training counts only at maritime education units recognised by the Minister of Infrastructure — check the official list before you pay for a course.
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 Poland.
Seafarer profiles from Poland on Krew Guru: 1,700+.
Checked: 26 Oct 2026. Rules change, so always check with the maritime authority: Ministry of Infrastructure of the Republic of Poland (maritime offices issue seafarer documents)