If a foreign seafarer who holds a foreign Certificate of Competency or Certificate of Proficiency is interested in working on a Canadian vessel, it is the responsibility of the Canadian authorized representative who wishes to hire them to apply for a Canadian endorsement.
Important notices:
- Before applying, the authorized representative must ensure that the foreign seafarer meets the requirement from Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada and Employment and Social Development Canada to work in Canada, including obtaining a valid work permit. Please be advised that the expiry date on the Canadian endorsement does not align with the expiry date of the applicant’s work permit in Canada.
- Foreign seafarers can ask Transport Canada to review their certificates. However, no Canadian endorsement will be issued until the Canadian authorized representative sponsoring the foreign seafarer has submitted the required documents.
- Transport Canada does not provide endorsement applicants with a list of potential employers; it is the responsibility of the seafarers to seek employment. The Government of Canada’s free online job bank may be a helpful resource for seafarers.
Preliminary assessment
Upon request, Transport Canada may provide a Canadian authorized representative with a preliminary assessment of the eligibility of a foreign seafarer to obtain a Canadian endorsement.