Introduction: The C13 Visa, the Standard Visa for Foreign Seafarers Joining a Vessel
Every crew change at an Indonesian port starts with one question: does every crew member who will board hold the right visa? For foreign seafarers who fly to Indonesia to sign on to a vessel in Indonesian waters, the answer is the C13 visa, the visit visa for foreigners entering to join a means of transport, whether a ship or an aircraft, as crew.
The C13 index comes from the reclassification of visas under Minister of Law and Human Rights Regulation No. 22 of 2023, which replaced older indexes such as B211. This guide summarises the requirements, documents, application flow and the ship agent's role as sponsor, so operators and manning agents can plan crew changes without crew being held at immigration.
What Is the C13 Visa?
C13 is a single-entry electronic visit visa. Its key characteristics: the visa must be used to enter within 90 days of issue, and the permitted stay is a maximum of 60 days from the date of entry. It is applied for online through the Directorate General of Immigration e-Visa portal by an Indonesian legal-entity sponsor, which in shipping is normally the ship agent or the national shipping company appointed as the vessel's agent.
Seafarers do not need to visit an Indonesian embassy or consulate. The e-Visa is delivered as a PDF and is simply shown at airline check-in and at the arrival immigration counter. Note that C13 is only for crew who arrive to join a vessel. Crew who arrive aboard their own ship are processed by immigration from the crew list at arrival clearance and may be granted temporary shore leave without a C13. To tell it apart from the United States C1/D visa, read the C13 vs C1D comparison.
Required Documents
For each crew member joining, prepare: a passport valid for at least six months from arrival, a valid seaman's book, an assignment or guarantee letter from the shipping company naming the vessel, port and expected joining date, an arrival ticket, a colour photo, and proof of payment of the visa PNBP fee. The sponsor also attaches vessel documents such as the crew list and proof that the vessel is or will be in an Indonesian port. STCW certificates, the medical certificate and the employment agreement (SEA) must still be complete, as they are checked at sign-on. Documents in languages other than Indonesian or English need an official translation.
How the C13 Is Processed Through a Ship Agent
Stage 1, 7 to 10 days before the crew's flight: the manning agent or operator sends crew data to the ship agent: name as per passport, passport number, nationality, rank and certificate validity. The agent checks each nationality, because some require additional approval that lengthens processing.
Stage 2, e-Visa application: the ship agent, as sponsor, uploads the documents to the e-Visa portal. With complete documents, the C13 e-Visa is generally issued within 3 to 5 working days. In parallel the agent handles PKKA (Foreign Ship Agency Notification) and vessel clearance so the ship's schedule and the crew's schedule line up.
Stage 3, arrival day: the crew show the e-Visa at the airport immigration counter, are met and taken to the port or anchorage for sign-on. Make sure the name on the ticket, passport, seaman's book and e-Visa match exactly, since a one-letter difference can trigger secondary inspection.
Commonly Missed Points
Align the e-Visa dates with the vessel schedule. The visa must be used within 90 days of issue, and the 60-day stay counts from entry. If the vessel is delayed and crew must wait longer, the ship agent should coordinate with the local immigration office before the stay expires, because overstay carries daily fines and can lead to deportation. Keep copies of visas and entry documents on board as part of the crew records for Port State Control.
At the port, immigration is handled by the local immigration office (for example Tanjung Priok, Tanjung Perak, Belawan, Balikpapan, Makassar and Batam), so a ship agent with a network at the destination port saves time. Nusantika's seafarer visa service handles all of these steps as official sponsor, integrated with our crew change service.
FAQ: C13 Visa for Foreign Seafarers
Q: Does every foreign seafarer need a C13 visa?
A: It is required for crew who come to Indonesia to join a vessel, unless their nationality has a special facility. Visa-free or visa-on-arrival facilities are generally meant for tourism or business, so joining a ship under them is often refused by immigration officers. Crew arriving aboard their own vessel are processed from the crew list and do not need a C13.
Q: How long does the C13 take?
A: With complete documents the C13 e-Visa is generally issued within 3 to 5 working days, so send crew data at least 7 to 10 days before the flight date.
Q: Can a C1/D visa be used to enter Indonesia?
A: No. C1/D is a United States visa and has no standing in Indonesia. Crew holding a C1/D still need a C13 to join a vessel in Indonesia.
Q: Can a C13 be extended if the vessel is late?
A: C13 is designed for joining a means of transport and is rarely extended to wait for a ship. If the delay exceeds the permitted stay, the ship agent should consult local immigration as early as possible to decide the next step.
Conclusion
The C13 is the standard document for foreign seafarers joining a vessel in Indonesia: a single-entry e-Visa, up to 60 days of stay, applied for by a local sponsor. Preparing it from the start of crew change planning avoids refused entry and vessel delays. Need help? Contact Nusantika on WhatsApp.