Introduction
In everyday conversations between manning agents, ship operators, and ship agents, two visa codes often come up side by side: the C13 visa and the C1D visa. Both relate to ship crew travelling to join their vessel, yet they are issued by different countries, rest on different legal bases, and apply to different situations. Confusing the two is not just a matter of terminology: a crew member landing at Soekarno-Hatta Airport with the wrong visa can be refused entry, and the vessel waiting for them at Tanjung Priok anchorage absorbs the cost of the delay.
This article explains concisely and accurately what the C13 visa is within Indonesia's immigration system, what the C1/D visa is within the United States immigration system, when each is required, and how ship operators and ship agents ensure crew hold the right document before they travel. This understanding matters both for operators bringing foreign crew into Indonesia and for companies sending Indonesian seafarers to vessels abroad.
The C13 Visa: Indonesia's Visit Visa for Crew Joining a Conveyance
The C13 visa is an Indonesian visit visa index intended for foreigners entering Indonesia to join, as crew, a conveyance, meaning a sea vessel or aircraft, located within Indonesian territory. The index was created through the reorganisation of visa classifications under Minister of Law and Human Rights Regulation No. 22 of 2023 on Visas and Stay Permits and the Director General of Immigration's decree on visa classification, which replaced the older index system such as B211. In crew change practice, the C13 visa is the standard document for foreign seafarers flying into Jakarta, Surabaya, Medan, or Balikpapan to sign on to a vessel.
The key characteristics of the C13 visa are that it is a single-entry visit visa granting a stay permit of up to 60 days from the date of entry, with the visa itself valid for entry within 90 days of issuance. It is applied for online through the Directorate General of Immigration's e-Visa portal by an Indonesian-incorporated guarantor (sponsor), which in shipping is usually the ship agent or the national shipping company acting as the vessel's general agent. The seafarer does not need to visit an Indonesian embassy or consulate, because the e-Visa is delivered as a PDF and is simply presented at airline check-in and at the arrival immigration counter.
Documents required for a C13 application include a passport valid for at least six months, a seaman's book, a letter of assignment or letter of guarantee from the shipping company naming the vessel, port, and expected joining date, the arrival ticket, a colour photograph, and proof of payment of the government visa fee (PNBP). The guarantor must also attach vessel documents such as the crew list and evidence that the vessel is or will be at an Indonesian port. Normal processing takes 3 to 5 working days once documents are complete, which is why experienced ship agents always request crew data at least 7 to 10 days before the flight date.
One point is frequently misunderstood: the C13 visa is required for crew arriving to join a vessel, not for crew arriving on board their vessel. Crew entering Indonesian waters aboard their own ship are processed by Immigration on the basis of the crew list at inbound clearance and may receive a temporary shore pass without a visa. This distinction determines whether seafarer visa services need to be activated or whether standard vessel clearance is sufficient.
The C1/D Visa: The United States Transit and Crewmember Visa
The C1/D visa is not an Indonesian visa but a United States non-immigrant visa combining two categories: C-1 for transit through US territory and D for crewmembers, meaning seafarers or aircrew working aboard international conveyances. US embassies generally issue both in a single visa foil marked C1/D so that a seafarer can enter the US to join a vessel (C-1 transit) and also go ashore temporarily when the vessel calls at a US port (D). For Indonesian seafarers working on cruise ships, tankers, or container vessels that call at American ports, this visa is an absolute requirement, applied for through the US Embassy in Jakarta or the US Consulate General in Surabaya.
The nature of the C1/D visa differs sharply from the C13. A C1/D visa is typically issued with a long validity and multiple entries, depending on the applicant's nationality, but on each entry to the US the crew member is admitted for a maximum of 29 days and must leave with the vessel or by air after signing off. Applicants must complete the DS-160 form, pay the visa fee, and attend an interview at the embassy with their passport, seaman's book, a letter from the shipping company or manning agent, and their employment contract. Seafarers with a previous refusal or violation face a high risk of being refused again.
A common misconception we encounter is foreign operators assuming that Filipino, Indian, or Ukrainian crew who already hold a C1/D visa can enter Indonesia on that visa to join a vessel at Tanjung Priok. This is incorrect: the C1/D visa is valid only for entry to the United States and has no standing whatsoever with Indonesian Immigration. Those crew still need an Indonesian C13 visa or, if their nationality is on the visa-free or visa-on-arrival list, it must be confirmed that joining a vessel is a permitted purpose under that scheme, which in practice is frequently refused by immigration officers because the purpose of visit is not tourism.
Direct Comparison: When to Use C13 and When to Use C1/D
By issuing authority, the C13 visa is issued by Indonesia's Directorate General of Immigration through e-Visa with a local sponsor, whereas the C1/D is issued by the US Department of State through an embassy or consulate after an in-person interview. By purpose, the C13 is used to enter Indonesia to join a vessel in Indonesian waters, while the C1/D is used to transit the US to a vessel or to go ashore temporarily at a US port. By length of stay, the C13 grants up to 60 days per single-entry visit, whereas the C1/D allows a maximum of 29 days per admission on a visa that may remain valid for years.
The most common scenario: a Panama-flagged vessel with Filipino crew is scheduling a crew change at Tanjung Priok anchorage. Ten joining crew fly from Manila to Jakarta. Each of them needs a C13 visa applied for by the Indonesian ship agent as guarantor, and on arrival they are transferred from the airport to the port to sign on through the agent's crew change services. Any C1/D visa they may hold is entirely irrelevant in this scenario.
Second scenario: a manning company in Jakarta is sending an Indonesian seafarer to join a cruise ship in Miami. That seafarer needs a C1/D visa from the US Embassy in Jakarta well ahead of departure, because interview queues can run to several weeks. The C13 visa does not apply here because the seafarer is an Indonesian citizen leaving Indonesia. A third, more complex scenario is a crew member signing off a vessel at Balikpapan and flying to Houston to join another ship: they entered Indonesia on the first vessel's crew list, need outbound clearance from Indonesian Immigration handled by the ship agent, and need a C1/D visa to enter the US.
The final difference concerns who does the work. The C13 can only be applied for by a guarantor in Indonesia, so responsibility rests with the vessel's ship agent or general agent, and a foreign operator cannot process it independently from abroad. The C1/D is applied for by the seafarer personally with supporting documents from the company or manning agent, and the ship agent at the US port plays no role in its issuance. In cross-border crew change planning, operators therefore need to assign different parties to ensure both documents are ready on time.
Best Practices to Keep Crew from Being Held at Immigration
First, verify each crew member's nationality and visa history before scheduling a crew change. Certain nationalities require additional approval or a calling visa in Indonesia, which stretches processing from days to weeks. The ship agent must be informed early so it can assess each crew member's eligibility and suggest an alternative port or schedule if any individual presents a problem.
Second, ensure the name on the ticket, passport, seaman's book, and C13 e-Visa is identical down to the spelling. Immigration officers at Soekarno-Hatta check this consistency strictly, and a single-letter difference in a middle name can lead to secondary inspection or refusal of entry. The same applies to passport validity, which must be at least six months from the date of entry.
Third, align the e-Visa dates with the vessel schedule. The C13 must be used for entry within 90 days of issuance, and the 60-day stay permit runs from entry. If the vessel is heavily delayed and crew must wait longer in Jakarta, the agent should coordinate with the local immigration office before the stay permit expires, because overstaying incurs daily fines and can result in deportation and a re-entry ban. Nusantika's support services include accommodation assistance and immigration reporting for crew waiting for their vessel.
Fourth, keep copies of all visas and entry permits on board as part of the crew records. Port State Control inspections and immigration checks at the next port may ask for evidence that every crew member entered lawfully, and complete records speed up outbound clearance.
FAQ
Q: Can a C1/D visa be used to enter Indonesia and join a vessel?
A: No. The C1/D is a United States visa and has no validity in Indonesia. Foreign crew coming to Indonesia to join a vessel need a C13 visa applied for by a guarantor in Indonesia, usually the vessel's ship agent. Holding a C1/D visa has no bearing on this requirement.
Q: How long does a C13 visa take and what does it cost?
A: With complete documents, a C13 e-Visa is generally issued within 3 to 5 working days. The official cost is the government visa fee (PNBP) set by regulation, plus the ship agent's processing fee. Because the PNBP tariff can change, ask your agent for the current breakdown at the time of vessel nomination so it can be included in the proforma disbursement account.
Q: Do Indonesian seafarers need a C1/D visa to work on a vessel that does not call at US ports?
A: No. The C1/D is only needed if the seafarer will transit the US to join a vessel or if the vessel will call at US ports. For vessels trading in Asia, the Middle East, or Europe, the seafarer needs the visa of the country where they join, for example a Schengen seafarer transit visa to join at Rotterdam, not a C1/D.
Q: Can a C13 visa be extended if the vessel arrives late?
A: The C13 is designed for joining a conveyance with a stay of up to 60 days, and in practice it is rarely extended for the purpose of waiting for a vessel. If the vessel's delay is expected to exceed the stay permit, the ship agent should consult the local immigration office as early as possible to determine the right course, whether an extension, exit and re-entry on a new visa, or diverting the crew change to another port.
Conclusion
The C13 visa and the C1/D visa serve the same need, crew mobility to their vessel, but in two entirely different jurisdictions. The C13 is an Indonesian visit visa for foreign crew joining a vessel in Indonesian waters, applied for by a local guarantor through e-Visa with a stay of up to 60 days. The C1/D is the United States transit and crewmember visa required by Indonesian and foreign seafarers alike when joining a vessel or going ashore at a US port. Identifying the right visa at the start of crew change planning protects operators from refused entry, vessel delays, and unnecessary cost.
Nusantika processes C13 visas as an official guarantor for crew joining at Tanjung Priok, Tanjung Perak, Belawan, Balikpapan, Makassar, Batam, Bitung, Pontianak, and Semarang, integrated with our crew change and vessel clearance services. Our team also helps shipping companies prepare supporting documents for Indonesian seafarers applying for C1/D visas at the US Embassy.
Need help with seafarer visas or crew change in Indonesia? Contact Nusantika via WhatsApp — we are available 24/7.