Eligibility
Merchant Navy age limit
The upper age limit is 25 for DNS, B.Sc. Nautical Science and B.Tech Marine Engineering, 28 for GME and the GP Rating course, and 35 for the ETO course, on the day the course begins. You must be at least 16 to work on a ship and at least 18 when your certificate is issued.
| Course | Minimum age | Maximum age |
|---|---|---|
| Deck officer via the one-year Diploma in Nautical Science (DNS) | — | 25 |
| Deck officer via a B.Sc. / B.S. Nautical Science degree | — | 25 |
| Deck officer via the six-month pre-sea course for graduates | 18 | 25 |
| Engineer officer via the four-year Marine Engineering degree | — | 25 |
| Engineer officer via the one-year Graduate Marine Engineering (GME) course | — | 28 |
| Engineer officer via the two-year course for diploma holders | — | 28 |
| Engineer officer via the eighteen-month course for electrical engineering graduates | 18 | No limit in the rules |
| Electro-Technical Officer via the pre-sea ETO course | — | 35 |
| Deck rating (R-NW) via the pre-sea GP rating course | 17½ | 28 |
| Ship's cook | 18 | No limit in the rules |
| Hotel and service staff on passenger (cruise) ships | 18 | No limit in the rules |
Source: DGMA (formerly DG Shipping) training rules (TEAP), the Merchant Shipping (STCW) Rules 2014 and DGS Order 12 of 2026, as held in the Marine One route data. "—" means the rules set no course-entry minimum; you must still be 18 when the certificate is issued.
How the limit is counted
- The age is counted on the day the course begins, not on the day you apply or sit IMU-CET.
- The GP Rating upper limit was raised from 25 to 28 by DGS Order 12 of 2026.
- Employers can set lower limits of their own for sponsorship. Check the company's notice.
Common questions
What is the maximum age to join the Merchant Navy?
It depends on the course: 25 for DNS, B.Sc. Nautical Science and B.Tech Marine Engineering; 28 for GME and the GP Rating course; 35 for the ETO course. The limit applies on the day the course begins.
Is there an age relaxation for OBC, SC, ST or women?
The DGMA training rules set the limits shown here. The Indian Maritime University and some institutes publish their own relaxations for reserved categories and women in their admission notices; check the notice for your course and year.
Can I join the Merchant Navy at 30?
At 30 the ETO course (up to 35) is open if you have an electrical or electronics diploma or degree. Cooks and cruise hotel staff have no upper age limit in the DGMA rules, but employers set their own.