NonimmigrantAir and sea crew29-day landingNo extensionForm DS-160

D Crewmember Visa

For crew on commercial ships and international airlines who land temporarily in the U.S. while performing duties required for normal operation, and leave within 29 days.

Last reviewed Oct 1, 2026Sources: State Department · eCFRReport an error

At a glance

Landing period: Up to 29 days (aggregate shore leave)
Lightering crew (D-3): Up to 180 days
Application fee: $185 (same for C-1/D)
Work allowed: Crew duties only, on the vessel or carrier of arrival
Landing permit: Form I-95; electronic since July 1, 2026
Extension / change of status: Not available

Electronic I-95 landing permits since July 1, 2026. CBP began issuing electronic Crewman’s Landing Permits (Form I-95) on July 1, 2026, creating a new permit for each encounter. Crew can display it on a phone or print it from the I-94/I-95 website or the CBP Link app; paper permits may still be issued where connectivity is poor.

Overview

Crewmember (D) visas are for people working on board commercial sea vessels or international airlines who provide services required for normal operation and intend to leave on the same vessel or another vessel within 29 days. Examples include pilots, flight attendants, ship captains, engineers, deckhands, and cruise-ship service staff such as cooks, waiters and lifeguards. Crew performing lightering (ship-to-ship transfer of liquid cargo) may receive a D-3 visa and depart within 180 days.

The D visa is for landing as crew. A crewmember who first travels to the United States as a passenger to join a vessel also needs a transit visa, usually issued as a combined C-1/D. The visa can be applied for without current employment, but it can only be used to enter a U.S. port when employed on the arriving vessel or aircraft.

On arrival, CBP decides whether to grant a conditional landing permit for shore leave while the vessel is in port (up to 29 days in total), for departure on another vessel or as a passenger within 29 days, or up to 180 days for lightering. D crew may work only as crew on the vessel or aircraft of arrival or one of the same company, and not on domestic flights or domestic vessel movements.

Who qualifies

A D applicant must

Serve in good faith as a crewman in a capacity required for normal operation and service of a vessel or aircraft.
Intend to land temporarily and solely as a crewman, and depart with the vessel or aircraft of arrival or another one.
Have permission to enter some foreign country after the temporary landing (22 CFR 41.41).

Not D — other visas usually apply

Dry-dock warranty repairs, replacement coasting officers, private-yacht crew cruising U.S. waters more than 29 days, and Outer Continental Shelf work — generally B-1.
Temporary crew on a fishing vessel with a U.S. home port or operating base — H-2 per the State Department.
People employed in a capacity not required for normal operation, or in excess of the normal crew complement (22 CFR 41.41(b)).
During a strike or lockout in the employer’s bargaining unit on a U.S. vessel or U.S. air carrier, D status is denied unless the person is already a qualified current employee (8 CFR 214.2(d)(2)).

Duration & extensions

Shore leave	While the vessel or aircraft is in U.S. ports, not exceeding 29 days in the aggregate.
Departure on another vessel or as a passenger	Within 29 days, with definite arrangements.
Lightering (D-3)	Up to 180 days.
Visa validity	Set by the reciprocity schedule for the applicant’s nationality; a valid visa in an expired passport remains valid.
Extension or change of status	Not available for D-1, D-2 or D-3; change of status barred.

Fees

Department of State fees per applicant; no USCIS petition is involved.

Fee	Amount	Who pays	Notes
Visa application fee (D or C-1/D)	$185	Applicant	Non-petition-based tier (22 CFR 22.1, item 21(a)).
Reciprocity issuance fee	Varies by nationality	Applicant	Only if charged to the applicant’s nationality.

Public Law 119-21 (signed July 4, 2025), section 100007, requires a Visa Integrity Fee of at least $250 when a nonimmigrant visa is issued. As of October 1, 2026, the State Department’s fee page does not list a Visa Integrity Fee, so the amount actually collected at visa issuance should be confirmed with the consulate.

Processing time

Interview: Generally required; Crew visas are not among the waiver categories in the Oct. 1, 2025 policy.
Electronic I-95: Since July 1, 2026; Issued by CBP at each arrival.

Interview wait times vary by embassy or consulate; some cases need administrative processing after the interview.

Application steps

1
Complete Form DS-160
Choose D, or the combined C-1/D if traveling as a passenger to join the vessel or aircraft.
2
Pay the $185 fee
Follow the embassy’s payment instructions; an issuance fee may apply by nationality.
3
Schedule and attend the interview
Generally in the country of nationality or residence; bring the passport and evidence of crew employment.
4
Arrive as crew
Present the visa to CBP, which decides on a conditional landing permit (Form I-95).
5
Depart on time
Leave with the vessel or as arranged within 29 days (180 days for lightering).

Required documents

From the applicant

Passport valid at least six months beyond the stay (unless exempt by country agreement).
DS-160 confirmation page, photo and fee receipt.
Evidence of employment as crew and of the trip’s purpose.
If transiting to join a vessel: a letter from the employer or employer’s agent.

Dependents & family

There is no D dependent visa. A spouse and unmarried minor children may apply for visitor (B) visas to accompany the crewmember if they will not perform services for the vessel’s operation.

Path to a green card

The D visa does not lead to permanent residence. An alien crewman is barred from adjustment of status in the United States (INA 245(c)(1)), and D crew cannot change status or extend their stay.

C-1

Transit visa

Combined as C-1/D for crew joining a vessel.

B-1

Business visitor visa

For yacht crew, dry-dock repairs, coasting officers and Outer Continental Shelf work.

B-2

Tourist visitor visa

For crew members’ accompanying family.

H-2B

Temporary non-agricultural worker

For seasonal work ashore and some U.S.-based fishing-vessel crew.

Common questions

Do cruise-ship and airline crew need a D visa?

Generally yes, if they serve in a capacity required for the vessel’s or aircraft’s normal operation, including cruise-ship service staff such as cooks, waiters and lifeguards.

How long can a crewmember stay ashore?

Shore leave is limited to 29 days in the aggregate while the vessel is in U.S. ports; D-3 lightering crew up to 180 days.

Why do I need a C-1/D and not just a D?

A D visa covers landing as crew. Crew who fly in as passengers to join a ship also need a transit visa, usually issued as a combined C-1/D.

Can a D visa holder get a green card in the U.S.?

No. Crewmen are barred from adjustment of status under INA 245(c)(1), and D status cannot be changed or extended.

Official sources

Recent changes

Jul 15, 2026
Apply in country of nationality or residence. Nonimmigrant applicants, including crew, should schedule interviews in their country of nationality or residence or at a designated processing post. Source ↗
Jul 1, 2026
Electronic Form I-95 introduced. CBP began issuing electronic Crewman’s Landing Permits, with a new I-95 for each encounter. Source ↗
Dec 16, 2025
Proclamation 10998 expands entry suspensions. Effective Jan. 1, 2026, full suspension of all nonimmigrant visas (D included) for nationals of 19 countries, with limited exceptions. Source ↗
Sep 18, 2025
Interview waivers narrowed. From Oct. 1, 2025 nearly all nonimmigrant applicants, including crew, need an in-person interview. Source ↗

This page is general reference material compiled from the official sources above and is not legal advice. Eligibility depends on individual facts; rules and fees change, so confirm with the agency before you file. VisaTypes.com is not affiliated with USCIS, the Department of State or any government agency. Spotted an error? Tell us.