India has set a new fee for the Seafarer's Identity Document (SID). Every application now costs ₹3,000 (3,000 Indian rupees). The Directorate General of Maritime Administration (DGMA) announced this in Circular 73 of 2026 on 2 November 2026.
The SID is the biometric identity card for Indian seafarers. It follows ILO Convention 185, an international agreement on seafarer identity documents. Ports and countries that follow this convention can accept it for shore leave, transit and transfer to a ship.
What the new rules say
The fee and other details come from the Merchant Shipping (Seafarers' Identity Document) Rules, 2026. The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways made these rules on 6 July 2026. They replace the biometric SID rules of 2016.
The fee is ₹3,000 for a new SID, a renewal, a duplicate card, or a replacement or change of details.
You pay the fee online in the SID e-module when you send the application. The e-module is the online SID system.
The fee applies to all applications in the e-module from now on, the circular says.
A new or renewed SID is valid for five years. Cards under the 2016 rules were valid for ten years.
If you lose your SID because of a fire on board or another danger at sea, the duplicate card is free.
The circular calls this a revised fee. It does not say what the old fee was.
If you already have an SID card
More than 400,000 biometric SID cards have been issued since 2019, the DGMA said in July. These older cards are valid for ten years.
Your old card stays valid until the expiry date printed on it. In Circular 44 of 2026, the DGMA said holders of a valid card need to do nothing because of the new online system. The new rules also allow holders of a ten-year card to renew it after the first five years.
For a card issued under the new rules, you can apply for renewal up to 18 months before it expires. You can also apply after it has expired.
How the application works
You log in to the DG Shipping SID portal with your INDoS number and password. INDoS is the Indian National Database of Seafarers. An OTP (one-time password) is sent to your phone.
You need a valid Indian CDC (Continuous Discharge Certificate). The SID system takes your details from INDoS, so check them first.
You pay, then choose a data collection centre and a date. You bring your CDC and your original passport. Your photo and fingerprints are taken there.
The rules say the SID should be issued within 30 days. It is sent to you by Speed Post.
If you must join a ship soon, the office can give you the card in person. You need proof from the shipowner, for example a joining letter.
If you do not receive your card within one year of issue, it is cancelled.
If the office refuses or cancels your SID, you can appeal to the principal officer within 60 days.
The SID is one of several Indian documents that have moved online. CDC applications also moved to e-Samudra in October, as we reported in India moves CDC renewals and cook certificates to e-Samudra.
What to do now
Check the expiry date on your SID card and on your CDC. Your SID can be cancelled if your CDC is cancelled.
If your card expires during your next contract, apply before you join the ship. Plan for the 30 days the issue can take.
Keep ₹3,000 ready for any SID application, also for a lost or damaged card. Pay only in the official SID e-module.
Do not pay an agent or website that promises a faster SID. The fee is paid online to the issuing authority.
If your card is lost on board, ask the master for a logbook entry and an enquiry report. You need them for a duplicate.
Keep your SID with you. The master may keep it safe only with your written consent.
For official DGMA contacts and help lines, see Crewboard's useful links for seafarers. If you are looking for your next ship, see external vacancies on Crewboard.
Cover photo: Ships at the docks of Mumbai Port Trust, India, in January 2008. The photo is illustrative. Photo: Robert Cutts, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0 (cropped).
Sources: DGMA Circular No. 73 of 2026: Implementation of Merchant Shipping (Seafarers' Identity Document) Rules, 2026 (2 Nov 2026, PDF), Gazette of India, G.S.R. 584(E), 6 July 2026: Merchant Shipping (Seafarers' Identity Document) Rules, 2026 (full text via Gazette Tracker), DGMA Circular No. 44 of 2026: Roll-out of BSID Version 2.0, with seafarer user manual (31 Jul 2026, PDF), DGMA: list of DGS circulars.
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