Exemption from Merchant Mariner Credentials Fees

In August 2024, the Coast Guard replaced its policy to waive fees associated with merchant mariner credential (MMC) applications for active duty members of the uniformed services with a broader military exemption policy. Now active duty and selected reserve members of the uniformed services are exempt from merchant mariner credentialing fees.

‍Who is eligible?

Exemption eligibility extends to members of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Space Force, Coast Guard, NOAA and USPHS. And, members of selected reserve of the ready reserve of any of the armed forces. And the ready reserve corps of the USPHS.

 What do I provide to establish eligibility?

You can provide one of the following acceptable documents to establish your eligibility:

1. Active duty orders citing Titles 10 or 14 of the United States Code;
2. Statement of Credible Service or similar document; 
3. Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (DD-214); 
4. Transcript of Sea Service (TOSS); 
5. History of Assignments (HOA); 
6. Permanent Change of Station (PCS) Orders; 
7. Active Duty Military ID; or 
8. A letter or memo dated not more than 180 days prior to the date of application from their command or personnel office on official letterhead that states the applicant is a current member of the uniformed services on active duty or a member of the reserve components. The National Maritime Center website has templates for each service which are accepted: www.dco.uscg.mil/nmc/military_sea_service/.

‍How long is my exemption good for? 

Your exemption is good for a single application and will need to be established for each application submission. The policy also clearly defines the eligibility window based on the applicant's service status. An individual qualifies for the exemption if they hold the required active duty or selected reserve status on the date their MMC application is submitted. Additionally, the policy includes a provision for recently separated individuals: those whose qualifying status ended can still receive the Military Fee Exemption if they submit their MMC application within 180 days following their date of separation. This 180-day lookback period provides a practical timeframe for veterans transitioning out of service to apply and benefit from the exemption. Understanding these documentation and timing rules allows eligible military members and recent veterans to accurately prepare their applications and take advantage of this cost-saving measure.

‍Can I get a refund if I already paid my fees?

Maybe. If you are now fee exempt eligible and paid your merchant mariner fees, you can request a refund for services that have not yet been performed. 

Once a service has been performed, a refund of the associated fee(s) may not be issued. A refund may be provided for the examination fee if the applicant has not started testing. Similarly, a refund of the issuance fee may be provided if the MMC has not been issued.

‍How can I use this?

Our software specifically helps military and uniformed service members. You can provide one of the accepted documents in your MM-SEAS profile and we will package this with your application to skip the pay.gov fee step. We hope this made your life a little easier and if you have other questions the MM-SEAS team is always here to help!

MM-SEAS is free to use on your own and if you need some more personalized help you can upgrade to MM-SEAS Expert Access inside of the site.

No matter what, when you are ready to submit your application you can do it yourself, or you can hand the whole thing to us. An MM-SEAS Navita Navigator walks you through submitting in Navita, the Coast Guard's new submission portal, on a short video call. No computer, or not up for a video call? Our team gets your application submitted to the Coast Guard for you anyway. A Stress-Free MMC is $399. Two MM-SEAS licensing experts check every page, we pay your Coast Guard fees at submission and charge your card so you never touch pay.gov, and we stay on it with the National Maritime Center until your credential is issued.

Reference: CG-MMC Policy Letter No. 03-24, dated August 26, 2024

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