Captain's Brief · Seafarer documents · 20 min read · Oct 1, 2026

Captain's Brief: Seaman's Book and SID eGovPH appointment guide for Filipino seafarers

Seaman's Book and SID Appointments Are Now eGovPH-Only: How to Book, Renew or Expedite Before Your Sign-On

Since 13 May 2026, every new appointment for a Seaman's Book (officially the Seafarer's Record Book, or SRB) or Seafarer's Identity Document (SID) goes through the eGovPH app. That covers new books, renewals and replacements. The old MARINA appointment website no longer takes new bookings. MARINA also had a system outage in August–September 2026, so check your office's status on MARINA's official page before you go.

This guide covers how to book in the app, what it costs, what to bring, and how expedite works through your manning agency. All facts were checked against MARINA's own website, advisories, memorandum circular and Citizen's Charter on 1 October 2026. MARINA updates its rules often, so check its official page before you go.

Quick answer: Verify your eGovPH account first. Then open MARINA OAS in the app, choose the document, office and date, and pay ₱1,000 per document (plus a ₱50 convenience fee) within 48 hours. On the day, bring complete documents, a collared shirt and, for the Seaman's Book, one documentary stamp. Processing usually takes 2 to 3 hours. Is your flight before your slot? Ask your manning agency to file an expedite request at expedite-sidsrb.marina.gov.ph, and wait for MARINA's email approval.

What changed, and why

eGovPH only. MARINA Advisory No. 2026-24 says the MARINA Online Appointment System is reachable only through the eGovPH app from 13 May 2026. It covers issuance, renewal and replacement of the SID and Seaman's Book. Bookings made before that date stayed valid.
Why. MARINA says eGovPH's single sign-on means one verified account per person. That makes fake and duplicate bookings, and the fixers behind them, harder.
Demand is at a record high. MARINA counted 162,770 SID and SRB applications from January to June 2026, up 61.49% on the same period in 2025. Between April and August it opened tens of thousands of extra slots to keep up.

Sources: MARINA Advisory No. 2026-24 (11 May 2026); MARINA posts of 11–12 May, 23 Apr, 30 Jun, 4 Aug and 7 Aug 2026.

How to book in the eGovPH app, step by step

MARINA's own guide lists seven steps. Here they are, with the practical details that trip people up.

Download eGovPH from an official store only: Google Play, the App Store or Huawei AppGallery (links at e.gov.ph). Never install it from a link someone sends you.
Create your account. You need a mobile number for a one-time PIN, an MPIN and an email address.
Verify your account. Do this early. MARINA says you can only book from a verified account. The official eGovPH site says verification means linking your Philippine National ID (PhilSys) record. Third-party guides add that it includes a live selfie and that approval usually takes a few hours to a day. Don't leave it until the week you need a slot.
Find MARINA OAS. Look for MARINA in the list of national government agencies, then search for "MARINA OAS".
Choose your appointment details: processing office, date, document (SRB for the Seaman's Book, SID, or both) and type of application (new, renewal or reissuance).
Confirm and pay within 48 hours. If you don't pay in time, the booking cancels automatically. Keep your payment reference, and screenshot each screen.
Go on the day. Advisory 2026-24 says to arrive one hour before your slot. MARINA's September notices say not earlier than two hours before. Wear or bring a collared shirt.

Before you book, note three OAS rules:

Your requirements must be complete before you book. If you turn up with something missing, you lose the slot and the fee.
Fees are not refundable or transferable.
If you don't show up, you lose the slot and the fee. MARINA asks applicants to reschedule early instead, so the slot goes to someone else. It says about 500 slots a week were wasted by no-shows.

Old SIRB still valid? The OAS says that if your old Seafarer's Identification and Record Book (SIRB) is valid for more than six months, you don't need to apply yet. Apply when it has six months or less left, has expired, or needs replacing (lost, damaged or full). If you sail international, read the FAQ on SID penalties below.

App or website? MARINA's advisory names the app. We could not confirm an official eGovPH web login, so plan to use your phone.

Sources: MARINA "7 easy steps" (12 May 2026); e.gov.ph; FilipiKnow (third-party, 4 May 2026); Advisory 2026-24; sidsrb.marina.gov.ph reminders (accessed 1 Oct 2026); MARINA Citizen's Charter 2026, p. 215; MARINA notices of 3 Aug, 17, 18 and 22 Sep 2026; e.gov.ph.

Fees in PHP

Application	Seaman's Book (SRB)	SID	Notes
New	₱1,000	₱1,000	Same fee whether new or renewal
Renewal / reissuance (incl. lost or damaged, ashore)	₱1,000	₱1,000	Bring an affidavit of loss if lost
Onboard application (expiring, lost or damaged while at sea)	₱1,800	₱1,800	Filed by your company or manning agency
Convenience fee	₱50 (cash, e-money or online banking)	₱50	Credit/debit card: 1.8% + ₱35
Appointment slot	Free	Free	Nobody is authorised to charge for a slot
Expedite	No separate fee listed	No separate fee listed	MARINA's fee table shows no expedite charge

Sources: MARINA Memorandum Circular No. MD-2024-01, Sec. VII; MARINA Citizen's Charter 2026, pp. 215–216; MARINA, 23 Apr 2026. Booking both documents costs ₱2,000 plus convenience fees. We could not confirm whether a combined booking carries one convenience fee or two.

The payment options in the app are cash, e-money, card and online banking. Pay only through the channels the app shows you.

Requirements: what to bring

Bring originals plus one photocopy of each, unless the table says otherwise.

New Seaman's Book and/or SID	Renewal / replacement (incl. lost or damaged)	Onboard application (filed by your company)
PSA birth certificate or valid Philippine passport	Old SIRB / Seaman's Book / SID (if you have it)	Letter request from the company or agency
Valid NBI clearance	Valid NBI clearance	POEA-approved employment contract (photocopy)
Basic Training certificate, or Certificate of Proficiency for BT	Basic Training certificate or COP for BT	Crew list signed by the Master
Marriage contract (married women)	Marriage contract (married women)	Clearance from MARINA Legal Service (no pending case or unpaid penalty)
1 documentary stamp (Seaman's Book only)	Certificate of sea service, or entries in your old book	Seafarer's affidavit, confirmed by the Master
	Notarised affidavit of loss (if lost)	Notarised company affidavit of undertaking
	1 documentary stamp (Seaman's Book only)	1 documentary stamp (Seaman's Book only)

Sources: MARINA MC No. MD-2024-01, Sec. VI.1; MARINA Citizen's Charter 2026, pp. 211–213.

Good to know:

Already have one of the two? If you hold a valid Seaman's Book and are applying for an SID (or the reverse), present the valid one plus a photocopy.
Basic Training gap. If you haven't been onboard for at least one year in the last five, you may have to retake the full BT course.
NBI clearance for renewals. Yes, it is on the renewal list.

Source: MC MD-2024-01, Sec. V.7 and VI.1.

Processing time and validity

Processing time. Usually the same day. The OAS says within three working hours after your data is captured. In September 2026, MARINA said the Central Office was releasing documents in two to three hours, regular or expedited.
Validity. The Seaman's Book is valid for 10 years. The SID is valid for 5 years.
Someone else can collect. Your Seaman's Book or SID can be claimed by an authorised person with an authorisation letter and a copy of both IDs.
Collect within six months. Documents left unclaimed for six months after the release date become void, and you would have to apply again.

Sources: sidsrb.marina.gov.ph; MARINA, 16 Sep 2026; MC MD-2024-01, Sec. V.9, V.10 and VI.5.

How expedite works (through your agency)

Expedite is for seafarers who must leave before their confirmed appointment date. It is not a way to skip booking: you still need a confirmed SID/SRB appointment first.

Book a regular slot in eGovPH, even if the date is after your flight.
Your licensed manning agency or shipping company (or maritime school, for cadets) files the expedite request at the official portal, https://expedite-sidsrb.marina.gov.ph/, with:
- a request letter from the employing company;
- your confirmed airline e-ticket (or an embarkation letter if the ship is in a Philippine port);
- your approved DMW contract, notarised company contract or Certificate of Employment;
- your confirmed SID/SRB appointment.
Wait for MARINA's online approval by email. Since 21 September 2026, all Central Office expedite cases must go through the portal.
Go to MARINA on your appointment day and show the email approval to the guard and evaluator. Bring the normal requirements as well.

What to expect:

A virtual queue. When we checked on 1 October, the portal used a queue ("maximum number of applicants reached") and an email verification code.
Slots freed for others. When an expedite case is processed, the applicant's original regular slot goes back into the system for someone else.

Sources: MC MD-2024-01, Sec. VI.2; MARINA notices of 1 and 19 Sep 2026; MARINA, 15 Jul 2026; portal observed 1 Oct 2026.

Tips that work

Verify your eGovPH account weeks ahead, not the day you need a slot.
Check the app several times a day. Slots freed by expedite cases reappear at random times, up to about 340 a day nationwide (MARINA, 15 Jul 2026). There is no fixed release hour. MARINA also announces bulk slot openings on its website and Facebook page.
Look at other offices. MARINA says slots are often open outside the busiest centers (3 Aug 2026).
Reschedule rather than skip. A no-show forfeits your fee.
Screenshot every screen and keep your payment reference. This is our suggestion.
Have every requirement ready before you book. Incomplete documents forfeit the slot.
Check your details. Check your name and details at data capture and again on release, before you leave.
Flight close? Talk to your manning agency early about expedite. Only they can file it.

Fixers and scams: don't pay for a slot

Slots are free. MARINA says nobody is authorised to charge for an appointment, and that buying one from a scalper is illegal (MARINA, 23 Apr and 6 May 2026).
"Guaranteed slot" offers are a red flag. So are high fees, no receipt and offers by private message. MARINA has publicly flagged an alias selling guaranteed slots (May 2026) and an unaccredited online account (13–14 Sep 2026).
Help is not the same as fixing. MARINA says help with uploading documents can be legitimate. Promising a slot or faster approval for money is not. Keep names, numbers and receipts, and report them. MARINA runs entrapment operations with the Coast Guard and works with the NBI (RMN, 1 Sep 2026).
Fake eGovPH app scam. Scammers have called people offering to "help verify" their eGovPH account, then got them to install a fake app and take selfies, putting e-wallets and bank accounts at risk. Download eGovPH only from official stores. Report scams to the CICC hotline 1326 (GMA News, 2 Feb 2026).

Official channels

eGovPH app: https://e.gov.ph
Expedite (through your agency): https://expedite-sidsrb.marina.gov.ph
Check whether a Seaman's Book, SID or SIRB is genuine: https://verify-sidsrb.marina.gov.ph
MARINA Manpower Development Service: (02) 8524-6517 · mds@marina.gov.ph
MARINA website: https://marina.gov.ph · Facebook: facebook.com/dotrmarinaph
Report fixers: Office of the Administrator (02) 8523-9078 / 8524-2895 · Enforcement Service (02) 8524-9126

Before sign-on checklist

Compare the expiry dates on your SIRB, Seaman's Book and SID with your contract and sign-on date.
Install eGovPH from an official store and finish verification.
Gather your documents (originals plus one photocopy each) and a documentary stamp for the Seaman's Book.
Book through MARINA OAS in the app. Try other offices if yours is full.
Pay within 48 hours. Save the reference and screenshots.
Can't make it? Reschedule, don't skip.
Flight before your slot? Ask your agency to file expedite, then wait for the email approval.
Check your office's current status on MARINA's official page (especially regional offices).
On the day, arrive on time (not more than two hours early), with a collared shirt and every document.
Before leaving the counter, check the spelling and details on your new book or card.
Ignore anyone selling slots. Report them to MARINA or CICC 1326.

FAQ

Can I still book on the old MARINA website? Not for new bookings. Since 13 May 2026, Seaman's Book and SID appointments are made in the eGovPH app only.

Do I need a National ID? eGovPH verification is linked to your National ID (PhilSys) record, and MARINA can only be booked from a verified account.

How much does it cost? ₱1,000 for the Seaman's Book and ₱1,000 for the SID (new or renewal), plus a ₱50 convenience fee (card: 1.8% + ₱35). An onboard application is ₱1,800. The slot itself is free.

How long does it take, and how long is it valid? Usually 2 to 3 hours on the day. The Seaman's Book is valid for 10 years and the SID for 5.

Can I expedite without an appointment? No. A confirmed appointment is one of the expedite requirements, and your agency or shipping company files the request.

Can I walk in? MARINA describes no walk-in lane. Every route, including expedite, starts with an appointment.

My book is expiring and I'm onboard. What now? Your company or manning agency files an onboard application (₱1,800).

My SIRB is still valid. Do I need a Seaman's Book and SID? The OAS says no need to apply while your SIRB has more than six months left. On international voyages, MARINA Advisory 2026-29 says penalties apply if, for example, you carry an expired SIRB and an expired SID, or a Seaman's Book only. If you hold a valid SIRB, no penalty applies even when your SID has expired.

I missed my appointment. Can I get a refund? No. Fees are non-refundable and a no-show forfeits the slot. Reschedule as early as you can.

I paid but got no confirmation. What should I do? MARINA hasn't published guidance on this. Keep your payment reference and screenshots, then contact MARINA MDS at (02) 8524-6517 or mds@marina.gov.ph.

Can my agency or a family member book for me? MARINA's guidance doesn't cover this. eGovPH uses one verified account per person, so book under your own account. Agencies file expedite and onboard applications for you.

Is my office open? MARINA had a system outage in August–September 2026. Check your office's status on MARINA's official page before you travel.