ENG1 medical for yacht crew: validity, cost and where to get it

Anyone who works on a merchant ship or a yacht needs an ENG1 seafarer medical certificate or an accepted equivalent. Only an MCA approved doctor may issue it, the examination costs at most £115, and the certificate is valid for up to two years, or one year if you are under 18.

We use the UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) as our reference. Its rules apply to UK-flagged yachts and are published in full.

Who needs an ENG1?

Everyone who works at sea needs an ENG1 or an ML5 medical certificate, including everyone serving on a merchant ship or a yacht (GOV.UK, seafarer medical certificates). The requirement does not apply to people on non-commercial pleasure vessels (MCA, MSN 1886).

For every UK yacht certificate of competency, a valid ENG1 or an accepted equivalent has to be presented when the certificate is issued (MCA, MSN 1858, section 12.2).

Where can you get an ENG1?

Only an MCA approved doctor can issue it (GOV.UK, how to apply). The MCA publishes two lists, both updated monthly:

• Approved doctors in the UK, as of 30 September 2026
• Approved doctors outside the UK. In 2026, for example, a doctor on Mallorca was added.

Doctors abroad must, among other things, have studied at a university listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools (Avicenna), be licensed in their country and speak good English (MSN 1886, section 6.1).

How much does an ENG1 cost?

The MCA sets a maximum fee of £115 for the examination; additional tests can cost extra (GOV.UK). If you fail the Ishihara colour vision test, you can take a CAD test at an MCA approved centre, which charges its own fee (MSN 1886).

What should you bring to the examination?

Previous medical certificates, your GP's contact details, your medication, glasses or contact lenses (no colour-correcting lenses) and photo ID (GOV.UK, how to apply).

What results are possible?

The doctor issues one of four categories (MSN 1886, sections 3.5–3.6):

1. Fit without restrictions
2. Fit with restrictions
3. Temporarily unfit
4. Permanently unfit

An ENG1 is issued in category 1 or 2. If you are refused or restricted, you receive an ENG3, which lets you apply for a review.

How long is an ENG1 valid?

• Up to 2 years if you are 18 or over, up to 1 year if you are under 18. The doctor can set a shorter period for medical reasons (MSN 1886, section 3.7).
• If it expires during a voyage, you may keep working until the next port where you can renew it, but for no more than 3 months after expiry (GOV.UK, expired certificates).
• A lost certificate can be replaced by the original doctor without a new examination; the replacement is valid for the rest of the original period (MSN 1886, section 3.6.3).

Which foreign medicals are accepted instead of an ENG1?

On UK ships, the MCA also accepts valid national seafarer medical certificates from the countries in Annex 1 of MSN 1815:

• All EU and EEA countries except Austria, including Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Greece, Croatia and Cyprus
• Further countries: Australia, Bermuda, Canada, China, Ghana, Hong Kong, India, Jamaica, Mauritius, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Switzerland and Ukraine

Points to note:

• Switzerland was added in August 2026.
• Maltese certificates only count if the examination took place in Malta with a doctor registered with the Malta Medical Council.
• Foreign certificates should come with an English translation so that the captain and inspectors can see any restrictions.
• Doctors from these countries cannot issue an ENG1 themselves.
• The United States, the Marshall Islands and the Cayman Islands are not on the list.

Sources

UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MSN 1886 Amendment 3, MSN 1815 Amendment 7, MSN 1858 Amendment 2, approved doctor lists) and GOV.UK. All checked on 4 October 2026 and linked above.