On 15 Dec 2015, the Commonwealth passed legislation enabling persons to apply for an MSIC card without having an 'operational need' for an MSIC. This change means that applicants may now apply for an MSIC without having a job. Since inception of the MSIC/ASIC programs, this has created a challenge for persons looking to gain work in the industry. Under this new legislation, applicants gain a level foothold in the job seeking market. Visit www.msic.net.au to apply today.

1. JOB READY MSIC AND ASIC
MARITIME SECURITY IDENTIFICATION CARD
AVIATION SECURITY IDENTIFICATION CARD
15 DECEMBER 2015

2. CHANGES TO THE LEGISLATION
• The Australian Government has changed the rules around ASIC and MSIC applications.
• From 15 December 2015, you may contact your issuing body to find out if they may be able to accept
your ASIC and MSIC ‘job ready’ application before you have secured a relevant job.
• Previously, you could not apply for an ASIC or MSIC until after you had secured a job in the industry.
• The ‘job ready’ changes means that you may be able to apply for an ASIC through an approved issuing
body before you have an operational need to hold an ASIC. However, you cannot be issued with an ASIC
or MSIC without proving your operational need for a card.

3. THE CHANGES AT A GLANCE
• Veritas now offers ‘job ready’ MSICs. You can apply online at www.msic.net.au. Not all issuing bodies
will take these types of applications.
• You cannot receive an ASIC or MSIC until you can prove you have an operational need for a card. For
example, you have a job that requires an ASIC or MSIC.
• Issuing bodies cannot issue cards for all sites and only the issuing body that receives your ‘job ready’
application can issue your card.
• The ASIC or MSIC will expire 2 years after your background check was approved. This is not the date
your card was issued to you. Four-year MSICs expire 4 years after your background check was approved.
But you will automatically undergo a second background check 2 years after the first background check
was approved.

4. WHAT HAS CHANGED?
• The rules around ASIC and MSIC applications have changed and some issuing bodies may now accept your
application before you have secured a relevant job. Previously you could not apply for an ASIC or MSIC until
after you had secured a job in the industry.
• Veritas is a Commonwealth Authorised MSIC issuing body and offers applicants seeking to work in the
maritime and offshore industries an ability to apply for a ‘job ready MSIC’ via its website at www.msic.net.au
• This means you will no longer have to prove you need an ASIC or an MSIC before your application can be
processed. However, you cannot be issued with an ASIC or MSIC without proving your operational need for a
card.
• You may be able to complete the background checking process and then, as soon as you can prove you need
an ASIC or MSIC to your issuing body, you may be issued with an ASIC or MSIC.
• Where applicable, you may also be able to progress an application through the ‘discretionary’ card process.

5. WHAT DO YOU NEED TO DO TO USE ‘JOB READY’?
• Contact Veritas to apply for a ‘job ready’ MSIC. Applications are completed online at www.msic.net.au
• What is the cost for a ‘job ready’ application? Prices vary from issuing body to issuing body depending
on whether they offer a ‘job ready’ MSIC. You can find Veritas’ ‘job ready’ MSIC price listed on the
website.
• ASICs and MSICs are separate application processes. So, if you are applying for jobs in both the aviation
and maritime sectors, you would need to lodge separate ‘job ready’ applications.

6. HOW DO YOU PROGRESS FROM ‘JOB READY’ TO
HAVING AN ASIC OR MSIC?
• To be issued with an ASIC or MSIC you must prove you have an operational need for a card. For MSICs this means your job or business interests
require you to access a maritime security zone unmonitored at least once each year.
• To prove you have operational need you must provide written evidence to support your claim. This may include (but is not limited to): A letter
explaining your reason(s) for needing access to a secure area/zone from one of the following: your employer or prospective employer;
• a contracting party or prospective contracting party; or
• the industry participant responsible for the location you require access to.
• A letter from a recent employer and/or certificates of qualifications relating to your need to access a secure area/zone. These documents should be dated no
more than six months before you submit your application.
• Evidence of a licence that demonstrates you will require access to a secure area/zone. For example, an aviation or maritime pilot's licence.
• Veritas may require one or more examples of evidence supporting your claim of operational need before they issue you with a card.
• You can speed up the process by providing as much information as possible to your issuing body about your reasons for requiring access to a
secure area/zone.
• Veritas makes the final decision on whether or not you meet the operational need requirement but this decision must meet government
regulations.

7. YOUR OBLIGATIONS RELATING TO YOUR ASIC AND MSIC
APPLICATION
• As with any ASIC or MSIC application, ‘job ready’ applicants undergo a government background
checking process.
• You must report any maritime-security-relevant offences and any aviation-security-relevant offences
that occur after you have started your application process.

8. WHAT IF YOU HAVE A CRIMINAL RECORD?
• Your application for an ASIC or MSIC may be refused if you have a criminal record.
• You may be able to apply for a ‘discretionary’ card after your background check result and before you
have an operational need to start your job.
• If you are approved under the ‘discretionary’ card process, your issuing body still cannot issue you a
card until your operational need is confirmed.

9. FOR MORE INFORMATION
• To apply online for a Job Ready MSIC visit: www.msic.net.au
• More information about the lists of approved ASIC and MSIC issuing bodies, background checking
processes, and the discretionary card processes can be found on the Department's website at:
www.infrastructure.gov.au/transport/security