What is a PEME medical? Tests, fasting and costs

Your contract is signed, the join date is in the calendar, and the cruise line has sent a pack of forms with "PEME" across the top. Nobody has explained what it involves, or whether you can eat breakfast first.

PEME stands for pre-employment medical examination. It's the medical a cruise line or maritime employer uses to confirm you're fit to work at sea before you join, carried out on their forms and to their standards. Most of it is a straightforward physical, a sight and hearing check, a urine sample and a blood test. And yes, you need to fast beforehand.

If you already have your forms, we carry out PEMEs Monday to Friday at our Harley Street clinic and can usually see you within the same week. Everything that's included is on our PEME and cruise ship medical page, or email your forms to info@medicalexpressclinic.co.uk so we can check them first.

What does PEME mean?

Under the Maritime Labour Convention 2006, every seafarer must hold a valid medical certificate confirming they're fit for duty. The International Labour Organization estimates that around 1.89 million seafarers work on merchant ships worldwide, and every one of them needs that paperwork before boarding.

A PEME is how an employer checks this for its own crew. Each cruise line or shipping company sets its own list of tests on its own forms, so the medical for a hospitality role on one line can look different from a deck role on another.

That's the one thing worth remembering: your employer's forms decide what's tested, which is why we ask to see them before you come in.

In the UK, the statutory seafarer certificate is the ENG1, issued by doctors approved by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency. Your employer's letter will say which certificate it needs.

Who needs a PEME?

Cruise lines ask for a PEME before your first contract, and most ask for a renewal every two years. Manning agencies often request one on behalf of the ship operator too.

We've completed thousands of seafarer PEMEs at this clinic, including for Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Line, Silversea, Carnival and Disney Cruise Line. If your employer isn't on that list, send us the forms and we'll confirm we can meet its requirements.

The standards also depend on your job. Bridge and other safety-critical roles have stricter eyesight thresholds than hospitality roles, and your forms will set these out.

What does a PEME medical check?

Requirements vary by cruise line and role, but a typical examination covers five areas.

What a typical PEME includes at Medical Express Clinic

Some employers ask for extra tests beyond this panel. If you send the forms in advance, we'll confirm the full list and your total cost before your appointment. All laboratory work goes to UKAS-accredited labs.

Do you need to fast for a PEME?

Yes. Arrive having fasted for 12 hours, with water allowed. The blood panel includes glucose and cholesterol, and a 12-hour fast gives the most accurate reading of both.

An early appointment makes the fast easier, because most of it happens while you sleep. You'll also give a urine sample when you arrive, so try not to empty your bladder just before you come in.

What should you bring to a PEME?

• A valid passport as photo ID
• Your cruise line's medical forms, ideally emailed to us beforehand
• Proof of your vaccinations
• A list of any medicines you take, if you take any
• Hospital or GP letters for any significant medical history
• Your glasses or contact lenses, if you wear them

If you have diabetes, heart disease, epilepsy, a mental health condition or previous surgery, email us your medical details before the appointment. That lets us allow enough time, advise you on anything your employer may ask about, and keep the day running smoothly.

How long does a PEME take, and when do you get the certificate?

The appointment takes about an hour, depending on what your employer requires. Completed certificates are typically ready within 3 to 5 working days, because the blood and urine samples need laboratory processing, so a same-day certificate isn't possible.

If your embarkation date is close, expedited processing costs an extra £100 and puts your lab work and reporting at the front of the queue. Tell us your deadline when you book and we'll confirm whether the faster service can meet it.

Your completed forms and certificate come back to you. If your cruise line wants them sent straight to its medical department or your manning agency, we can arrange that for you. Seafarer medical certificates are typically valid for two years, unless restrictions are placed on medical grounds.

How much does a PEME cost in London?

PEME prices at 117a Harley Street, October 2026

The final price depends on your cruise line's requirements, because some ask for tests beyond the standard panel. Send the forms first and you'll know the total before you book. To get started, book your PEME online or call 0207 499 1991.

What happens if something shows up?

If the examination or a result raises a question, the doctor talks it through with you. Some conditions need further tests or treatment before a certificate can be issued. In other cases the certificate carries a restriction on certain duties rather than a fail, and we'll explain your options and next steps.

PEMEs at the clinic are overseen by Dr Mohammad Bakhtiar (GMC 4694470), our clinical lead, who has worked at Medical Express Clinic for over 20 years.

Visa medical, pre-employment medical or PEME?

If your letter comes from an embassy or from a land-based employer rather than a shipping company, you may need a different medical. Our guide to choosing the right medical explains how to read the letter, and we also carry out pre-employment medicals for non-maritime employers.