Marlins certificates show the date on which a test was taken, but do not show an expiry date.


The Marlins Test is a tool used to measure English Language proficiency. It is therefore at the discretion of companies and flag state authorities to set requirements for how often a seafarer should retake a test.


When companies or flag state authorities ask for our guidance on how long to accept an English Language Test certificate after the test was taken, we recommend 4 or 5 years. This is because English Language proficiency is dynamic, and therefore subject to change over time.