diff --git a/App/app/(portal)/admin/crew/admin-crew-manager.tsx b/App/app/(portal)/admin/crew/admin-crew-manager.tsx
index 2fe7d7d..5dc725c 100644
--- a/App/app/(portal)/admin/crew/admin-crew-manager.tsx
+++ b/App/app/(portal)/admin/crew/admin-crew-manager.tsx
@@ -15,7 +15,6 @@ const SECONDARY = "rounded-lg border border-neutral-300 px-4 py-2 text-sm font-m
 
 const STATUSES: CrewStatus[] = ["PROSPECT", "CANDIDATE", "EMPLOYEE", "EX_HAND", "BLACKLISTED"];
 const SOURCES: CandidateSource[] = ["CAREERS", "EX_HAND", "WALK_IN", "REFERRAL", "OTHER"];
-const TYPES: CandidateType[] = ["NEW", "EX_HAND"];
 const label = (s: string) => s.replace(/_/g, " ").toLowerCase().replace(/\b\w/g, (m) => m.toUpperCase());
 
 type Opt = { id: string; name: string };
@@ -132,7 +131,10 @@ function CrewFormButton({ ranks, editing, open, onOpenChange }: { ranks: RankOpt
             <input className={INPUT} placeholder="Name" value={f.name} onChange={(e) => setF({ ...f, name: e.target.value })} required />
             <select className={INPUT} value={f.status} onChange={(e) => setF({ ...f, status: e.target.value as CrewStatus })}>{STATUSES.map((s) => <option key={s} value={s}>{label(s)}</option>)}</select>
             <select className={INPUT} value={f.source} onChange={(e) => setF({ ...f, source: e.target.value as CandidateSource })}>{SOURCES.map((s) => <option key={s} value={s}>{label(s)}</option>)}</select>
-            <select className={INPUT} value={f.type} onChange={(e) => setF({ ...f, type: e.target.value as CandidateType })}>{TYPES.map((s) => <option key={s} value={s}>{label(s)}</option>)}</select>
+            <label className="flex items-center gap-2 px-1 text-sm text-neutral-700">
+              <input type="checkbox" className="h-4 w-4 rounded border-neutral-300 text-primary-600 focus:ring-primary-500/30" checked={f.type === "EX_HAND"} onChange={(e) => setF({ ...f, type: e.target.checked ? "EX_HAND" : "NEW" })} />
+              Ex-hand (returning crew)
+            </label>
             <select className={INPUT} value={f.appliedRankId} onChange={(e) => setF({ ...f, appliedRankId: e.target.value })}><option value="">Rank applied…</option>{ranks.map((r) => <option key={r.id} value={r.id}>{r.code} — {r.name}</option>)}</select>
             <select className={INPUT} value={f.currentRankId} onChange={(e) => setF({ ...f, currentRankId: e.target.value })}><option value="">Rank held…</option>{ranks.map((r) => <option key={r.id} value={r.id}>{r.code} — {r.name}</option>)}</select>
             <input className={INPUT} placeholder="Email" value={f.email} onChange={(e) => setF({ ...f, email: e.target.value })} />
diff --git a/App/app/(portal)/crewing/candidates/[id]/page.tsx b/App/app/(portal)/crewing/candidates/[id]/page.tsx
index 16884e5..f8c8e00 100644
--- a/App/app/(portal)/crewing/candidates/[id]/page.tsx
+++ b/App/app/(portal)/crewing/candidates/[id]/page.tsx
@@ -51,13 +51,13 @@ export default async function CandidateDetailPage({ params }: { params: Promise<
         <div className="flex items-center gap-3">
           <h1 className="text-2xl font-semibold text-neutral-900">{c.name}</h1>
           <Badge variant={STATUS_VARIANT[c.status]}>{STATUS_LABEL[c.status]}</Badge>
-          {c.source === "EX_HAND" && (
+          {c.type === "EX_HAND" && (
             <span className="rounded-full bg-purple-100 text-purple-700 px-2.5 py-0.5 text-xs font-medium">Returning crew</span>
           )}
         </div>
       </div>
 
-      {c.source === "EX_HAND" && (
+      {c.type === "EX_HAND" && (
         <div className="mb-6 rounded-lg border border-purple-200 bg-purple-50 px-4 py-3 text-sm text-purple-800">
           <strong>Returning crew.</strong> The interview may be waived with Manager approval.{" "}
           {c.experienceRecords.length === 0 && c.documents.length === 0 ? (
diff --git a/App/app/(portal)/crewing/candidates/actions.ts b/App/app/(portal)/crewing/candidates/actions.ts
index 63972ca..68263b1 100644
--- a/App/app/(portal)/crewing/candidates/actions.ts
+++ b/App/app/(portal)/crewing/candidates/actions.ts
@@ -50,13 +50,6 @@ function parse(formData: FormData) {
   });
 }
 
-// An EX_HAND source means a returning crew member; everyone else is NEW. The
-// CrewStatus follows: ex-hands sit in the pool as EX_HAND, the rest as CANDIDATE.
-function derive(source: CandidateSource) {
-  const isExHand = source === "EX_HAND";
-  return { type: isExHand ? "EX_HAND" : "NEW", status: isExHand ? "EX_HAND" : "CANDIDATE" } as const;
-}
-
 // Store an optional CV upload and return its storage key (null if none).
 async function storeCv(formData: FormData, crewMemberId: string): Promise<string | null> {
   const file = formData.get("cv");
@@ -74,53 +67,53 @@ export async function addCandidate(formData: FormData): Promise<ActionResult> {
   const parsed = parse(formData);
   if (!parsed.success) return { error: parsed.error.errors[0]?.message ?? "Validation failed" };
   const d = parsed.data;
-  const { type, status } = derive(d.source);
 
   // B3 AC1 — ex-hand recognition: a returning person re-entered as a fresh
-  // candidate (not already tagged EX_HAND) is matched to their existing EX_HAND
-  // pool record by a stable key — email when given, else an exact name match —
-  // and the SAME row is reused (so their tour history, documents and bank stay on
-  // file) rather than creating a duplicate. (Heuristic: with no DOB on file a
+  // candidate is matched to their existing EX_HAND pool record by a stable key —
+  // email when given, else an exact name match — and the SAME row is reused (so
+  // their tour history, documents and bank stay on file) rather than creating a
+  // duplicate. (Ex-hand is set by the office on the admin crew record; the
+  // candidate form never tags it directly. Heuristic: with no DOB on file a
   // name-only match can in theory collide; email is preferred when available.)
-  if (d.source !== "EX_HAND") {
-    const match = await db.crewMember.findFirst({
-      where: {
-        status: "EX_HAND",
-        ...(d.email
-          ? { email: { equals: d.email, mode: "insensitive" } }
-          : { name: { equals: d.name, mode: "insensitive" } }),
+  const match = await db.crewMember.findFirst({
+    where: {
+      status: "EX_HAND",
+      ...(d.email
+        ? { email: { equals: d.email, mode: "insensitive" } }
+        : { name: { equals: d.name, mode: "insensitive" } }),
+    },
+    select: { id: true, appliedRankId: true, currentRankId: true, email: true, phone: true, notes: true, experienceMonths: true, vesselTypeExperience: true },
+  });
+  if (match) {
+    const updated = await db.crewMember.update({
+      where: { id: match.id },
+      data: {
+        // Keep EX_HAND type/status; refresh the application's details, never
+        // discarding prior history (take the larger recorded experience).
+        appliedRankId: d.appliedRankId || match.appliedRankId,
+        currentRankId: d.currentRankId || match.currentRankId,
+        email: d.email || match.email,
+        phone: d.phone || match.phone,
+        notes: d.notes || match.notes,
+        experienceMonths: Math.max(d.experienceMonths, match.experienceMonths),
+        vesselTypeExperience: d.vesselTypeExperience || match.vesselTypeExperience,
+        actions: { create: { actionType: "CANDIDATE_UPDATED", actorId: g.userId, metadata: { exHandRecognized: true } } },
       },
-      select: { id: true, appliedRankId: true, currentRankId: true, email: true, phone: true, notes: true, experienceMonths: true, vesselTypeExperience: true },
     });
-    if (match) {
-      const updated = await db.crewMember.update({
-        where: { id: match.id },
-        data: {
-          // Keep EX_HAND type/status; refresh the application's details, never
-          // discarding prior history (take the larger recorded experience).
-          appliedRankId: d.appliedRankId || match.appliedRankId,
-          currentRankId: d.currentRankId || match.currentRankId,
-          email: d.email || match.email,
-          phone: d.phone || match.phone,
-          notes: d.notes || match.notes,
-          experienceMonths: Math.max(d.experienceMonths, match.experienceMonths),
-          vesselTypeExperience: d.vesselTypeExperience || match.vesselTypeExperience,
-          actions: { create: { actionType: "CANDIDATE_UPDATED", actorId: g.userId, metadata: { exHandRecognized: true } } },
-        },
-      });
-      const cvKey = await storeCv(formData, updated.id);
-      if (cvKey) await db.crewMember.update({ where: { id: updated.id }, data: { cvKey } });
-      revalidatePath(LIST_PATH);
-      return { ok: true, id: updated.id };
-    }
+    const cvKey = await storeCv(formData, updated.id);
+    if (cvKey) await db.crewMember.update({ where: { id: updated.id }, data: { cvKey } });
+    revalidatePath(LIST_PATH);
+    return { ok: true, id: updated.id };
   }
 
   const candidate = await db.crewMember.create({
     data: {
       name: d.name,
       source: d.source,
-      type,
-      status,
+      // The candidate form always intakes a fresh NEW candidate. Ex-hand status
+      // is an office/admin designation set on the crew record, not here.
+      type: "NEW",
+      status: "CANDIDATE",
       appliedRankId: d.appliedRankId || null,
       currentRankId: d.currentRankId || null,
       experienceMonths: d.experienceMonths,
@@ -149,7 +142,6 @@ export async function updateCandidate(formData: FormData): Promise<ActionResult>
   const parsed = parse(formData);
   if (!parsed.success) return { error: parsed.error.errors[0]?.message ?? "Validation failed" };
   const d = parsed.data;
-  const { type, status } = derive(d.source);
 
   const existing = await db.crewMember.findUnique({ where: { id }, select: { status: true } });
   if (!existing) return { error: "Candidate not found" };
@@ -161,9 +153,8 @@ export async function updateCandidate(formData: FormData): Promise<ActionResult>
     data: {
       name: d.name,
       source: d.source,
-      // Don't downgrade an onboarded employee back to a candidate via an edit.
-      type,
-      status: existing.status === "EMPLOYEE" ? existing.status : status,
+      // type/status are left untouched — ex-hand / employee designation is owned
+      // by the office (admin crew record + sign-off), never by a candidate edit.
       appliedRankId: d.appliedRankId || null,
       currentRankId: d.currentRankId || null,
       experienceMonths: d.experienceMonths,
diff --git a/App/app/(portal)/crewing/candidates/candidate-form.tsx b/App/app/(portal)/crewing/candidates/candidate-form.tsx
index ed71b1e..f5bac50 100644
--- a/App/app/(portal)/crewing/candidates/candidate-form.tsx
+++ b/App/app/(portal)/crewing/candidates/candidate-form.tsx
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ import { useRouter } from "next/navigation";
 import type { CandidateSource } from "@prisma/client";
 import { AdminDialog } from "@/components/ui/admin-dialog";
 import { addCandidate, updateCandidate } from "./actions";
-import { SOURCE_OPTIONS, SOURCE_LABEL } from "./candidate-ui";
+import { FORM_SOURCE_OPTIONS, SOURCE_LABEL } from "./candidate-ui";
 
 const INPUT =
   "w-full rounded-lg border border-neutral-300 px-3 py-2 text-sm focus:border-primary-500 focus:outline-none focus:ring-2 focus:ring-primary-500/20";
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ function CandidateFields({
         <div>
           <label className="block text-xs font-medium text-neutral-700 mb-1">Source</label>
           <select className={INPUT} value={state.source} onChange={(e) => set("source", e.target.value as CandidateSource)}>
-            {SOURCE_OPTIONS.map((s) => (
+            {FORM_SOURCE_OPTIONS.map((s) => (
               <option key={s} value={s}>{SOURCE_LABEL[s]}</option>
             ))}
           </select>
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ function CandidateFields({
           </select>
         </div>
         <div>
-          <label className="block text-xs font-medium text-neutral-700 mb-1">Rank held (ex-hands)</label>
+          <label className="block text-xs font-medium text-neutral-700 mb-1">Rank held</label>
           <select className={INPUT} value={state.currentRankId} onChange={(e) => set("currentRankId", e.target.value)}>
             <option value="">—</option>
             {ranks.map((r) => (
@@ -131,7 +131,9 @@ function emptyState(): FieldState {
 function stateFrom(c: EditableCandidate): FieldState {
   return {
     name: c.name,
-    source: c.source,
+    // Ex-hand is an admin-only designation; the candidate form only edits origin.
+    // Legacy rows may carry the EX_HAND source — show a sensible origin instead.
+    source: c.source === "EX_HAND" ? "CAREERS" : c.source,
     appliedRankId: c.appliedRankId ?? "",
     currentRankId: c.currentRankId ?? "",
     experienceMonths: String(c.experienceMonths),
diff --git a/App/app/(portal)/crewing/candidates/candidate-ui.ts b/App/app/(portal)/crewing/candidates/candidate-ui.ts
index fe98253..12f4bab 100644
--- a/App/app/(portal)/crewing/candidates/candidate-ui.ts
+++ b/App/app/(portal)/crewing/candidates/candidate-ui.ts
@@ -13,6 +13,11 @@ export const SOURCE_LABEL: Record<CandidateSource, string> = {
 
 export const SOURCE_OPTIONS: CandidateSource[] = ["CAREERS", "EX_HAND", "WALK_IN", "REFERRAL", "OTHER"];
 
+// Ex-hand is now its own checkbox (not a source) — the Add/Edit form offers only
+// the real origins. EX_HAND stays in the enum/label for legacy rows created
+// before the split.
+export const FORM_SOURCE_OPTIONS: CandidateSource[] = ["CAREERS", "WALK_IN", "REFERRAL", "OTHER"];
+
 export const STATUS_LABEL: Record<CrewStatus, string> = {
   PROSPECT: "Prospect",
   CANDIDATE: "Candidate",
diff --git a/App/app/(portal)/crewing/candidates/candidates-manager.tsx b/App/app/(portal)/crewing/candidates/candidates-manager.tsx
index 066e5e7..3717f46 100644
--- a/App/app/(portal)/crewing/candidates/candidates-manager.tsx
+++ b/App/app/(portal)/crewing/candidates/candidates-manager.tsx
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
 import { useMemo, useState } from "react";
 import Link from "next/link";
-import type { CandidateSource, CrewStatus } from "@prisma/client";
+import type { CandidateSource, CandidateType, CrewStatus } from "@prisma/client";
 import { Badge } from "@/components/ui/badge";
 import { RowActionsMenu, RowActionsItem } from "@/components/ui/row-actions-menu";
 import { AddCandidateButton, EditCandidateButton, type EditableCandidate } from "./candidate-form";
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ type CandidateRow = {
   id: string;
   name: string;
   source: CandidateSource;
+  type: CandidateType;
   status: CrewStatus;
   appliedRankId: string | null;
   appliedRank: string | null;
@@ -54,13 +55,12 @@ function CandidateRowView({ c, ranks }: { c: CandidateRow; ranks: RankOpt[] }) {
     <tr className="border-b border-neutral-100 last:border-0 hover:bg-neutral-50">
       <td className="px-4 py-3">
         <Link href={`/crewing/candidates/${c.id}`} className="font-medium text-neutral-900 hover:text-primary-700">{c.name}</Link>
+        {c.type === "EX_HAND" && (
+          <span className="ml-2 rounded-full bg-purple-100 text-purple-700 px-2 py-0.5 text-[10px] font-medium align-middle">Ex-hand</span>
+        )}
         {c.hasCv && <span className="ml-2 text-xs text-neutral-400">CV</span>}
       </td>
-      <td className="px-4 py-3">
-        <span className={c.source === "EX_HAND" ? "text-purple-700 font-medium text-sm" : "text-neutral-600 text-sm"}>
-          {SOURCE_LABEL[c.source]}
-        </span>
-      </td>
+      <td className="px-4 py-3 text-neutral-600 text-sm">{SOURCE_LABEL[c.source]}</td>
       <td className="px-4 py-3 text-neutral-600 text-sm">{c.currentRank ?? "—"}</td>
       <td className="px-4 py-3 text-neutral-600 text-sm">{c.appliedRank ?? "—"}</td>
       <td className="px-4 py-3 text-neutral-600 text-sm">{experienceLabel(c.experienceMonths)}</td>
diff --git a/App/app/(portal)/crewing/candidates/page.tsx b/App/app/(portal)/crewing/candidates/page.tsx
index 065ef37..46c3aa6 100644
--- a/App/app/(portal)/crewing/candidates/page.tsx
+++ b/App/app/(portal)/crewing/candidates/page.tsx
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ export default async function CandidatesPage() {
     id: c.id,
     name: c.name,
     source: c.source,
+    type: c.type,
     status: c.status,
     appliedRankId: c.appliedRankId,
     appliedRank: c.appliedRank?.name ?? null,
diff --git a/App/app/(portal)/crewing/crew/actions.ts b/App/app/(portal)/crewing/crew/actions.ts
index 185835a..c49a9f1 100644
--- a/App/app/(portal)/crewing/crew/actions.ts
+++ b/App/app/(portal)/crewing/crew/actions.ts
@@ -304,10 +304,13 @@ export async function signOffCrew(assignmentId: string, signOffDate: string, rem
         source: "internal",
       },
     });
-    // Same entity: flip EMPLOYEE → EX_HAND; they reappear in Candidates as a returning hand.
+    // Same entity: flip EMPLOYEE → EX_HAND; they reappear in Candidates as a
+    // returning hand. The ex-hand flag lives on type/status — their original
+    // source (how they were first recruited) is preserved. currentRank (rank
+    // held) is refreshed to the tour they just signed off from.
     await tx.crewMember.update({
       where: { id: assignment.crewMemberId },
-      data: { status: "EX_HAND", type: "EX_HAND", source: "EX_HAND", currentRankId: assignment.rankId },
+      data: { status: "EX_HAND", type: "EX_HAND", currentRankId: assignment.rankId },
     });
     await tx.crewAction.create({
       data: { actionType: "CREW_SIGNED_OFF", actorId: g.userId, crewMemberId: assignment.crewMemberId, note: remarks?.trim() || null },
diff --git a/App/tests/integration/candidates.test.ts b/App/tests/integration/candidates.test.ts
index 915ad8b..969ca33 100644
--- a/App/tests/integration/candidates.test.ts
+++ b/App/tests/integration/candidates.test.ts
@@ -33,6 +33,21 @@ const SS_EMAIL = "sitestaff@itcand.local";
 const as = (userId: string, role: Role) =>
   vi.mocked(auth as unknown as () => Promise<unknown>).mockResolvedValue(makeSession(userId, role));
 
+// Ex-hand is an office/admin designation (set on the admin crew record, not the
+// candidate form) — seed such rows directly for the recognition tests.
+const seedExHand = (data: { name: string; email?: string; experienceMonths?: number }) =>
+  db.crewMember.create({
+    data: {
+      name: data.name,
+      type: "EX_HAND",
+      status: "EX_HAND",
+      source: "CAREERS",
+      email: data.email ?? null,
+      experienceMonths: data.experienceMonths ?? 0,
+      actions: { create: { actionType: "CANDIDATE_ADDED", actorId: managerId } },
+    },
+  });
+
 beforeAll(async () => {
   managerId = (await getSeedUser("manager@pelagia.local")).id;
   const ss = await db.user.upsert({
@@ -71,12 +86,14 @@ describe("addCandidate", () => {
     expect(c.actions[0].actorId).toBe(managerId);
   });
 
-  it("an EX_HAND source yields type EX_HAND and status EX_HAND", async () => {
+  it("candidate intake always creates a NEW candidate — ex-hand is admin-only", async () => {
     as(managerId, "MANAGER");
-    await addCandidate(fd({ name: "Returning Ravi", source: "EX_HAND" }));
+    // Even if an ex-hand hint is smuggled into the form data, intake stays
+    // NEW/CANDIDATE; ex-hand is set only on the admin crew record.
+    await addCandidate(fd({ name: "Returning Ravi", source: "CAREERS", isExHand: "true" }));
     const c = await db.crewMember.findFirstOrThrow();
-    expect(c.type).toBe("EX_HAND");
-    expect(c.status).toBe("EX_HAND");
+    expect(c.type).toBe("NEW");
+    expect(c.status).toBe("CANDIDATE");
   });
 
   it("requires a name", async () => {
@@ -98,8 +115,7 @@ describe("addCandidate", () => {
 describe("ex-hand recognition + ordering (B3)", () => {
   it("recognizes a returning hand by email and reuses the same row (AC1)", async () => {
     as(managerId, "MANAGER");
-    await addCandidate(fd({ name: "Ravi Old", source: "EX_HAND", email: "ravi@ex.com", experienceMonths: "120" }));
-    const exhand = await db.crewMember.findFirstOrThrow({ where: { status: "EX_HAND" } });
+    const exhand = await seedExHand({ name: "Ravi Old", email: "ravi@ex.com", experienceMonths: 120 });
 
     // Re-applies as a fresh careers candidate with the same email → recognized.
     const res = await addCandidate(fd({ name: "Ravi Returning", source: "CAREERS", email: "ravi@ex.com", appliedRankId: rankId }));
@@ -115,16 +131,15 @@ describe("ex-hand recognition + ordering (B3)", () => {
 
   it("recognizes a returning hand by exact name when no email is given (AC1)", async () => {
     as(managerId, "MANAGER");
-    await addCandidate(fd({ name: "Returning Ravi", source: "EX_HAND" }));
+    const exhand = await seedExHand({ name: "Returning Ravi" });
     const res = await addCandidate(fd({ name: "returning ravi", source: "REFERRAL" })); // case-insensitive
-    const exhand = await db.crewMember.findFirstOrThrow({ where: { status: "EX_HAND" } });
     expect("ok" in res && res.id).toBe(exhand.id);
     expect(await db.crewMember.count()).toBe(1);
   });
 
   it("does not match a different person → creates a new candidate", async () => {
     as(managerId, "MANAGER");
-    await addCandidate(fd({ name: "Ex One", source: "EX_HAND", email: "one@ex.com" }));
+    await seedExHand({ name: "Ex One", email: "one@ex.com" });
     await addCandidate(fd({ name: "Brand New", source: "CAREERS", email: "new@ex.com" }));
     expect(await db.crewMember.count()).toBe(2);
   });
@@ -132,7 +147,7 @@ describe("ex-hand recognition + ordering (B3)", () => {
   it("lists ex-hands above new candidates by default (AC2)", async () => {
     as(managerId, "MANAGER");
     await addCandidate(fd({ name: "New First", source: "CAREERS" }));
-    await addCandidate(fd({ name: "Ex Second", source: "EX_HAND" }));
+    await seedExHand({ name: "Ex Second" });
     const el = (await CandidatesPage()) as unknown as { props: { candidates: Array<{ name: string; status: string }> } };
     expect(el.props.candidates[0].status).toBe("EX_HAND");
     expect(el.props.candidates[0].name).toBe("Ex Second");