Seafarers
Seafarers joining a vessel in an Irish port
What you get
- A check of whether you need a join ship visa
- A review of the employer's and agent's letters and your documents
- Completion and submission of your online application (AVATS)
About this service
Seafarer (Join Ship) Visa
A short stay 'C' visa for seafarers travelling to Ireland to join a ship that's departing from an Irish port. Whether you need one depends on your passport and on where your Seafarer's Identity Document was issued. We check whether a visa is needed and prepare the application with the shipping company's and agent's letters. Crew changes often happen at short notice, so a complete application from the start avoids delays. We check every letter against ISD's requirements and coordinate with the shipping agent.
€615
Fixed fee
5
Areas we cover
7
Documents to prepare
5
Simple steps
Who it's for
Who this is for
Whether you're moving, hiring, staying or starting over, this is the place to begin.
Shipping companies and agents
Shipping companies, manning agencies and port agents arranging crew changes in Ireland
At a glance
Eligibility
01
Joining a ship
You're travelling to Ireland to join a ship departing from Ireland
02
Who needs this visa
You need this visa if your passport is from a visa-required country (or you hold a convention travel document) and your Seafarer's Identity Document is from a country that hasn't ratified ILO Conventions C108 and C185
03
Who doesn't
If your Seafarer's Identity Document is from a ratifying country, you don't need this visa
04
Passport validity
Your passport is valid for at least 6 months after you leave Ireland
05
Visa conditions
You won't do any other work and won't use public services
Our promise
What's included
Seafarer (Join Ship) Visa
€615
Before you start
Documents you'll need
Tick each item as you gather it. Bring whichever apply to you.
Your preparation checklist
0 of 7 ready
Tap items as you go
You're fully prepared. Let's get you booked in.
5-step journey
How it works
- 1Step 1
We check your passport and Seafarer's Identity Document.
- 2Step 2
We complete your online application and draft your letter.
- 3Step 3
Your employer and agent provide their letters, and we check them.
- 4Step 4
You sign the summary form, pay the fee and post your originals within 30 days.
- Step 5
We support you until a decision is made.
Good to know
Our fee
€615 VAT included. The government visa fee is separate.
Government fee
€60 single entry or €100 multiple entry, non-refundable. Some nationalities are exempt.
Processing time
About 8 weeks at most visa offices. Apply about 3 months ahead where the schedule allows.
Tickets
Don't buy travel tickets before you have a decision.
Answers
Frequently asked questions
A seafarer or "join ship" visa is a short stay 'C' visa for seafarers travelling to Ireland to join a ship that's departing from an Irish port. It's used by crew members and by the shipping companies, manning agencies and port agents that organise crew changes in Ireland. Not every seafarer needs one. The visa is required if you hold a passport from a visa-required country and your Seafarer's Identity Document was issued by a country that hasn't ratified the International Labour Organization's seafarers' identity conventions, C108 and C185. Seafarers whose identity document comes from a ratifying country don't need this visa. Applications are supported by a letter from the employer or manning agency giving the ship, the joining port, the arrival date and the ship's schedule, a letter from the Irish shipping agent, and the Seafarer's Identity Document or Continuous Discharge Certificate. Crew changes move quickly, so the dates in every letter should be checked carefully before submission.
We check this for you as part of the service.
Yes. We can prepare applications for a whole crew change, but each seafarer needs their own visa.
Tell us straight away. Letters with the wrong dates can cause problems, so we may need updated letters from the agent.
Short stay refusals can no longer be appealed (since 1 June 2026). You can reapply, addressing the refusal reasons.
Yes, for the period shown in your application. Include accommodation bookings and the dates in your letters.
Ready when you are
Get started with Seafarer (Join Ship) Visa
€615
€615
Seafarer (Join Ship) Visa