You may need a visa for Ireland

You will need a valid Seafarer's Identity Document and - in some cases - a Join Ship Visa to join a ship in Ireland.

Your exact preparations depend on your plans and personal circumstances. Some of the most important are described below. Read this information carefully to make sure you have everything you need.

You are from a visa required country and you wish to visit Ireland for less than 3 months in order to join a ship. Change your answers

 

Before you travel

Check your Seafarer's Identity Document

You do not need a visa if you hold a Seafarer's Identity Document that has been issued by a country that has ratified the International Labour Organisation's (ILO) Conventions on Seafarers' Identity Documents (C108 & C185).

Check your Seafarers' Identity Document

Apply for a Join Ship Visa

You must apply for a short stay Join Ship Visa if your Seafarer's Identity Document is issued by a country that has not ratified the above conventions.

All short stay visas are also called 'C' visas. You will not be allowed to come to Ireland without a visa.

When you travel

Prepare for border control

You will need to prove that you have a valid reason for entering Ireland to an immigration officer at border control.

To do so, you must prove that your ship has arrived in Ireland or that it will arrive in the next 24 hours.

You must also provide your passport and Seafarer's Identity Document (and Join Ship Visa, if applicable).

If you cannot satisfy the immigration officer, you will not be allowed into Ireland.

After you enter

Join ship

After you enter the country, you must join your ship within 24 hours.

During your stay in Ireland

Travel to Northern Ireland & United Kingdom

You cannot travel to Northern Ireland using an Irish visa. You need a visa issued by the United Kingdom.

If you travel from the Republic of Ireland to Northern Ireland and then wish to return to the Republic, you must have a Multiple Entry visa (explained below).

Leaving & returning to Ireland

If you plan to leave and return to Ireland during your stay, you can request a Multiple Entry visa when you apply.

Multiple Entry visas are approved in limited circumstances only, if justified by your application.

How to apply

When to apply

You should apply for a visa 3 months before you travel.

You may need extra time to prepare documents to support your application, eg details of your ship.

How to apply

You must apply from your home country or a country where you are a legal resident:

  1. Read detailed instructions for the Join Ship Visa
  2. Submit your visa application online
  3. Send your passport and other documents for processing

You will be given instructions where to send your documents when you apply online.

Visa costs

Extra charges may apply for some applications, eg consular fees.

 

Contact

If you have questions, contact us.

Updated: 20 January 2017

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