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    Visa Guide · 🇮🇪 Ireland

    Ireland Join Ship Visa from Bangladesh

    Short Stay C visa guidance for eligible seafarers joining a ship departing from Ireland.

    Last Updated: 30 August 2026

    The Ireland Join Ship Visa is a Short Stay C visa for eligible seafarers travelling to Ireland to join a ship departing from an Irish port. It does not permit other paid or unpaid work in Ireland. A visa is not required where the seafarer holds a qualifying Seafarer’s Identity Document (SID) issued under the relevant ILO conventions. Bangladesh has ILO Convention C185 in force, so Bangladeshi seafarers holding a valid qualifying SID should confirm whether this exemption applies before applying.

    Applications from Bangladesh fall under the New Delhi Visa Office. After completing AVATS, applicants print and sign the summary form and follow its submission instructions. The file may be sent to the Embassy of Ireland in New Delhi by post or lodged by appointment at the Ireland Visa Application Centre in Kolkata. 

    Document Checklist

    1. Passport (Original): Original passport valid for at least 6 months after the intended date of departure from Ireland, with sufficient blank space for the visa. Submit the current passport together with the required copies.
    2. Previous Passport(s) & Travel History: Full clear copies of previous passports, including relevant visa and immigration pages, where available. Travel history should be disclosed consistently with the AVATS application.
    3. Photograph (Ireland Visa Format): Provide 2 recent colour passport photographs that meet Ireland visa photograph requirements. Sign your name and write the AVATS Visa Application Transaction Number on the back of each photograph.
    4. AVATS Application Summary Sheets: Printed AVATS summary sheets completed for the applicant, signed and dated. Keep the Visa Application Transaction Number and submit the summary sheets with the passport and supporting documents.
    5. Cover Letter: Applicant’s signed letter explaining the join-ship purpose, intended arrival and departure dates, accommodation and funding arrangements, and commitment to follow the visa conditions and leave Ireland within the permitted stay.
    6. Employer / Shipping Company or Agency Letter: Original letter on official headed paper confirming the applicant’s exact onboard role, length of employment, ship name, planned arrival in Ireland, joining date and harbour, vessel schedule and route, and employer contact details.
    7. Irish Shipping Company / Agency Letter (if different): Where a different company or agency has engaged the seafarer in Ireland, provide its original headed letter confirming the onboard role, vessel name, arrival date, joining harbour/date, ship schedule and route, and company contact details.
    8. Seafarer’s Identity Document (SID) / CDC: Provide the current Seafarer’s Identity Document and/or Continuous Discharge Certificate, as applicable. A qualifying SID may affect whether an Ireland Join Ship Visa is required, so eligibility should be checked before applying.
    9. Travel / Transit Route & Required Visas: A clear route showing travel to and from Ireland, including any transit or onward country. Where another country requires a visa, provide the relevant visa or explain why it is not available at the time of application.
    10. Hotel Reservation / Accommodation Plan: Booking confirmation covering the intended stay dates, showing the applicant name, accommodation name/address, check-in/out dates, and booking reference; consistent with the planned joining arrangements.
    11. Personal Bank Statements & Solvency Certificate: Original bank statements (personal and/or salary account) for the last 6 months, issued by the bank and showing the bank name and contact details. Statements must be stamped and signed by an authorized bank officer (e-statements not accepted), and accompanied by a bank solvency/financial standing certificate where required.
    12. Personal TIN & ITR: Copy of the personal TIN certificate and Income Tax Return (ITR) for the last 3 tax years, along with the acknowledgement receipts.
    13. Proof of Legal Residence in Bangladesh (where applicable): Applicants who are not Bangladeshi nationals should provide evidence of lawful residence in Bangladesh and normally show permission to remain for at least 3 months after the intended departure date from Ireland.
    14. Civil Status Documents: Marriage certificate, divorce certificate, death certificate, birth certificate, or family-related documents where applicable, especially when travelling with spouse or children.
    15. Travel / Medical Insurance: Evidence of insurance is not normally required with the initial tourist visa application unless requested by the Visa Officer. If the visa is approved, appropriate travel/medical insurance should be in place for the journey and may be requested at the Irish port of entry. 

    Process Roadmap

    Step 1

    Confirm Whether a Join Ship Visa Is Required

    Confirm that you are travelling to join a ship departing from Ireland and check whether your SID qualifies for the ILO-based visa exemption before applying.

    Step 2

    Complete AVATS & Print the Summary

    Select “Short Stay (C)” and “Join ship”, choose the appropriate journey type, complete AVATS accurately, then print, sign, and date the summary sheets.

    Step 3

    Secure Employer & Vessel Evidence

    Obtain original employer/agency letters confirming your onboard role, vessel, arrival date, joining harbour/date, ship schedule, route, and relevant contact details.

    Step 4

    Prepare Route, Funding & Supporting Evidence

    Arrange transit visas where required, accommodation, financial evidence, insurance plan, legal-residence proof, and previous-refusal records, keeping the full file consistent.

    Step 5

    Follow the Bangladesh Submission Route

    Follow the AVATS instructions. Bangladesh residents may submit by post to the Embassy of Ireland in New Delhi or by appointment at the Ireland Visa Application Centre in Kolkata.

    Step 6

    Pay the Fee & Submit the Application

    Submit the signed AVATS summary, passport, supporting documents, required copies, and applicable fees. For Embassy submission, pay by bank draft in Indian rupees; for VFS, follow the prescribed online payment process.

    Step 7

    Track the Decision & Prepare to Join Ship

    Follow available case updates using the relevant application or VFS reference number. If approved, travel with your passport, visa, SID/CDC, employer or agency letters, and vessel details for border control and joining formalities.

    Common Rejection Pitfalls

    Join-ship eligibility or SID status is unclear

    How UnivEase helps

    We clarify the visa criteria and the evidence needed to establish whether the applicant requires a Join Ship Visa.

    Ship joining details are unclear or incomplete

    How UnivEase helps

    We clarify the essential joining information, including vessel name, port and date of embarkation, onboard role, sailing schedule, and travel arrangements.

    Employer and agency evidence does not align

    How UnivEase helps

    We review employer and agency documents to ensure employment, sponsorship, and travel purpose are clearly aligned.

    Transit, funding or required records are incomplete

    How UnivEase helps

    We clarify route-related visas, financial evidence, accommodation, insurance, legal-residence proof, and previous-refusal records relevant to the file.

    VFS & Embassy

    Embassy

    Embassy of Ireland, New Delhi
    Address: Thapar House, 124, Janpath Rd, Connaught Place, New Delhi, 110001, India.
    Telephone: +91 11 4940 3200
    Fax: +91 11 4059 1898
    Visa Queries: Use the official Ireland.ie Visa Queries contact form
    Website: Click Here
    Office Hours: Monday to Friday from 10:00 to 12:00, and 14:30 to 16:30.

    Visa Application Centre

    Ireland Visa Application Centre, Kolkata
    Address: 4th Floor, RENE Tower, Plot No. AA-I, 1842 Rajdanga Main Road, Kasba, Kolkata 700107, India.
    Helpline: 02267866033 (Monday to Friday, 8.00 am to 5.00 pm)
    VFS Service Charge: INR 3,518 per applicant; payment mode: online
    Website: Click Here
    Business Hours: Monday to Friday, 8.00 am to 2.00 pm.
    Passport Return: Courier return is mandatory under the current VFS Ireland process. 

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Prepare your Ireland Join Ship Visa application with greater clarity.

    Get clear guidance on visa eligibility, AVATS, vessel and seafarer documents, fees, the New Delhi submission route, and passport-return steps before you apply.

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