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Visas & repatriation issues

Seafarers travel under a special legal regime — the IMO/ILO Convention on Facilitation of International Maritime Traffic (FAL Convention) and the ILO Seafarers' Identity Documents Convention (C185) — that should let you transit any port to join or leave a ship. In practice this breaks down constantly: visa refusals, transit denials, and shore-leave restrictions are persistent issues. Know your rights, and know who to escalate to.

Step-by-step

  1. Always carry: valid passport, seaman's book or SID, letter of guarantee from the manning agency or owner, and a printed copy of your SEA or call-up notice.
  2. For US ports: ensure you hold a valid C-1/D transit/crewman visa; arrival without one means refused boarding and detention.
  3. For Schengen joining ports: even with the FAL Convention you may need a C-type visa; many shipowners arrange this via the consular post in your home country.
  4. If denied transit or shore leave: ask politely for a written reason from the immigration officer. Shore leave may be denied only on documented security grounds, not as a routine matter.
  5. Escalate ITF Inspectorate, the flag state's consul, and the manning agency's local correspondent. Persistent denial of shore leave is a port-state-control issue under MLC 2006 Regulation 4.4.
  6. If repatriation is blocked because the destination country requires a transit visa: the shipowner is still responsible. They cannot leave you stranded in a transit port.

Evidence to save

What NOT to sign

Legal basis

FAL Convention (1965, as amended), Section 3 (entry and departure of crew). ILO C185 — Seafarers' Identity Documents (2003, revised 2016). MLC 2006 Regulation 2.5 (repatriation) and 4.4 (access to shore-based welfare facilities, including shore leave).

Primary sources

Related terms

Organisations that can help

Disclaimer. General information only — not legal advice. Rules vary by flag state, port state, vessel type, applicable CBA, and contract. For specific cases, contact ITF, ISWAN, your union, or a maritime lawyer.