Nepali seafarers joining international ships usually hold a seaman book (also called a CDC or SIRB) issued by a foreign flag-state administration, most often Panama. You can apply without leaving Nepal. Seaman Books prepares and files your application remotely. The Panama Maritime Authority issues a Processing Certificate in 3–5 business days, valid for 90 days and enough to join a vessel. The printed 5-year book follows within 25–30 days, or 10 days on urgent processing.
Seaman Books is a documentation consultancy in Business Bay, Dubai, part of Atomiq Group. We prepare, verify and file. The flag-state administration issues the document, and no agent can guarantee its decision. Timings start once your file is complete and verified.
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Why Nepali seafarers use a flag-state seaman book
Nepal is a landlocked IMO member (it joined in 1979), and its seafarers work almost entirely on foreign-registered ships. The document an employer asks for is set by the ship’s flag, not by where you were born.
Nepal’s published maritime legislation does not establish a national seafarers’ identity or discharge book; instead, it requires a shipboard crew list, and Nepal has not ratified ILO C185, MLC 2006, or—according to the available IMO status material—STCW 1978.
In practice there are two situations:
- Your employer names the flag. Apply for that flag’s book. A Panama-registered vessel will ask for a Panama SIRB.
- Your employer doesn’t name one, or you are building a CV before your first contract. Choose the open registry most widely accepted in the fleet you are targeting. For most first-time applicants that is Panama.
Flag options for Nepali applicants
Seaman Books files with seven administrations: Panama, Palau, Liberia, Bahamas, Belize, Honduras and St Kitts & Nevis. We publish timings only where one confirmed figure exists.
| Panama, standard | Panama, urgent | Other six flags | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Join the vessel on | Processing Certificate, 3–5 business days | Processing Certificate, 3–5 business days | Quoted after eligibility check |
| Certificate validity | 90 days | 90 days | — |
| Printed book | Up to 25–30 days | Within 10 days | Quoted after eligibility check |
| Book validity | 5 years | 5 years | Set by the administration |
| Fee | Standard service charge | Higher, quoted on request | Quoted per application |
Most delay complaints come from reading a certificate date as a book date. With Panama you can fly and join on the Processing Certificate. The printed book is couriered to you while you are working.
Documents you need from Nepal
What each administration asks for depends on the flag and your rank. This is the working list we check first.
| Document | Where Nepali applicants get it | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Passport | Department of Passports, Nepal (e-passport) | Passport validity: For non-Panamanian applicants, a valid passport is required. The current PMA Seaman’s Book application requirements do not specify a minimum number of months of remaining passport validity. |
| STCW Basic Safety Training certificates (PST, FPFF, EFA, PSSR) | An approved maritime training institute. In Kathmandu: Atomiq College (see below) | Required before most flags will issue a first book |
| Seafarer medical fitness certificate | A medical examiner recognised by the flag | Panama: PMA’s current list of recognized foreign seafarer medical examiners covers the Philippines, India, Indonesia, Vietnam, Myanmar and South Korea; Nepal is not listed. Accordingly, applicants in Nepal should not assume that a Nepal-based medical examination will be accepted for Panama-flag documentation; the current PMA material does not, however, state that applicants must specifically travel to India or the UAE. See seafarer medical fitness test |
| Passport photographs + signature | Any studio, to the flag’s specification | Wrong background or size is a common reason for return |
| Police clearance | Nepal Police online clearance (OPCR) | A first seafarer’s book does not universally require prior sea service. Requirements are flag- and document-specific: for example, Panama’s Ordinary Seaman application accepts a diploma or title as an alternative to an experience letter, while the Bahamas issues its Seaman’s Record Book to persons serving or intending to serve on Bahamian ships. Any additional experience requirement imposed by an employer should be treated separately from the flag-state book requirement. |
| Existing sea-service record / CoC | Previous employer or administration | Only if you have served b |
Before you fly: the Nepal-side step we don’t handle
Working abroad from Nepal normally involves labour approval from the Department of Foreign Employment (the FEIMS system), which is separate from your seaman book.
Note: For Nepali citizens departing TIA for foreign employment, the airport’s current official departure guidance lists a valid passport and visa, boarding pass, and a Government of Nepal labour permit as the required documents.
Seaman Books does not process Nepali government permits. A seaman book does not replace labour approval, and labour approval does not replace a seaman book.
Training in Kathmandu: Atomiq College
Most Nepali first-timers are missing the same document: STCW Basic Safety Training. A seaman book application usually can’t be filed without it.
Atomiq College Private Limited is Atomiq Group’s maritime training institute, at 04 Pasikot, Chapali, Budhanilkantha, Kathmandu. It is listed on the IMMARBE Approved Entities register (the Belize flag registry) under Maritime Training Institutes. You can check that listing yourself.
Atomiq College runs STCW Basic Safety Training as a 5-day course covering all four A-VI/1 modules (PST, FPFF, EFA and PSSR), plus refresher training (PST + FPFF) for seafarers renewing.
The training institute trains you and issues your course certificates. Seaman Books then files your seaman book with the flag state. Neither of us issues the seaman book.
How to apply from Nepal: four steps
Nothing in this process requires you to travel to Dubai.
- Free eligibility check. Send your passport, training certificates, medical (if you have one) and any sea-service record on WhatsApp. We tell you which flags you qualify for and what’s missing, including when the answer is “train first”.
- Written, itemised quote. It shows the flag-state charge and our service fee separately. No hidden charges.
- Preparation and verification. We check every document against the administration’s current requirements before filing. This is the step that prevents rejection.
- Filing, issue and delivery. The administration issues. You receive the Processing Certificate first, then the printed book by courier to your address in Nepal. We show you how to verify it yourself.
What it costs
We quote per application because the total depends on the flag, your rank, new issue vs renewal, and standard vs urgent processing.
| Service fee from | WhatsApp Us for Details Price and Fee |
| When you get your exact figure | After the free eligibility check, before anything is filed |
| What the quote itemises | Flag-state charges and our service fee, separately |
| Not included | STCW training, medical examination, Nepali government fees and permits. These are paid to the party that provides them |
How to check a seaman book is genuine
Nepali seafarers are a known target for document fraud, because first-timers can’t easily tell a real book from a convincing one.
- Verify with the administration, not the agent. Panama records can be checked through the Panama Maritime Authority’s online consultation at
amp.gob.pa/consultas-en-linea/. See how to verify a seaman book online. - Refuse “no training needed” offers. A book filed on STCW certificates you didn’t attend is fraudulent, and it follows you through every port state inspection.
- Nobody can guarantee approval. The flag state decides.
- Check the training institute’s approval yourself. Registers like IMMARBE’s are public.
More detail: how to spot fake maritime document services.
FAQ
Can I apply for a seaman book from Nepal without travelling?
Yes. Seaman Books prepares and files the application remotely. You send scanned documents on WhatsApp or by email. The Processing Certificate is issued digitally, and the printed book is couriered to your address in Nepal. Our office is in Business Bay, Dubai, but you don’t need to visit it.
How long does a Panama seaman book take for a Nepali applicant?
The Processing Certificate is issued in 3 to 5 business days and is valid for 90 days, which is enough to get a seaman visa and join a Panama-registered vessel. The printed 5-year book takes up to 25 to 30 days, or 10 days on urgent processing. Timings start from a complete, verified file.
Do I need STCW training before applying?
For a first seaman book, most flags require STCW Basic Safety Training: Personal Survival Techniques, Fire Prevention and Fire Fighting, Elementary First Aid, and Personal Safety and Social Responsibilities. Training must be done in person at an approved institute. The free eligibility check confirms exactly what your chosen flag and rank require.
Is a CDC the same as a seaman book?
In most flag-state usage, yes. Continuous Discharge Certificate, seaman book, seafarer’s discharge book and SIRB all describe the continuous record of your sea service. A Certificate of Competency is different: it proves the rank you are qualified for, not where you have served.
Does a seaman book replace Nepal’s labour approval?
No. A seaman book is a flag-state document. Labour approval for working abroad is a separate Nepali government process run by the Department of Foreign Employment. Check with the Department whether your contract needs it before you travel. Seaman Books does not process Nepali government permits.
Is Seaman Books the issuing authority?
No. The flag-state administration issues every seaman book, for example the Panama Maritime Authority for Panama. Seaman Books is a documentation support and processing partner. We prepare, verify and file your application and coordinate with the administration. We cannot guarantee a government decision.
Start with the free eligibility check
Send your passport, training certificates and joining date. You’ll get a written answer on which flag fits and an itemised quote before anything is filed.
WhatsApp: +971 55 458 3416 · dubai@seamanbooks.com · #903 Regal Tower, Business Bay, Dubai · 09:30–18:00
Compare flags: Panama seaman book · Bahamas seaman book · Belize seaman book · Palau seaman book · New to this? Seaman book requirements for new applicants
