Documents Required

Applying For a Visa to Ireland – Documentation Required

NOTE: These requirements are intended to act as a guideline only and do not limit the discretion of the visa officer in determining individual applications.

They are subject to change as we continue in our efforts to provide a more efficient service to our customers. You should therefore regularly check for the most recent version.

The onus is on the applicant to satisfy the visa officer that a visa should be granted. It is up to you to supply the necessary information to help the visa officer reach that decision.

Information on completing your application form is also contained on this site. Please refer to the website of the Department of Foreign Affairs www.dfa.ie for contact details for the Irish Embassy, Consulate or Visa Office in or accredited to your country of residence, to which you should submit your application.

Your application may have to be referred by your local Irish Embassy or Consulate to the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform in Dublin, and it can take some weeks for post to arrive from many countries.

Visa applications will be processed in the fastest possible time following their arrival in the Visa Section in Dublin. However, to avoid delays in the issue of your visa, it is strongly advised that all applications are made at least EIGHT WEEKS prior to expected departure date, and that ALL supporting documentation is included with your application.

There now follows an outline of the minimum requirements for all visa applications. When you have read this section, you should then examine the more detailed requirements for the particular category of visa for which you are applying.

Original documents should be submitted. Where these are not in English they should be accompanied by a notarised translation. All documents must be clear and legible.

ALL documentation listed must be submitted with your application form.

APPLICATIONS SUBMITTED THAT DO NOT INCLUDE ALL THE REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION, OR ARE ACCOMPANIED BY POOR QUALITY, ILLEGIBLE OR NON-TRANSLATED DOCUMENTS, WILL BE REFUSED.

The visa officer may request further information from you before making a decision. However, you will not be contacted if you submit an incomplete or unsigned application and do not abide by these requirements – your application will be refused.


MINIMUM DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED WITH ALL VISA APPLICATIONS

  • Your application form should be fully completed. No question should be left blank.
  • You must sign the form yourself – nobody can sign it on your behalf. (Except in the case of a child under 16, whereby the parent(s) may sign on behalf of child).
  • From November 27th 2008, a separate visa will be required by all dependents, even if they are included on your passport. Therefore a visa application needs to be completed for each person wishing to travel to Ireland. A visa processing fee is payable for each application.
  • UNSIGNED APPLICATIONS WILL BE REFUSED
  • Where a child under the age of 18 is travelling alone, the consent of both parents/guardians is required. If the child is travelling with one parent, the consent of the other parent is required. Where only one parent has total custody and access rights, official evidence of this must be provided.
  • ALL DOCUMENTS SUBMITTED MUST BE IN ENGLISH
  • Where they are in any other language, the original document should be submitted, along with a notarised translation of same. Failure to provide translated documents will lead to your application being refused.
  • At the time of your visa application you must possess a passport which is valid for 6 months after the date you propose to leave Ireland. Applications submitted without such a passport cannot be considered.
  • For applications for long-term stays such as employment, study, or joining your spouse, it is advisable that your passport should be valid for at least 12 months. If you are permitted to remain in Ireland for more than 3 months you must register with the Garda National Immigration Bureau. The charge for registration is €150 each time. You will not be registered beyond the date of expiry of your passport. It is therefore in your own interest to have a passport which is valid for at least 12 months.
  • If your passport is relatively new, it may assist your application if you provide your previous passport showing any previous visas for any other country, and your previous travel history.
  • All visa applicants must be able to show evidence that they can support themselves for the duration of their stay in Ireland without recourse to public funds or resources.
  • A detailed bank statement, showing sufficient funds, and covering the immediate 6 month period prior to submitting a visa application should be submitted. Lump sum lodgements made in the run up to an application being made are not taken into consideration when assessing a person’s ability to support themselves
  • For all categories of visa applications it will be necessary to include details of any other family members presently in Ireland, or any other EU State
  • Details of any previous visa applications for Ireland made by you MUST be given
  • If you have been refused a visa for any other country, details of this, preferably the original letter issued to you by the authorities of that country, should be submitted. Concealment of any other visa refusals will result in your Irish visa application being refused.

Below please find a list of documents required under the various categories of visas, bearing in mind that the above requirements apply to each of these categories also.

Please ensure ALL documentation listed under the relevant category is included with your application.

FAILURE TO INCLUDE ALL LISTED DOCUMENTATION WILL RESULT IN THE REFUSAL OF YOUR APPLICATION.

THE PROVISION OF FALSE, FRAUDULENT OR MISLEADING INFORMATION WILL RESULT IN REFUSAL AND NO APPEAL WILL BE PERMITTED.

NOTE: THE PROVISION OF ALL THE DOCUMENTATION LISTED IN NO WAY GUARANTEES THAT A VISA WILL BE GRANTED.

The main categories of visas are:

  • Visits/Holidays
  • Business
  • Business Permission
  • Conference
  • Performances
  • Training
  • Exam
  • Fully Registered Doctor
  • Temporary Registered Doctor
  • Researchers
  • Van der Elst
  • Employment
  • Family Member of Irish National
  • Family Member of EU/EEA/Swiss National
  • Family Reunification for Refugees
  • Family Reunification for Work Permit Holders, Green Card Holders and Scientific Researchers
  • Medical Treatment
  • Partner of Irish Citizen/Work Permit Holder/Green Card Holder and Persons Granted Long Term Residence

Information on Study Visas can be found under our Student Visa Guidelines

Further information you may require regarding decisions, right of appeal, and arrival in the State can be found at the end of this document.

26th August 2007

Please see this link for more information about Partner of Irish Citizen/Work Permit Holder/Green Card Holder and Persons Granted Long Term Residence 

Additional links

For details on the various Topics available in this section, please select from the links below