Visas
26th November 2007, © Department of Justice Equality and Law Reform 2007
25th June 2008, © Department of Justice Equality and Law Reform 2007
Disclaimer:
These documents are intended to assist applicants in their dealings with the Visa Section throughout the Visa application process. As such it is intended for guidance purposes only.
They will be updated from time to time as procedures and policies change, therefore applicants are advised to refer to the up to date version of these questions on the website before submitting any applications or documents.">
Applying For a Visa
- Do I need an Irish Visa?
- What is a visa?
- How/Where do I apply for an Irish Visa?
- How long will my visa be valid for?
- Will my visa be valid for multiple trips to Ireland?
- I have no previous travel history to Ireland but it would be more convenient for me to have a multiple-entry visa. Is this possible?
- What documents do I need to submit with my application?
- Will the documents I submit be returned to me?
- Does my child need a separate visa to travel with me?
- How much does an Irish Visa application cost?
- How long does it take to process an application?
- Can my application be processed more quickly?
- How do I check the progress of my application?
- I hold a valid UK Visa. Do I need an Irish Visa?
- Will an Irish Visa allow me to Travel to Northern Ireland?
- I live in Northern Ireland & hold a valid UK Visa. Do I need an Irish Visa to enter the Republic, even on a short trip?
- I am legally resident in Northern Ireland, where can I apply for an Irish Visa?
- I hold a valid Schengen Visa. Do I require an Irish Visa?
- I will be travelling to, or am already in another country on a short stay, and wish to travel to Ireland. Can I apply for my visa in the Irish Embassy there?
- Can I come to Ireland to study?
- If I get a Study Visa can my spouse/children join me in Ireland?
- Can I come to Ireland to work?
- If I am granted permission to work in Ireland can my spouse/children come with me/join me later?
- Will my spouse be permitted to work?
- Do I qualify for a Van der Elst visa?
- I am an Irish national. My spouse is a visa-required national. Does s/he need a visa to visit/live in Ireland?
I have been granted a visa for Ireland…..
- Am I guaranteed entry to Ireland on arrival?
- What is the latest date that I can arrive in Ireland with my Visa?
- How long can I stay in Ireland?
- I am in Ireland and have a 'C' visa. I would now like to remain in Ireland for longer than 90 days. Is this possible?
- I have been issued with a 'D' visa. Can I leave Ireland and return using this visa?
I have been refused a visa for Ireland…...
- Can I appeal this decision?
- How much does an appeal cost?
- How long does it take to process an appeal?
- What documentation should I submit with my appeal?
- I believe I have submitted all of the required documentation with my application. Why was it still refused?
- If my appeal is turned down, can I make a further appeal?
Online Visa Application
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can all applicants for a visa to Ireland use this online facility?
- Can I complete this application in a language other than English?
- How do I submit my passport and other supporting documents?
- Can I pay for my visa online?
- I am unable to retrieve my application, why is this?
- My Country of Residence is listed as a Supported Country but I am unable to access the Online Application Form, why is this?
- What browsers are supported?
- I am travelling to Northern Ireland, is this the correct application form?
- Who is an EEA national?
Visa applications Answers
1. Q - Do I need an Irish Visa?
A - The "Ireland Visa Requirements" document consists of two lists – Schedule 1 and Schedule 2.
Schedule 1 lists those countries whose nationals do not require a visa to enter Ireland.
Therefore nationals of all countries not mentioned on Schedule 1 will require a Visa prior to seeking entry to Ireland.
Schedule 2 refers to Transit Visas. Nationals of all countries listed in Schedule 2 require a visa to transit through Ireland.
A Transit Visa does not permit the holder to leave the port/airport. You can only transit to your onward connection and you must have a valid visa (if required) for your final destination.
Schedules 1 & 2 can be found in S.I. No. 657 of 2006.
2. Q - What is a Visa?
A - A visa is a paper document affixed to a page of the holder's passport.
It permits a person to travel to the State during the dates stated on the visa. It does not guarantee entry to the State. An Immigration Officer at the Port of Entry has the authority to grant or deny admission, and to decide on the duration a person may remain in the State.
3. Q – How/Where do I apply for an Irish visa?
A - Throughout 2008, a new Online Visa Application Facility is being introduced. This will be implemented on a phased basis to all Irish Embassies, Consulates, and Visa Offices during this time.
When it is available in your country of residence, you must complete your application online, and submit your supporting documentation to the relevant office.
The link to Applying Online - Countries where Online Facility Available - Supported Countries should be checked to see if the Online Facility is available where you live.
If your country of residence is not listed, you can apply on an application form which can be downloaded from this website .
If you apply online, details of the appropriate office will be shown on the Online Summary Sheet which you need to print after you complete your application. Otherwise, please refer to the Department of Foreign Affairs website, www.dfa.ie for contact details of the Irish Embassy, Consulate or Visa Office in or designated to, your country of residence.
Please note, you may be required to attend for personal interview.
The Department of Justice, Equality & Law Reform currently has Visa Offices in six countries – China, Egypt, India, Nigeria, Russia and the United Kingdom. Each office has a website which you should also check as it will outline who can apply to that office, how to submit your application, the documents required, the fees payable, and the methods of payment accepted.
China www.embassyofireland.cn
Egypt www.embassyofireland.org.eg
India www.irelandinindia.com
Nigeria www.embassyofireland.org.ng
Russia www.embassyofireland.ru
United Kingdom www.embassyofireland.co.uk
4. Q – How long will my visa be valid for?
A – The dates shown on a visa are the dates between which you may seek entry to the State.
There are two types of visas – C and D.
C Visas
C visas are issued for a short-term trip only, usually for the purpose of tourism, visiting family, business meetings or conferences.
The maximum duration for which the Immigration Officer will allow you remain in the State with a C visa is 90 days.
Once this time has elapsed, your permission to remain will not be extended and you must leave the State.
Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months after your intended date of departure from Ireland. If you are resident in a country other than your country of origin, your residence permit must be valid for 3 months after your intended departure form Ireland.
D Visas
If you have been issued with a D visa you are required to register with the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB). You will be issued with a Garda Registration Card. The cost of registration is €100. (There are exemptions from this fee for certain categories of people).
It is advisable that your passport is valid for a period of at least 12 months as you will not be registered by GNIB beyond the expiry date of your passport, and you will be required to pay the fee each time you register. Further information is available at www.garda.ie
5. Q – Will my visa be valid for multiple trips to Ireland?
A – It is not our general practice to issue Multiple-Journey visas unless you have shown a compliant travel history to Ireland in the recent past.
For a Short Stay visa, if you have held 2 previous Irish visas and have observed the conditions of these visas (e.g. you did not overstay or work illegally) you may apply for a Multiple-Journey visa.
However, the purpose of these visas is to allow a person to travel to Ireland on a number of occasions during the dates shown on the visa, for short trips only. It is not permitted to use this category of visa to bypass immigration rules governing residency in the State – i.e. it is not possible to remain in Ireland for a period of 90 days and then seek to re-enter the country for a further period of up to 90 days. Any abuse of this may result in future applications being refused.
If you are applying for a Long Stay (D) visa to work*, study or join family members you should apply for a Single Journey only. *If you are the holder of a Green Card, issued by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, or you are a nurse who holds a Work Permit, you can apply for a Multiple-Journey Visa.
The issuance of a Multiple Journey visa will be at the discretion of the Visa Officer. If you apply for a multiple journey visa but are only granted a single journey, the difference in cost cannot under any circumstances be refunded to you.
6. Q – I have no previous travel history to Ireland but it would be more convenient for me to have a multi-entry visa. Is this possible?
A - There are certain circumstances where we will issue multi-entry visas to applicants with no previous travel history to Ireland.
For example, you can apply for a multi-entry visa if:
- You need to travel regularly to Ireland on short visits for business meetings. You should submit evidence of this from your employer and the company in Ireland with whom you are engaging in business (where relevant)
- While in Ireland on business, you need to travel to another country, returning to Ireland for further meetings, or onward travel
- You are travelling to and from another country, via Ireland
If you are travelling to/from Northern Ireland please see questions 16 & 17
7. Q - What documents do I need to submit with my application?
A - There are certain documents that must accompany an application. This will depend on the type of visa applied for. A list of minimum requirements for each type of visa is available on the page entitled, Documents Required.
Applicants should note that the Department is under no obligation to contact you, or your reference in Ireland, to seek further information or documentation. The onus is on you to provide all the required documentation at the time of submission of your application.
However, if a Visa Officer needs further information in order to make a decision on your application they may contact you or your reference in Ireland.
Please note that ALL documents must be in English, or accompanied by a notarised English translation. Applications with non-translated documents will be returned or refused.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and / or the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform may refuse to accept any application for processing where the applicant has not supplied the required documents, or all documents are not translated.
If you are applying to one of our Visa Offices in Abuja, Beijing, Cairo, London, Moscow or New Delhi, you should also check their website (where available) for further information relevant to that office.
China www.embassyofireland.cn
Egypt www.embassyofireland.org.eg
India www.irelandinindia.com
Nigeria www.embassyofireland.org.ng
Russia www.embassyofireland.ru
United Kingdom www.embassyofireland.co.uk
The provision of false, fraudulent or misleading information will result in the refusal of your application and no appeal will be permitted. It will also seriously affect any future applications you submit for an Irish visa.
8. Q – Will the documents I submit be returned to me?
A - It is advisable that you keep copies of all documents submitted with your application. Original documents such as marriage/birth certificates will be returned to you. However, bank statements, letters of invitation etc will not be returned.
If there are specific documents that you wish to have returned to you, please submit a list of these with your application.
9. Q - Does my child need a separate visa to travel with me?
A – If your child is travelling using his/her own passport then a separate visa will be required. A separate Online Visa Application must be completed (where facility is available) for each child and the relevant fee paid. The fee for a visa is the same for adults and children.
If you are residing in a country where the Online Application Facility is not yet available, a separate application form must be completed for each child.
If your child is included on your passport, and will be travelling with you using your passport only, then a separate visa is not required. However, you must clearly indicate on your application that you wish your child included on your visa. There is only one visa fee payable in such cases.
10. Q - How much does an Irish Visa application cost?
A – The non-refundable Visa Application Processing Fees apply as follows:
SINGLE-JOURNEY €60.00
MULTIPLE-JOURNEY €100.00
TRANSIT €25.00
Postal or courier charges may also be levied in some cases and information in this regard, and on the fee in your local currency, is available from your local Embassy, Consulate or Visa Office.
Some applicants are not required to pay a fee. This includes visa-required spouses and certain family members of EEA citizens (including Irish nationals) provided that proof of the relationship is provided with the application.
In addition applicants from some countries are not required to pay a fee. As this changes from time to time information in this regard should be sought from your local Embassy, Consulate or Visa Office.
Please note that the Visa fee is an administration fee which covers the cost of processing your application. This fee cannot be refunded if your application is refused or withdrawn.
11. Q - How long does it take to process an application?
A- In some cases, applications can be processed locally in the Irish Embassy, Consulate or Visa Office in the country in which you applied, in a very short period of time.
If your application does not fall into the category of applications that can be processed locally, it will be referred to Dublin for processing by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform.
This office endeavours to deal with all applications in the fastest possible time. Incomplete applications, lack of documentation, or submission of non-translated documents results in delays for everyone.
To allow for the possible transfer of your application to Dublin you should submit your application 8 weeks in advance of proposed date of travel. (For applicants legally resident in Northern Ireland please also see questions 16 & 17)
We advise applicants not to pay for airline or other travel tickets without having been issued with a visa.
12. Q – Can my application be processed more quickly?
A - In order to ensure that all visa applicants receive fair and equal treatment, applications are dealt with in the order that they are received.
You should check current processing times with your local Irish Embassy, Consulate, or Visa Office at the time of application.
In exceptional cases, where it can be demonstrated that extenuating circumstances exist, applications may be processed ahead of schedule.
13. Q - How do I check the progress of my application?
A – It is not possible at present to track the progress of your application. However, you will be notified as soon as a decision on your application has been made. Visa decisions are also published every week on our website. Go to the Visa Decisions page to view the list of visa decisions. You can check this list by using the reference number which issues to you when you submit your application.
Q – I hold a valid UK Visa, do I need an Irish visa to travel to the Republic of Ireland?
A – Yes.
15. Q - Will an Irish visa allow me to travel toNorthern Ireland?
A - No – If you wish to travel to Northern Ireland you will require a UK Visa.
If you are travelling to the Republic of Ireland, and you intend to also visit Northern Ireland and return to the Republic, you must obtain a multiple-entry Irish visa and a UK visa.
If your main destination is Northern Ireland but you arrive in, and depart from the Republic of Ireland, you must first obtain a UK visa, and then a multi-entry Irish visa.
Northern Ireland consists of Counties Antrim, Armagh, Derry, Down, Fermanagh and Tyrone.
16. Q – I live in Northern Ireland and hold a valid UK visa. Do I need an Irish visa to enter the Republic even on a short trip?
A – Yes. You will be required by Immigration Officials at border crossings to show that you hold a valid Irish visa.
17. Q – I am legally resident in Northern Ireland, where can I apply for an Irish visa?
A – You must use the Online Application Facility to make your application. (Please note that when you are choosing your current location on the online form, you must select Great Britain (UK) from the list provided).
You then need to submit your Online Summary Sheet (signed and dated) along with the appropriate fee and supporting documentation to the Visa Office in London.
This can be done either by post or in person. The address is:
Visa Office
Embassy of Ireland
106 Brompton Road
London SW3 1JJ
You should check their website for further information – www.embassyofireland.co.uk
18. Q - I hold a valid Schengen Visa, do I need an Irish visa to come to the Republic of Ireland?
A - Yes
19. Q – I will be travelling to, or I am already in, another country on a short visit before travelling to Ireland. Can I apply for my Irish visa in the Irish Embassy/Consulate there?
A – You should apply for a visa in your country of residence. (See Q 3). If however, there are valid reasons or extenuating circumstances which prevented you from doing so prior to your departure, you should discuss the matter with staff at the nearest Irish Embassy, Consulate, or Visa Office.
20. Q - Can I come to Ireland to study?
A - Information on study visa applications is available Student Visa Guidelines. If you meet the criteria outlined in this document you can apply for a study visa and your application will be considered.
21. Q – If I get a Study Visa can my spouse/children join me in Ireland?
A – It is not the general policy of this Department to allow family members of study visa holders, permission to join them in Ireland
22. Q - Can I come to Ireland to work?
A - If you are a national of a country which is not a member of the European Economic Area (EEA) and you wish to work in Ireland, you will require permission from the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment to do so.
NOTE: Citizens of Romania and Bulgaria may require an employment permit.
For full information on employment permits please visit the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment's website at www.entemp.ie.
Please note that the visa application process and the employment permit application process are separate. The granting of an employment permit does not necessarily guarantee that a Visa will be issued.
If you have been granted an employment permit you should apply for a visa through your local Irish Embassy, Consulate, Honorary Consulate or Visa Office.
23. Q – If I get permission to work in Ireland can my spouse/children come with me/join me later?
A – Please see Family Reunification for Workers for information.
24. Q – Will my spouse be permitted to work?
A - Permission to work is granted by the Department of Enterprise Trade & Employment. You should check their website for details of the Spousal Work Permit Scheme. www.entemp.ie
25. Q – Do I qualify for a Van der Elst Visa?
A – Holders of a Van der Elst visa do not require an employment permit to work in Ireland.
To qualify for such a visa you must be lawfully employed in another EU Member State.
You must be coming to Ireland to provide services on behalf of your employer.
You will need to submit the following documentation with your Visa Application:
- Online Summary Sheet, signed and dated (or fully completed, signed and dated application form if you are residing in a country where the Online Application Facility is not yet available)
- Passport
- Evidence of your right to reside & work in the EU Member State you are coming from, and that your permission to return there will be valid following termination of the contract in Ireland.
- Declaration from your employer confirming that you are lawfully employed by that company, that you are coming to Ireland to provide services on the company's behalf, the name and contact details for the company in Ireland, and that you will be returning to work in the other EU Member State following completion of the project in Ireland.
26. Q - I am an Irish national. My spouse is a visa required national. Does s/he need a visa to visit/live in Ireland?
A – Yes. Please check Documents Required for the documentation you must submit with the visa application.
I have been granted a visa for Ireland….
27. Q – Does this guarantee me entry to Ireland on my arrival?
A - The granting of a visa is in effect only a form of pre-clearance. A visa only permits you to travel to the State and seek entry during the validity period of the visa. It does not grant permission to enter or reside in the State; this permission is given by the Immigration Officer who has the authority to grant or deny such admission.
An Immigration Officer is entitled to question any person on arrival. If they are not satisfied with the bona-fides of any person, their documents, or their reasons for wishing to enter the State, they have the right to deny entry to any such person, despite the fact they hold a valid visa.
You are advised to carry supporting documentation related to the purpose of your journey in your hand luggage, for presentation to the Immigration Officer at the port of entry.
28. Q - What is the latest date that I can arrive in Ireland with my Visa?
A - The dates shown on a visa are the dates between which you may seek entry to the State.
29. Q - How long can I stay in Ireland?
A - If you have been issued with a 'C' visa, this will be determined by an Immigration Officer. However, 90 days is the maximum duration you will be allowed remain in the State on this type of visa.
If you have been issued with a 'D' visa, the duration of stay will depend on a number of factors, including, for workers, the renewal of employment permits, or for students, satisfactory attendance & progress at school/college. You must register with the Garda National Immigration Bureau who will decide on the duration you will be permitted to stay.
30. Q – I am in Ireland and have a 'C' visa. I would now like to stay longer than 90 days. Is this possible?
A – No. The maximum time you can stay in Ireland on this visa is 90 days.
31. Q – I have been issued with a 'D' visa. Can I leave Ireland and return using this Visa?
A – If the number of journeys indicated on your visa is '01' then you can only enter the State once on this visa. When you have registered with the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB), you can then apply for a 'Re-entry Visa'.
If you apply for a multiple journey re-entry visa, it will be valid from the date of issue until the expiry date on the Registration Card issued to you by the GNIB, or the expiry date of your passport, whichever is earliest.
This will allow you to leave and re-enter the State any number of times within the dates shown on your visa.
If you apply for a single journey re-entry visa, this will only be valid for one entry to the State within the dates shown on the visa, which will be for 90 days from the date of issue. (It will not be valid for the duration of your GNIB card).
To avoid having to apply for further visas for the duration of your permission to remain, you should apply for a multiple-entry re-entry visa.
Please check Re-entry Visas for further information.
I have been refused a visa for Ireland……..
32 - Q - Can I appeal this decision?
A - If you are refused a Visa you may appeal this decision by writing to:
Visa Appeals Officer
Visa Section
Irish Naturalisation & Immigration Service
13/14 Burgh Quay
Dublin 2
Appeals must be in writing and posted to the Visa Appeals Officer at the above address. Faxed or emailed appeals will not be considered.
If you made your visa application to one of our offices in Abuja, Beijing, Cairo, London, Moscow or New Delhi, you must submit your appeal to the relevant office.
Only one appeal may be lodged in respect of any application and must be received within 2 months of the refusal date.
33.Q - How much does an appeal cost?
A - There is no charge for an appeal against a refusal of a Visa.
34. Q - How long does it take to process an appeal?
A – Your appeal will be dealt with as speedily as possible. At present it takes 1-2 weeks.
35. Q – What documentation should I submit with my appeal?
A – This will depend on a number of factors – the type of visa you applied for, the reasons your application was refused, and your own personal circumstances.
You should submit any relevant documentation that will address the reasons given for the refusal of your visa application. The onus is on you to satisfy the Visa Appeals Officer that you should be granted a visa, and that you will observe the conditions of any visa issued.
36. Q – I believe I have submitted all of the required documents. Why was my application refused?
A – While there is a comprehensive list of documents required for each of the various categories of visa, provision of these documents does not guarantee that a visa will be issued.
Please examine carefully the reasons given for refusing your visa application, and ensure that you address all the issues in your appeal.
The onus is on you to make a convincing case as to why you should be granted a visa, and provide relevant material to support your case.
37. Q – If my appeal is turned down can I make a further appeal?
A – No – Only one appeal can be made for each application. If your appeal is rejected, you must make a new visa application.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can all applicants for a visa to Ireland use this online facility?
- Can I complete this application in a language other than English?
- How do I submit my passport and other supporting documents?
- Can I pay for my visa online?
- I am unable to retrieve my application, why is this?
- My Country of Residence is listed as a Supported Country but I am unable to access the Online Application Form, why is this?
- What browsers are supported?
- I am travelling to Northern Ireland, is this the correct application form?
- Who is an EEA national?
Answers:
- Q- Can all applicants for a visa to Ireland use this online facility?
A - Throughout 2008, this facility will be implemented worldwide on a phased basis.
The link to Supported Countries should be checked to see if the country in which you are residing (and currently located) is one which accepts online applications. If it is listed you must make your visa application online.
For people who are already in Ireland and wish to apply for a Re-Entry Visa, you must complete a Re-Entry Visa Application Form which is available on www.inis.gov.ie. Online applications for this category of visa cannot be accepted.
- Can I complete this application in a language other than English?
A - No. All visa applications for Ireland, whether completed online or on pre-printed application forms must be completed in English. We provide information on our website www.inis.gov.ie in 7 languages – Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, Turkish and Urdu which you should refer to prior to completing your application.
- How do I submit my passport and other supporting documents?
A – When you have entered all your details online, you will need to print a Summary Sheet. This will contain some of the information you have entered. The Irish Embassy/Consulate/Visa Office, to which your online application has been directed, will be shown on this sheet and will include a website address for that office. You should check that website for details of how you should submit your application, along with your passport, photograph, appropriate fee, and all other supporting documents. Details of the fees payable and accepted methods of payment can also be found on that website.
- Can I pay for my visa online?
A – It is not possible to make your payment online. You will need to pay when submitting your application form and supporting documents. You should check the website of relevant Irish Embassy/Consulate/Visa Office for details.
- I am unable to retrieve my application, why is this?
A – It is possible to retrieve your application for a period of 30 days after you are issued with a transaction number. To retrieve your application you need to enter this number, your passport number, nationality and your date of birth. All of this information must match exactly with the details you entered on your online application form.
Once you have clicked on the Submit button you will still be able to retrieve your application. However, it will not be possible for you to make any further changes to your form at this stage. If you realise after submitting your form that some information you gave is incorrect, you should include written details of this when submitting your application and supporting documents.
- My Country of Residence is listed as a Supported Country but I am unable to access the Online Application Form, why is this?
A –You must apply for a visa from your country of residence. Are you trying to apply from that country or another location (which is not listed)?
It could also be that your Internet Access is provided through another country for which the Online Application Facility is not yet available. (For example, if you work in India for an American company, the Internet Provider’s Address (IP) may be registered in America)
You can use the website www.ip2location.com to find out where your IP address is registered
It may be necessary for you to complete your application by using a different computer – e.g. in an Internet Café
- What browsers are supported?
A – The Online Application Facility supports the following browsers:
Internet Explorer Version 6 or later
Mozilla Firefox Version 2 or later
Netscape Version 9
Safari Version 3 or later
Opera Version 9.2X - I am travelling to Northern Ireland - is this the correct application form?
A - No. This application form is for visas for the Republic of Ireland only. If you wish to travel to Northern Ireland (Counties Antrim, Armagh, Derry, Down, Fermanagh and Tyrone) you will require a UK visa. However, if you wish to enter the Republic of Ireland at any time during your stay in Northern Ireland, you will also require an Irish visa.
- Who is an EEA national?
A – The EEA is the European Economic Area and consists of all EU Member States, plus Norway, Liechtenstein and Iceland.