Emergency re-entry visa (for an adult or child)

About this visa Who can apply How to apply

Book an appointment Application form and documents At your appointment

Collect your visa

A re-entry visa allows you to leave Ireland for a short period and then return again.

An emergency re-entry visa is for someone who needs a visa at very short notice due to a critical, unforeseen event abroad, eg death or serious illness in your family.

An emergency re-entry visa is:

• Valid for 1 month only
• Single entry only, ie it allows you to leave and return to Ireland just once
• Read the general conditions for all visas

If you leave without a re-entry visa or if you do not return within the period shown on your visa, you must apply again for a new long stay or short stay visa from abroad to come back to Ireland.

You can apply for an emergency re-entry visa if you:

• Are aged 16 or older
• Have immigration permission to be in Ireland for longer than 90 days
• Have been registered by immigration and have a valid registration certificate (GNIB card)
• Travel using a passport issued by a visa required country or a travel document issued by certain countries
• Need to leave Ireland at very short notice due to a critical, unforeseen event abroad

Each individual traveller must apply for a separate visa. There are no family visas.

An application for a child (aged 15 or younger) must be made by their parent or legal guardian.

Do not apply for an emergency visa if you have already submitted an application by post. We cannot retreive documents from the postal system. You have to wait for your application to be processed as normal.

To apply for an emergency re-entry visa:

1. Book an appointment online for the Re-entry Visa Processing Office (as below)
2. Download and complete the application form (as below)
3. Prepare your application documents and pay the fee (as below)
4. Visit the Re-entry Visa Processing Office (with all documents and fee payment)

Emergency re-entry visa appointments are extremely limited. Do not book an appointment unless you have a critical, unforeseen emergency.

You must book an appointment online and be able to visit the Re-entry Visa Processing Office (Burgh Quay, Dublin) in person as soon as possible, ie the next working day (Monday to Friday).

Do not come to the office without an appointment. You will not be seen.

How to book an appointment

1. Go to https://reentryvisa.inis.gov.ie
2. Enter all your information, including:
   • For Appointment Type, select 'Emergency'
   • For Emergency Reason, select 'Family Bereavement' (ie death) or 'Serious Illness'
   • For Appointment Date, select the next working day or as soon as possible
3. When finished, you will receive an appointment confirmation by email

Print the email and bring it to your appointment with you.

You must bring all the following documents with you to your appointment.

Your application will be delayed if any documents are missing.

i. Application form

Download and complete the re-entry visa application form.

Re-entry visa application form (PDF 100KB)

ii. Proof of a critical, unforeseen event

Bring proof that a critical, unforeseen event has occurred abroad.

For example, letters or other documents.

iii. Travel tickets

Bring both your departure travel ticket and your return travel ticket.

iv. Passport

Bring your current, original passport. Do not bring a photocopy.

The passport must contain your current immigration permission stamp.

If you are applying for a child, bring both your child's original passport and your (the parent's) original passport as identification.

v. Registration certificate (GNIB card)

Bring your current registration certificate (GNIB card).

Do not bring a photocopy.

If you are applying for a child, bring your (the parent's) registration certificate as identification.

vi. Photos

Bring 2 passport-sized colour photos of the visa applicant.

The photos must meet all the rules for visa photographs.

Photos of a child aged 0 to 4

One of the photos of the child must be officially stamped (on the back) by your doctor/GP, ie to confirm that it is a true image of your child. Read all application rules for children aged 0 to 4.

Photos of a child aged 5 to 15

During school term, one of the photos of the child must also be stamped (on the back) with official seal of the child's school. Read all application rules for children aged 5 to 15.

You do not need to stamp the photo if you make an application during school holidays or if the child is moving from primary to secondary school.

vii. Visa fee

An emergency re-entry visa costs €160 per person or €100 per person if you are visa fee exempt.

Bring the full re-entry visa fee with you to your appointment.

You must pay by bank draft or postal order only. Read a longer description about how to pay.

viii. Extra documents

You must bring the following extra documents with your application.

Adult emergency visa (aged 16 or older)

Select the stamp number that appears on your registration certificate (GNIB card), to see the documents you need:

• Stamp 0: Bring your original permission letter
• Stamp 1, 1A or 1G: Bring immigration permission documents
• Stamp 2 or 2A: Bring proof of your study in Ireland
• Stamp 3: Bring proof of your status in Ireland
• Stamp 4: Bring proof of your status in Ireland
• Stamp 5 or 6: You do not need to bring any extra documents

Child emergency visa (aged 15 or less)

Select your child's age to see the documents you need:

• Aged 5 to 15: Bring your child's birth certificate and proof of school attendance
• Aged 4 or less: Bring your child's birth certificate and proof of residence

We will not process your application until we have everything listed above. In some circumstances, we may ask for more information.

Arrive at the visa office 10 minutes before your appointment time. Make sure you bring the completed application form, documents and visa fee with you.

Your visit may take 1 to 2 hours. If you are applying for a child, your child does not need to come to the appointment.

Do not come to the office without an appointment. You will not be seen.

Re-entry Visa Processing Office

Opening times

Monday to Friday: 8:30am to 1:30pm
Saturday, Sunday and public/bank holidays: Closed

Address

Re-entry Visa Processing Office
Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service
Department of Justice and Equality
13-14 Burgh Quay
Dublin 2
D02 XK70

In most cases your application will be processed and (if successful) a visa issued to you before your appointment ends.

Always double-check your visa (if approved) before you leave the visa office to make sure the details are correct, eg name, date of birth, dates of visa validity, etc. If not, tell us.

If your application is refused, we will return your passport and documents and explain why it was refused.