A visa is an official document that allows the bearer to legally enter a foreign country. It permits a person to travel to the designated country during the dated period mentioned on the visa. In the case of Ireland, a visa is a form of pre-entry clearance which allows an individual to travel to the country. But it does not guarantee permission to enter Ireland. The permission to enter is given by the Immigration Officer at the port of the entry. The Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) which is an office of the Department of Justice and Equality are responsible for dealing with the Visa and Immigration matters of the country.
Who can enter in Ireland without a Visa?
An individual will not need a visa to enter Ireland if he/she is a citizen of the EEA or one of the countries listed by the Irish government. Apart from this, a person will not need a visa to enter Ireland if;
- You are the family member of a European Union (EU) citizen and hold a document called “Resident card of a family member of a Union citizen”
- You hold a valid travel document issued in accordance with Article 28 of the Geneva Convention
- You hold either a valid permanent residence card 4 EU FAM issued under the European Communities Regulations 2015
Types of Visas
There are two main Ireland Visa types. They are:
- Short Stay Visa
- Long Stay Visa
They are further divided into:
- Short Stay Visa- A short stay ‘C’ visa is for 90 days or less. It includes-
- Tourist Visa
- Business Visa
- Family or Friends Visa
- Conference or Event Visa
- Employment Visa
- Exam Visa
- Internship Visa
- Join Ship Visa
- Marriage Visa
- Medical Treatment Visa
- Performance or Tournament Visa
- Training Visa
- Visa for non-EU & non-Swiss citizens traveling with EU/EEA/Swiss Visa
- Long Stay Visa- A long stay ‘D’ visa is for more than 90 days. It includes:
- Study Visa
- Join a Family Member Visa
- Employment Visa
- Employment (Researcher) Visa
- Employment (Van der Elst) Visa
- Minister of Religion Visa
- Volunteer Visa
- Visa for non-EU & non-Swiss citizens traveling with EU/EEA/Swiss Visa
Visa Requirements to Apply for the Ireland Visa
Whether you need a visa to enter Ireland or not depends on the country that you belong to. Once it is confirmed that you need a visa to enter, follow the Ireland visa requirements as mentioned below-
- Check if you need an Irish Visa. You can confirm it by looking through the INIS website
- Next step is to check the type of Visa and its requirements
- Complete an online application form to apply for Ireland visa
- Gather your supporting documents, passport photograph, and fees
- Wait for the approval
Do ensure that you have submitted the correct information on your application form and submitted all the necessary documents. A full list of documents and various application forms can be found on the INIS website. The processing time for the visa depends upon on the type of visa you have applied for and the office to which the application has been lodged. You can check your Ireland visa status by contacting the Embassy or Consulate to which it was submitted, quoting the reference number from your application.
Documents Required for Ireland Visa
The documents below are important because they provide information about your personal circumstances in the country from which you are applying. Note that the documents must be original. If you submit a document that is not in English/Irish, it must be accompanied by a full translation. Each translated document must contain:
- Confirmation from the translator that it is an accurate translation of the original document
- The date of the translation
- The translator’s full name and signature and
- The translator’s contact details
The list of documents is as follows.
- Two color passport size photos not more than six months old
- Your original passport and a full copy of any previous passports. It must be valid for at least 12 months after your proposed date of arrival in Ireland
- A signed letter of application that includes your full contact details
- Updated bank details and financial statements
- Proof of Medical/Travel Insurance
- Previous Visa refusals if any
Apart from this, additional documents depending on the type of visa must also be included.
Ireland Visa Fees
Standard non-refundable visa application fees in Ireland are-
|
Single journey
|
€60
|
|
Multiple journeys
|
€100
|
|
Transit
|
€25
|
Certain applicants are not required to pay fees. They include visa-required spouses and certain family members of EU/EEA citizens. In addition, applicants from some countries are not required to pay a fee. As this can change from time to time, you should check with your local Irish embassy or consulate, or with the Visa Office.
Our Services
We can assist you with all the processes, right from application to procurement and renewal, of Ireland visa. In particular, we provide the following visa services in Ireland:
- Applying for all types of visa
- Arranging for visa transfer and visa cancellation
- Assisting in arranging and submitting the notarized documents to the Government of Ireland
- Processing and visa renewal in Ireland of business and employment visas
Get in touch with us- we’d be happy to assist you.
