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Please be advised that the Consulate General of Ireland, Shanghai website has moved and this page is no longer being updated. The Consulate website is now available at Ireland.ie/shanghai.

General Information for all Visa Types

Please read this page before completing your application.

The online visa application form can be accessed through a secure page on the INIS website

Each application must include 2 recent passport sized colour photographs.

The photographs should be:


• No more than 6 months old.
• Minimum size 35mm x 45mm, maximum size 38mm x 50mm
• Printed on photographic paper.
• Sharp and clear, and taken against a plain white or light grey background
• A frontal pose looking directly at the camera and showing full face.
• The face should take up 70-80% of the photograph.
• The expression should be neutral with both eyes open and mouth closed. There should be no hair covering the eyes.
• Only head coverings worn for religious reasons are permitted. Hair bands are not allowed
• Sunglasses are not acceptable.
• If glasses are worn they should be of clear glass so that the eyes are visible


NOTE: Please print your name clearly on the back of all photographs submitted. Do not attach photographs to your application form or summary sheet.

All applicants are required to submit their passport, valid for 6 months after their intended date of departure from the State. Please include 2 photocopies of the passport bio page.

If you have held a previous passport, you must submit your previous passport with your application. If you are unable to do so, a written explanation must be provided along with any relevant police reports.

2 passport size colour photographs should be submitted with the visa application summary sheet, signed by the applicant.

Please refer to the links under Visa Types for information on the supporting documents required for each visa category.

Any document submitted in Chinese, must be accompanied by an English translation.

All relevant letters should be on official company headed paper and give full contact details for verification purposes. These must include a full postal address, name of contact, position in company, telephone number (landline) and email addresses where relevant. (Email addresses such as Yahoo or Hotmail are not accepted). Website addresses should also be included, if available.

You are required to provide a copy of all original documents.

Applicants should expect verification checks to be undertaken in respect of the information and documents supplied.

If you have been refused a visa for any country, details of this must be given. Please submit the original letter issued to you by the authorities of that country. Concealment of visa refusals will result in your Irish visa application being refused.

Visa applicants are not generally required to attend for an interview. However, the Visa Office reserves the right to request an applicant to attend for interview on a case-by-case basis.

  • Visa applicants are not required to have a medical check before a visa is issued.
  • It is strongly recommended not to purchase travel tickets prior to a decision being made on your visa application. Doing so may lead to unnecessary additional costs in circumstances where a visa is not granted.
  • If you are visiting another country prior to travelling to Ireland, the relevant visa for that country must be obtained before applying for an Irish visa.
  • Submit all requisite documents with your application.
  • Read and take note of all relevant information on this website and on the visa application form before submitting your application.
  • Do not use any clips, staples or files to attach sheets together in your application.
  • Issuance of a multiple journey visa is 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.
  • If you are applying for a Long Stay (D Type) visa to work, study or join family members you should apply for a Single Journey only.

For all visa applicants residing China:

Please follow these links for information on Visa Fees & VFS service charge and payment methods.
When applying for a multiple journey visa, please indicate on your application why a multiple journey visa is required.

Where to Apply:

The Irish Naturalisation & Immigration Service has outsourced the function for collection and return of visa applications in China to VFS Global. You must submit your visa application in person at one of the 13 Visa Application Centers across China and Hong Kong. Please follow the link to find the application centre most convenient to you – information on Visa Application Centers


The Irish Visa Office ini Beijing is open to the public during the following times:
09:30 - 12:00 ; 14:30 - 16:00 Monday to Friday.

Our Visa inquiry helpline is available from 14:30 - 16:30 Tuesday and Thursday. Please dial the above number and press 4 when indicated.

Enquiries regarding business visas that are submmited from Shanghai, Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Jiangxi and Anhui, should be directed to the Consulate General of Ireland in Shanghai.

The Consulate in Shanghai is open to the public during the following times:
09:30 - 12:00 Monday to Friday.

The Visa desk inquiry helpline at the Consulate in Shanghai is available from 14:30 - 16:30 Monday to Friday
Please dial +86 21 60101370 for enquiry.

Please note that any visa required nationals resident in Taiwan must apply for their visa directly to INIS, Department of Justice & Equality, 13-14 Burgh Quay, Dublin 2, Ireland. Applications will not be accepted at the Visa Office in Beijing, Consulate in Shanghai or the Consulate in Hong Kong.

For more information, Contact Us.

If your application is approved please check that all details on the visa are correct. If you have any questions in relation to the requirements and /or limitations of the visa please contact this office.

The dates of validity shown on the visa indicate the dates between which the visa must be presented to an Immigration Officer at a port of entry.

Please note that a visa is a form of pre-entry clearance. It does not guarantee entry to the State. Immigration Officers at point of entry to the State are entitled to deny access and to question a person regarding their bona fides. Visa holders are subject to normal immigration control at the port of entry.

If your intended stay is less than 90 days in duration, and your application for a visa is successful, you will be issued with a ‘C' visa. On being granted leave to land in the State, the Immigration Officer may give permission to remain for up to a maximum of 90 days.

If your intended stay exceeds 90 days, and your application for a visa is successful, you will be issued with a ‘D' visa. On being granted leave to land in the State you must register with the Garda (police) within 90 days of your arrival in the State.

You should carry your letter of invitation / accommodation booking / school letter of acceptance and / or other documents for presentation to Immigration Officers.

Please ensure relevant travel/medical insurance has been obtained for the duration of your stay in Ireland. Proof of same may be requested by an Immigration Officer at the port of entry.

A person wishing to undertake any activity in Ireland other than that for which his/her visa was granted must leave the State and apply for a new visa. The applicant may not return to Ireland while awaiting a decision on his/her new application.

For information on obtaining a re-entry visa while in the State please contact the Irish Naturalisation & Immigration Service (INIS). www.inis.gov.ie

A visa holder who remains in the State longer than the permitted period may become liable for prosecution and/or subject to deportation.

If your application is refused, you will receive a letter stating the reasons for that refusal. This decision can be appealed within 2 months of the date of the letter. An appeal must be submitted in writing, fully addressing all the reasons for refusal. Appeals received by email or fax will not be processed. All additional supporting documents should be submitted with your appeal.

If your visa application has been refused on the basis of false documentation submitted there will be no right of appeal given to you. If you receive a refusal letter, it will state clearly in your letter if you have a right of appeal or not.

There is no processing fee for an appeal.

Please address your appeal to:

The Appeals Officer
Embassy of Ireland , Visa Office
Ta Yuan Diplomatic Office Building 2-11-1
14 Liang Ma He Nan Lu
Beijing 100600
People's Republic of China

申诉签证官
中华人民共和国
北京市朝阳区亮马河南路 14 号塔园外交办公楼 2 - 11 - 1
爱尔兰使馆签证