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Please be advised that the Consulate General of Ireland, Shanghai website has moved and this page is no longer being updated.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.

Application Requirements for a Tourist Visa

Personal Documents and Fee

  • Passport, valid for 6 months after your 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.
  • Signed summary of your on-line application form. Please refer to our How to Apply.
  • A signed letter of application outlining the nature and duration of your visit to Ireland and including contact details.
  • 2 passport sized colour photos taken in the pat six months that meet our specifications.
  • Original Hukou along with English translation and photocopies of both.
  • If you are married or have children under age eighteen, and your spouse or children are remaining at home, you should submit your marriage certificate and birth certificates for the children.
  • Details of any members of your family who are currently in Ireland or any other EU State should be provided.

For applicants under 18 years of age:

  • An original Birth Certificate must be submitted in all cases.
  • If applicant travelling alone or without both parents/guardians, signed consent from parents/guardians accompanied by copies of the consenting parent(s)/guardian(s) passport which clearly shows their signatures. If the parents/guardians do not currently hold a passport, the signed consent must be notarised.

Please follow these links for information on Visa Fees & VFS service charge and payment methods.

Please follow the link to find the application centre mist convenient to you - information on Visa Application Centres.

Financial Documents

  • Evidence of sufficient finds for your trip. This should be in the form of an original bank savings certificate, bank deposit book or bank statement covering at least 6 months prior to the date of visa application.
  • Confirmation of your accommodation booking must be submitted.
  • Evidence or travel/medical insurance cover for the duration of your stay. Please note you may be asked to show proof of insurance when you arrive at the point of entry.

Evidence of obligations to return

  • If you are employed, a letter from your employer stating how long you have been employed there, the dates you will be on annual leave, the date you will be returning to that employment and the name and contact details of the person providing the letter.
  • If you are a student, a letter from your college stating the course you are studying, how many years you have been a student there, how many years/terms you have left at that college, and that you will be returning there following your visit to Ireland.
  • If you are not in employment or are retired, you should provide information regarding your social and economic ties to China.

All applicants should submit a signed statement in Chinese and in English confirming that he/she will observe the conditions of their visa, that they will note become a burden on the state, that they will visit Ireland for a maximum of 90 days, they will not seek extend their visa in Ireland and they will return to China before their permission to remain in Ireland expires.

Other Documents

  • Full itinerary of your trip, including intended date of departure from country of origin, arrival date in Ireland, activities to be undertaken in Ireland and details of any other countries you intend to visit on this trip.
  • If you have children (under 18 years) who do not hold Irish passports, and therefore need a visa, a separate application must be submitted, along with a birth certificate, for each child.
  • If you wish a child (under 18 years) from a previous marriage or relationship to travel with you, a Court Order bestowing sole custody of this child must be shown.
  • Where the other parent of this child has some custody or access rights, a sworn affidavit by this parent consenting to the child being removed from their home country is required. This signed parental consent must be accompanied by a copy of the consenting parent's passport or national identity card showing the bearer's signature.

Please note the above list is not exhaustive. Applications must include all relevant information.

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.

Please note that any document submitted in Chinese, must be accompanied by an official English translation.

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

We will make a decision on your application as soon as possible however, please allow 10 working days for your application to be processed.

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.

Before you complete your visa application please thoroughly read the information contained in General Information for all applications.