Whether you need a visa to enter Ireland depends on what country you’re from. You can check if you are visa required at Immigration-Service-Delivery-Visa-and-Non-Visa-Required-Countries.pdf (irishimmigration.ie)

Note: A Schengen visa or UK visa is not valid for travel to Ireland.

If you’re a citizen of a non-EEA country, whether you need a visa or not, you will be subject to immigration control when you enter Ireland. 

You need to:

• Complete the online application form https://www.visas.inis.gov.ie/AVATS/OnlineHome.aspx
• Gather your supporting documentation, passport photograph and fee.
• You will be directed at the end of the application form where to submit your documents.

Please note you may only apply for a visa no more than 3 months prior to your intended date of travel to Ireland.

Once I have applied online, what do I do?

• Refer to checklists and the Types of Visa and Documentation tab of this website to ensure that you have all of the documents required to support your application.
• Check the Visa Fees tab to find out about the current visa fees.
• Check the Photo Requirements page to ensure that you are providing an appropriate photo. https://www.irishimmigration.ie/photograph-rules-for-visa-applications/
• Once you have checked all of the above, submit your application to the address given by the system.

The application must include:

1. The online summary sheet signed by you
2. Two passport photographs
3. Current passport plus photocopy of current passport and any previous passports (or copies of previous passports if originals unavailable)
4. All required supporting documents
5. The visa fee (if required)

All supporting documentation (bank statements, letters of employment/study, car/property ownership certificates, marriage certificates, birth certificates etc.) should be in English or accompanied by a notarised translation. Failure to translate your documents into English may result in your visa application being refused. All documentation submitted must be verifiable (e.g.) employment/study details, accommodation bookings must have correct contact details on each document. If we are unable to verify the information supplied this may result in your visa being refused.

The onus is on you, the applicant, to ensure that your application is fully complete before submitting it for consideration. You should note that if you submit an incomplete application, it may result in your application being refused.

If you have been refused a visa for any country, details of this must be given. Submit a copy of the letter issued to you by the authorities of that country, including a notarised translation if not in English. Concealment of visa refusals will result in your Irish visa application being refused.

Please note that if you provide false, fraudulent or misleading information or documentation, your application will be refused. You may also lose the right to appeal the decision. Any future applications made by you may also be refused.

If deemed necessary, additional documentation / information may be requested by the Deciding Officer upon detailed examination of the application.

Remember…

If you submit false or misleading information in support of your application, you may become liable for prosecution and/or deportation.

From 28 July 2021, standard non-refundable visa application processing fees are as follows:

All visa applications handled by VFS will be subject to an additional charge, called the VFS service fee. The details of the VFS service fee are available on the VFS website. All applicants applying through VFS will be required to pay the applicable visa fee and VFS Service charge to VFS.

Please note exact visa fee amounts should be provided when lodging visa applications.

How do I pay the fee?

For Russian Federation, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan citizens and visa required nationals who are resident in these countries, the visa fee can be paid in cash or via Credit or Debit Card at the VFS Visa Application Centre. VFS will charge an additional service fee and details of the VFS service fees are available on the VFS website.

For Citizens of and visa required Nationals resident in Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan and Tajikistan please contact the Visa Office in the Embassy of Ireland, Moscow for payment details.

Once a visa application is lodged, the application fee cannot be refunded. There is no application fee for appeals.

No fee required

Certain categories of applicants are exempt from visa fees.

Please note that any visa application lodged at a VFS VAC is subject to a VFS Service charge and details of the VFS service charge are available on the VFS website

Applicants from the countries listed below don't have to pay a fee:

In order to ensure that all visa applicants receive fair and equal treatment, applications are dealt with in the order that they are received.

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.

You should submit your application as far in advance of your proposed travel date as possible. However, do not submit your application more than 13 weeks prior to a proposed travel date.

We advise applicants not to pay for airline or other travel tickets without having been issued with a visa.

In exceptional cases, where it can be demonstrated that extenuating circumstances exist, applications may be processed ahead of schedule.

All supporting documentation (bank statements, letters of employment/study, car/property ownership certificates, marriage certificates, birth certificates etc.) should be submitted in English or accompanied by a notarised translation. Failure to translate your documents into English may result in your visa application being refused. It is not sufficient to send in copies of your documents. All documentation submitted must be original and verifiable (e.g.) employment/study details, accommodation bookings must have correct contact details on each document. If this Office is unable to verify the information supplied this may result in your visa being refused.

The onus is on you, the applicant, to ensure that your application is fully complete before submitting it for consideration. You should note that if you submit an incomplete application, it may result in your application being refused.

If you have been refused a visa for any country, details of this must be given. Submit a copy of the letter issued to you by the authorities of that country, including a notarised translation if not in English. Concealment of visa refusals will result in your Irish visa application being refused.

Please note that if you provide false, fraudulent or misleading information or documentation, your application will be refused. You may also lose the right to appeal the decision. Any future applications made by you may also be refused.

If deemed necessary, additional documentation/information may be requested by the Deciding Officer upon detailed examination of the application.

Note: Join family applications by their nature require a more in-depth consideration than short-stay visa applications. They are processed in strict date order.

You can expect that your application will be dealt with within 6 months of receipt of all required documentation.

My application has been refused

If your application has been refused and you still want to travel to Ireland, you can:

• Appeal the decision 
• Make a new application

If you decide to make a new application, your previous application history may be taken into account.

Appealing the decision

You'll be sent a letter outlining the reasons for refusal. If you believe the decision is wrong, you can make an appeal within two months of receiving the refusal notice.

How do I make an appeal?

Your appeal must be made in writing to the address specified in the letter you have received. Appeals may only be lodged by you (or your guardian if a minor) and must be signed by you.

You should:

• Address each refusal reason in your appeal
• Supply clear and relevant evidence in your appeal to support your application
• Include any further information or documentation with your appeal letter

Be aware that provision of the additional information/documentation doesn't guarantee approval

The review

The Appeals Officer will review your application, taking account of any additional information or documentation that you have supplied.

On examination and review the original decision may be reversed. The Appeals Officer will notify you in writing when the decision is made.

Is there a charge?

There is no charge for lodging an appeal.

Immigration control

An Irish visa is not an entry permission. It's a document giving you permission to present at a port of entry to ask to be admitted to Ireland.

All non-EEA citizens, whether they need a visa or not, will be subject to ordinary immigration controls at the port of entry.

Additional documents

As well as your visa, an Immigration Officer may ask to see additional information such as:

• Accommodation bookings
• Return flights
• Contacts in Ireland
• Length of stay

The Immigration Officer at the port of entry will decide your length of stay by stamping your passport; which will reflect the purpose of your journey and the amount of time you are allowed to stay in the State.

The validity period shown on your visa indicates the dates between which you must travel to Ireland. These dates are NOT the dates between which you're permitted to remain in Ireland.

Staying over three months

If you need a visa to enter Ireland and you want to stay longer than 90 days, apply for a 'D' type visa before you travel. Permission to enter on the basis of a 'C' type visa will not give you permission to remain beyond a 90 day period.

Registration

If you're a non-EEA national and you want to stay longer than three months in Ireland, you must register with the appropriate authorities and apply for permission to remain in Ireland. Further information can be found at Registering your immigration permission - Immigration Service Delivery (irishimmigration.ie)

Conditions of your visa

Under Irish law, you're not allowed to engage in any activity or to remain in Ireland for any purpose other than that for which your visa or permission to remain was granted.

Overstaying your visa

If you stay in Ireland longer than your permission to remain permits, you could be liable for prosecution and/or deportation.

Change of activity

If you want to undertake any activity in Ireland other than that for which your visa was granted you must leave the country and apply for a new visa. You can’t return to Ireland while you're waiting for a decision on your new application.

The Visa Office will continue to respond to emails sent through this website but will not accept any phone calls due to staffing restrictions. Any calls relating to Visas or Immigration matters will be redirected to the website and will not be answered.

The majority of queries can be answered by reading the information pages on this website. If you have a question that isn't answered on the website, you can email the Visa Office by clicking on contact the Visa Office.

Persons enquiring about visa matters should not contact the Ambassador’s Office or Consular Section of the Embassy of Ireland as they are not in a position to assist in these matters.

Visa applications are considered in as speedy a manner as possible. Timeframes for decision can be dependent on a number of factors including, the number of applications received, and the resources available to process them at any one time and the complexity of the application.