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Embassy of Ireland, South Africa

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Embassy of Ireland, South Africa

Visa Information

Visas

With effect from 00.01 on Wednesday, 22nd December 2021, nationals of Botswana, Lesotho and South Africa are no longer entry visa required and nationals of Botswana, Lesotho, and South Africa are no longer transit visa required.

If you are unsure as to whether you require a visa/preclearance to enter Ireland you can check here.

Additional information for employees and employers can be found here.

Please be aware that the Embassy is dealing with an increase in visa applications, with waiting times also increasing.

We encourage Long Stay applicants to submit your application at least 8 weeks before your planned date of travel. For Short Stay applicants, we encourage you to submit your visa application at least 3 months before your planned date of travel.

Embassy Pretoria will only provide status updates to applicants whose applications exceed these waiting times. 

COVID-19 Visa Arrangements - Immigration Service Delivery (irishimmigration.ie)

Who needs a Visa Show the panel body Hide the panel body

Whether you need a visa to travel to Ireland depends on what country you're from. Visit the Irish Immigration Service Travel Path for more information regarding your personal requirements for travelling to Ireland.

Information on visa requirements for transiting through Ireland is available here

Please note that Ireland is not party to the Schengen Agreement, and a Schengen visa or residence permit does not entitle you to travel to Ireland without a visa.

Unless you qualify for the Short Stay Visa Waiver Programme or the British Irish Visa Scheme a valid UK visa does not entitle you to travel to Ireland without a visa. Further information on these schemes is available on the website of the Irish Immigration Service.

Note: A visa allows you to travel to Ireland only. It does not give you permission to enter the country or to stay here. An immigration officer at border control can refuse entry even if you have a visa.

 

Remember…

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.

Types of Visa and Documentation Show the panel body Hide the panel body

Full information on the different types of visas, required documentation, and how to apply can be found on the website of the Irish Immigration Service. 

Information on applying for a short-stay (less than 90 days) tourist visa is available here.

Information on coming to work in Ireland is available here.

Information on coming to study in Ireland is available here.

Information on coming to join family in Ireland is available here.

Visa Appeals Show the panel body Hide the panel body

If your visa application is refused, you will receive a letter from the visa office telling you why it has been refused and if you can appeal the decision.

Further information on appealing visa decisions is available on the website of the Irish Immigration Service

All appeals are handled directly by the Irish Immigration Service

How to Apply Show the panel body Hide the panel body

You need to:

  1. Complete the online application form 

This will generate an application summary form and declaration at the end, which you must print, sign and date.

  1. Gather your supporting documentation, passport photograph and fee.
  2. Submit your application

To complete the process, you must submit your passport and supporting documents for processing. Where you submit your application depends on where you are living. The summary application form will direct you to the relevant Embassy, Consulate or Visa Application Centre.

Check the website of the relevant Embassy or Consulate for further information on how to submit your application for processing

If you applied at an Embassy or Consulate, they will contact you once a decision on the visa application has been made.

If you applied directly to an Irish Immigration Service Visa Office or if your application was referred to the Irish Immigration Service for a decision, you can check the Irish Immigration Service Visa Decision Weekly Listing using your reference number.

On Arrival in Ireland Show the panel body Hide the panel body

Further information on what to expect on arrival in Ireland can be found on the website of the Irish Immigration Service.

Information on entry for EU/EEA and Swiss nationals is available here. 

Information on entry for non-EU, non-EEA and non-Swiss nationals is available here.

Information on travelling with children is available here.

Information on transiting through Ireland is available here.

Fees Show the panel body Hide the panel body

Check the website of the Irish Immigration Servicefor information on preclearance and entry visa fees, including information on visa fee exemptions.

You can also contact your local Embassy or Consulate for more details on fees and payment methods

Payment Details

We accept the following forms of payment:

 

Please note that payment can ONLY be made through EFT as per the banking details below:

  • Electronic funds must be transfered directly into our bank account.
  • Clients from outside South Africa wishing to pay consular fees can do so by swift transfers directly into our Rand bank account. 
  • All costs associated with the transfer will be borne by the client.
  • The Embassy does not accept cash or cheque payments.
  • In line with the new South African financial regulations, the Embassy of Ireland will not accept payments by bank draft drawn on banks outside South Africa.
  • Due to the difficulty encountered in clearing the Euro Bank drafts, the Embassy will, with immediate effect, no longer accept Euro bank drafts drawn outside South Africa.

 

Bank account details:

Account Name: Dept of Foreign Affairs Ireland - Embassy of Ireland

Bank: First National Bank (FNB)

Account Number: 55150047692

Account Type: Public Sector Cheque account

Branch Code: 251345 (BROOKLYN)

 

For international transfers from outside of South Africa:

     1. Physical address of bank: Shop 357, Brooklyn Mall, Cnr Veale & Fehrsen Street, Brooklyn, Pretoria

     2. Swift Code: FIRNZAJJXX

     3. Bank charges: If you are making a swift transfer from outside South Africa, MAKE SURE you tick that all bank charges to be
         borne by sender, and not the receiver (the Embassy).

 Important payment instructions

  1. Reference to be used: Applicant’s Surname & First name
  2. Proof of payment must be PRINTED and submitted WITH your visa application.

*DO NOT EMAIL PROOF OF PAYMENT.

Visa applications will not be processed until the payment reflects in our bank account. Further note that if you are transferring funds from another bank or country, the payment can take up to 4 days to reflect in our bank account.

 

Information Note

An information note has been prepared to assist applicants completing the online application form. This is available in:

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