How to Apply for a Tourist Visa to Ireland

How to Apply for a Tourist Visa to Ireland

If you want to enjoy a vacation or a short break in Ireland, you can stay for less than 90 days. If you come from a visa-required nation, you will need to apply for a Short Stay ‘C’ Tourist Visa.

A short-stay ‘C’ visit (tourist) visa allows you to travel to Ireland for up to 90 days. 

Please read the conditions for this sort of visa carefully.

I) This visa allows for tourism.

II) Visit family or friends and study.

III) Consider a short-term English language course. 

IV) Getting married requires medical treatment.

This visa prohibits you from engaging in any paid or unpaid work. 

Use any public-funded services.

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.

Who should apply? 

i) If you need a visa to visit Ireland, you must apply for one first. You can find out whether you need a visa here. 

ii) Each traveler must obtain a separate visa. There are no family visas. 

iii) A parent or legal guardian should apply for a tourist visa for a young person (age under 18). 

iv) Do not purchase travel tickets until you receive a decision on your visa application.

How to apply? 

You must apply for a visa in your native country or in a nation where you are legally residing. Prepare your application three months before you travel. 

Your application contains three parts: To apply for a visa, follow these steps:

1. Create an online application.

2) Pay your visa application fee.

3) Send your passport and other documents for processing.

Please keep in mind that in some circumstances you may be required to give biometric information as well.

If your application is approved, you will receive an Irish visa in your passport/travel document. Then return it to you. Generally, you should expect a decision within 8 weeks of receiving your documents.

How To Check Your Visa Decision.

Dublin Visa Office

If you applied to the Dublin Visa Office, new visa decisions and wait durations are announced every Tuesday.

All other offices

If you submitted your application to an international Visa Office, Irish Embassy, or Consulate, contact them for an update.

If we approve the application

We will insert an Irish visa onto the blank page of your passport or travel document. We will return your passport/travel document, as well as relevant original documents, via post.

For example, marriage, birth, and death certificates, as well as any other documents you have listed. Applications sent to Ireland can only be returned to a UK/Ireland address, or the applicant can arrange for a courier to collect the documents.

Visas for young persons (Age under 18)

An Irish visa issued to a young person under the age of 18 indicates whether they are traveling alone (unaccompanied) or with an adult.

If we reject your application

We will issue you a ‘letter of refusal’ explaining why your application was not approved.

We will return your passport/travel document, as well as relevant original documents, via post. For example, marriage, birth, and death certificates, as well as any other documents you have listed.

Applications sent to Ireland can only be returned to a UK/Ireland address, or the applicant can arrange for a courier to collect the documents.

Appeal a visa decision.

You have the right to appeal a negative visa decision, and there is no fee for doing so. To do so, file an appeal within two months of the date on your letter of refusal.

IMPORTANT: Do not submit any fraudulent or misleading information or documents with your application. If you do, your application will be rejected. In certain cases, you may not be allowed to appeal the visa decision. Furthermore, the Irish government may prevent you from obtaining an Irish visa for five years.  

How to Apply for a Tourist Visa to Ireland