Visas for Ireland
Who needs a visa
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 on IrishImmigration.ie
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
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 on the Coming to Visit section of IrishImmigration.ie.
- Information on coming to work in Ireland is available on the Coming to Work section of IrishImmigration.ie.
- Information on coming to study in Ireland is available on the Coming to Study section of IrishImmigration.ie.
- Information on coming to join family in Ireland is available on the Coming to Join Family section of IrishImmigration.ie.
How to apply
You need to:
- Complete the online application form
- This will generate an application summary form and declaration at the end, which you must print, sign and date.
- Gather your supporting documentation, passport photograph and fee.
- 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.
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.
If you applied at an Embassy or Consulate, they will contact you once a decision on the visa application has been made.
Visa appeals
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.
On arrival in Ireland
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 on IrishImmigration.ie.
Information on entry for non-EU, non-EEA and non-Swiss nationals is available on IrishImmigration.ie.
Information on travelling with children is available on IrishImmigration.ie.
Information on transiting through Ireland is available on IrishImmigration.ie.
Fees
Check the website of the Irish Immigration Service for information on preclearance and entry visa fees, including information on visa fee exemptions.
See the below Payment details section for further information on fees and payments.
Payment details
Visa applicants must pay their application fee online. Once a visa applicant has completed their online application form via AVATS, they can pay the fee online. Applicants can only pay their visa fee once their online application form has been completed, as the payment form requires application details to be provided.
Applicants must pay their fees using the payment form below. Visa fee-exempt applicants must also complete this form.
The standard, non-refundable visa application fees are:
- Single Journey - $100.00 CAD
- Multiple Journey - $165.00 CAD
- Transit - $35.00 CAD
Some applicants are exempt from the requirement to pay the visa fee. Check whether the visa fee does not apply to you. Please note that you will still need to pay the return postage/courier fee or provide a return postage envelope/courier waybill with your submission.
Return of passport and original documents
Domestic (within Canada)
Visa applicants residing within Canada are encouraged to include a prepaid self-addressed Xpresspost envelope or courier waybill with their application. However, applicants residing in Canada may also choose from the following return post/courier options:
- Canada Post Xpresspost - $30.00 CAD
- FedEx Priority Overnight - $75.00 CAD
International (outside Canada)
Visa applicants residing in Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Jamaica, and Saint Lucia must include a prepaid courier waybill with their application submission.
Important information
Sending documentation
All supporting documents should be sent to this address:
150 Metcalfe Street,
Suite 1700,
Ottawa,
ON K2P 1P1
Working Holiday Programme
There is a separate application process for Working Holiday Programme visas. Working Holiday schemes are for use by young people who are citizens of Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Japan and New Zealand who wish to stay in Ireland for an extended holiday and wish to work in order to fund their stay.