Visas for Ireland

In the event that you are usually resident in Ireland, but have lost or allowed your Irish Residence Permit (IRP) to expire, you must apply for a new entry visa.

You should apply for a Long-stay visa under the Other category, utilising the appropriate country-based application mechanism above.

The documents you should submit, in support of your application, will be based on your reason for residence in Ireland, for example:

• If you are returning to Ireland as a worker, you should provide appropriate* documents, guided by the employment visa checklist. You should also provide a copy of your previous IRP, if possible;
• If you are returning to Ireland as a student, you should provide appropriate* documents, guided by the student visa checklist. You should also provide a copy of your previous IRP, if possible;
• If you are returning to Ireland as a dependent family member, you should provide appropriate* documents, guided by the join family visa checklist. You should also provide a copy of your previous IRP, if possible.

* in the event that you cannot provide a document from the applicable checklist – for example an employment permit if you have since moved to stamp 4 permissions in Ireland – then simply outline the missing documents, and a reason as to why you cannot provide them, in your letter of application.

Re-entry visa requirements for children under 16 have been suspended with immediate effect and until further notice. Children under 16 who are currently residing in the State and who wish to re-enter the State, must be accompanied by their parent or legal guardian who holds an in date permission to reside in the State.

The adult accompanying the child must also provide appropriate documentation to prove they are the legal parent or guardian of the child in question. For more information please visit the Irish Immigration website.

Persons seeking to travel under this policy should first consult their airline to confirm that boarding will be allowed. Where an airline is unwilling to board a minor without a visa, or cannot confirm that boarding will be possible, it is advised that the minor applies for a new entry visa, which will be processed free of charge. The minor applicant should apply as per the rules outlined for a dependent family member above.

If you have completed your studies in Ireland and wish to avail of the Third Level Graduate Scheme (stamp 1G), you must register for the scheme, and obtain your new Irish Residence Permit (IRP), before leaving Ireland (i.e. while you still hold a valid student stamp 2 permission).

If, however, you had genuine emergency reasons for leaving Ireland, which meant that you could not correctly transfer your permission to stamp 1G while in the State, then you can apply for a new entry visa, once the visa application is lodged to the Embassy/VFS within 60 calendar days of the expiry of your stamp 2 IRP.

In your application you must provide:

• A signed personal letter outlining why you could not register for your stamp 1G permission while in Ireland. In lieu of genuine emergency reasons, your application will be refused;
• A copy of your education award from Ireland, showing you are eligible for stamp 1G permission upon your return; and

A letter from your higher education institution stating the details of the course you graduated from and the award that you achieved.

This depends on two things: the number of entries and the validity dates marked on your visa.

Number of entries

If, under number of entries, your visa states 01 then you can only travel once. Otherwise, if it says Multi you can travel as many times as you like, until you have exceeded your duration of stay.

Validity dates (From... until)

Your visa is valid for travel from the date listed under From until the date listed under Until (including both dates). Always beware of time zone changes as the dates on the visa refer to dates in Ireland.

The visa remains valid even if travelling on a new passport, once you are also travelling with the physical passport that contains the in date visa. Travelling on a copy of the visa/passport is not permitted.

This depends on two things: the type of visa and the duration of stay.

Type of visa

Your visa will either state C, for visitor visas, or D, for residence visas:

• C (visitor): You can stay for a maximum of 90 days, or until the date permitted by border control, whichever is sooner. You must leave by this date.
• D (resident): You will be permitted a stay of 90 days in order to register your residence. Once registered you will obtain an Irish residence permit (IRP), which permits future travel without any further visas in your passport.

­Duration of stay

If the Duration of stay on your visa is a specific number (e.g. 14) then on each entry, you can only stay for this number of days. If the duration of stay is XX, then you can stay for up to 90 days; however, Irish border control may permit you less than 90.

Holders of C class visas (visitors) must leave Ireland after 90 days or the date permitted by border control. Holders of D class (residents) must register their residence within the 90 period

Persons who register their residence will receive an Irish Residence Permit (IRP) that allows you to live in Ireland and travel in and out until it expires. For more information see: https://www.irishimmigration.ie/registering-your-immigration-permission/

If a C class visa holder can be refused entry at the Irish border if they are deemed to be residing in Ireland. Generally, residence is classed as remaining in Ireland for more than 90 days in any 180 day period, or more than 180 days in any 365 day period. These periods begin on the date of first entry.