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.
Please note: Applications in Portugal
Please send your application to the Embassy of Ireland in Lisbon in a closed envelope, marked to the attention of the Embassy of Ireland, Visa Section, or deliver it in person to the ground floor reception of the Embassy building (Victoria). You do not require an appointment to submit your application.
We cannot confirm the receipt of visa applications and/or documents sent by visa applicants. If you wish to be certain that your application or documents have been received, please use the Portuguese postal service CTT and choose the option "Correio Registado com Aviso de Recepção", or, alternatively, use a courier company.
We do not require biometrics for visa applications.
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
We accept the following forms of payment:
You can pay by bank transfer to the following account:
Account Name: ACCOUNT DEPART. FOREIGN AFFAIRS IRELAND
Account Number: 7-2008508.000.001
IBAN: PT50001000002008508000180
BIC/SWIFT: BBPIPTPL
If you pay by bank transfer, you should include a print-out of the payment confirmation (for online payments), or a copy of the bank transfer counterfoil slip (if you paid in person at a bank), with your visa application documentation.
You should include the name of the applicant and the Visa Application Number as the transaction description – otherwise we may not be able to match your payment with your application.
Your application will not be processed until the Embassy has received proof of an electronic payment or bank transfer.
The Embassy does not accept cash payments, personal cheques or bank drafts.
Once a visa application is being processed, the fee cannot be refunded, regardless of whether or not the visa is granted.