MADRID Visa FAQs

The need for an Irish visa or preclearance is based on your nationality. To check if your nationality is visa required please consult the link.

Ireland is not a part of the Schengen Area. A Schengen visa or Spanish residence permit does not entitle you to travel to Ireland without a visa. A Travel Document (Refugee) issued by Spain does not entitle you to travel without a visa. To check if your nationality is visa required please consult the link.

Please contact the Visa Office at madrid.visados@dfa.ie to receive updated information for non-EU family members of EU citizens. Please note the Embassy cannot validate an EU Family Card as it is issued by the Spanish authorities.

Please note also that boarding of passengers is an operational matter for all carriers to determine whether or not to carry a passenger.

Visa processing can commence with a photocopy of both sides of the current Residence Card (whether expired or with less than 3 months validity) and the resguardo de renovación, where applicable. However, the decision on your application can only be made when you submit a Residence Card which has at least three months' validity or an Autorización de regreso with 90 days' validity from the date you plan to leave Ireland.

You must submit a photocopy of the new Residence Card to the Visa Office as soon as you receive it. If you will not receive it prior to travel, you must submit a copy of an Autorización de regreso. Visas granted on the basis of the latter may be subject to date restrictions.

If your Residence card does not have the required validity and you are travelling within 8-12 weeks of application submission, we advise not to include the Autorización de regreso owing to date restrictions. The Visa officer will contact you during processing to request a valid Autorización de Regreso. If you have applied for a Business visa and are travelling within 4 weeks, you should include an Autorización de Regreso when you submit the application.

In order to process a visa for Ireland through the Embassy of Ireland in Madrid the applicant must be legally resident in Spain. If the applicant is not legally resident in Spain they must apply through the Embassy of Ireland that corresponds to their country of habitual residence.

To check which Embassy you should apply to click here: Irish Embassies Abroad.

Please submit the documents in the following order:

1. Summary Application form: Complete the online application form. Then click on View and Print Sheet and print the Summary sheet. You must sign and date this sheet and send it to the Embassy together with the following documents. Please note we will not process the detailed application form unless accompanied by the Summary form.

2. Photocopy of your Spanish residence card (front and back): For short-stay visas it must be valid for at least 3 months after the date you plan to leave Ireland. Please see Question 4 for more information.

3. Two recent passport-sized colour photographs with a light background. Write your name and application number on the back. Check photo requirements.

4. Visa fee: Proof of visa fee payment, if applicable. Please see Questions 9 and 10 for detailed information.

5. A complete photocopy of your valid passport and all previous passports. If the visa is granted, we will request the valid passport in order to affix the visa sticker.

a. If you cannot provide all copies, you must include a letter outlining the reasons for this, and submit police reports (if you have them) declaring the loss/theft of your passport(s). If your current passport is your first passport, please state this in your letter.

b. For short-stay visas your current passport must be valid for 6 months after the date you plan to leave Ireland.

c. For long-stay visas, it must be valid for 12 months from your date of intended arrival in Ireland.

d. The photocopies must include the biodata page and all pages correctly sized and in numerical order.

· Please click on the links below for the Required documents of the most common visa applications. You must include all the required documents for your specific category of visa, including an application letter.

• Please note that applications that do not include all the relevant required documents will be refused.
• Do not staple documents. Do not put them in plastic folders.
• All original documents must be accompanied by a complete photocopy. We do not accept original documents without photocopies, as they are not reviewed.
• Certified translations must be accompanied by the original document. If you would like the translation returned to you, you must send it with a complete copy.
• If you require information about other types of visa such as, Erasmus + Unpaid internship, Join Family, or others, please contact the Visa Office via email: madrid.visados@dfa.ie

Short stay C visas (less than 90 days)

Tourism

Visit family/friend

Short stay study

Business

Conference

Performance/Tournament

Long stay D visas (90 days or more)

Long Stay Study

Employment visa

Employment/Researcher

The Visa Office needs to see a complete photocopy of your current passport, all previous passports, and your residence card (Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero). Please do not send original passports or residence cards when submitting the application. If your visa application is approved, we will request your original passport, which will be verified against the submitted photocopy.

Passport photocopies

• You must copy the biodata page and all pages.
• All pages must be correctly sized and in numerical order.
• Please ensure that the current passport photocopy is recent and contains all stamps, visas and any other marks.

The following fees apply:

• Single Entry Visa: €60
• Multiple Entry Visa: €100

Some applicants are exempt from the requirement to pay a visa fee. Check the visa fee page of the Irish Immigration website to see if the fee applies to you. If you are exempt on the basis of nationality, you do not need to present documents other than a complete copy of your valid passport.

Single / Multiple Entry: Please consult the link for information on single/multiple entry visas.

You must explain your reasons for requesting a multiple entry visa in your application letter. As with all applications, the granting of a multi-entry visa is at the discretion of the Visa Officer. Paying the fee for a multiple entry visa does not guarantee that one will be granted. Please note that Conference visas are generally issued as single entry.

The visa fee can only be paid by bank transfer and must be paid to the Madrid Embassy account. Please note that visa fee payments must not be made to the Department of Justice account in Ireland.

• Bank Account Name: Embajada de Irlanda
• IBAN Code: ES90 0182 1932 44 02015 42340
• Swift/BIC code: BBVAESMMXXX
• Bank Address: BBVA, C/Claudio Cuello 92, Madrid 28006
• Observaciones/Concepto: Include YOUR NAME and the word VISA to ensure that the fee is registered on your application.

Please note that the applicant is responsible for paying any bank fees associated with the transaction. If you have a non-Eurozone bank account, you can reduce expensive transfer charges by going in person to your nearest BBVA branch and lodging the fee is cash to the Embassy bank account, indicating YOUR NAME and the word VISA.

Some applicants are exempt from the requirement to pay a visa fee. Check the visa fee page of the Irish Immigration website to see if the fee applies to you. If you are exempt on the basis of nationality, you do not need to present documents other than your valid passport.

Please note that the visa fee is an administration fee and is not refundable. Information regarding visa fees can be found on the Irish Immigration website.

The Embassy only accepts applications sent by registered post or courier. All applications should be sent to:

Embassy of Ireland, Visa Section, Paseo de la Castellana 46 – 4, 28046 Madrid.

The Embassy does not accept applications in person.

Visa processing, including Visit visas, takes a minimum of 8 weeks from the time we receive all the required documents. Therefore, we strongly advise you to submit your application documents at least 8 weeks before your travel date and to make sure you include all the required documents. If documents are missing, the application will be delayed.

Business visas are processed in 4 weeks from the time we receive all the required documents. If documents are missing, the application will be delayed.

Applications are processed strictly in the order they are received and there is no expedited process. If you are planning to travel at Christmas, Easter or summer, we advise that you submit your application up to a maximum of 12 weeks before the intended travel date.

Please note that travel tickets are not a required document.

• The Visa Office does not respond to queries covered in these FAQs, on the Embassy website, on the Irish Immigration website, or in the auto-reply to the Visa Office email.
• Please note there is no visa telephone line. The main Embassy line cannot provide visa information.
• We DO NOT acknowledge receipt of applications nor documents. Applicants must consult the tracking service of Correos or their chosen courier.
• The Visa Office DOES NOT provide status updates within the advised processing times. Please see Question 12.
• We will contact applicants by email when the decision is made.

For other queries send an email to: madrid.visados@dfa.ie

• All queries related to an application must include the 8-digit application number and the applicant’s name as on the application. We will not provide information without this data.
• We endeavour to reply to emails within three working days. However, during peak times such as Christmas, Easter and summer, waiting times may be longer given the volume of queries the Embassy receives.
• Please do not send email attachments as they will not be reviewed.
• Please do not send repeat emails.
• Applications processed at the Embassy in Madrid cannot be tracked on the Irish Immigration Portal and you cannot make an account on the Portal.

The need for an Irish visa or preclearance is based on your nationality. To check if your nationality is visa required please consult the link. A Spanish residence card does not exempt you from requiring a visa.

The school student waiver allows students who are normally visa required to travel with their schools without a visa. The waiver is valid for students traveling with school groups when accompanied by a teacher or an adult responsible for the group.

Please note that the waiver only applies to formal curricular education (enseñanza reglada) and the trip must be authorised by a primary school/ secondary school/ vocational school/ escuela oficial de idiomas/ university. If the group is authorised by a language school (academia de idiomas), the waiver does not apply.

The duration of the visit must be less than 90 days. Please note that an upper age limit does not apply, provided the student is part of a school group.

Please write to madrid.visados@dfa.ie for the List of Travellers and guidance on the process.

1. You must file a police report in Spain if your IRP has been lost or stolen.
2. If your passport has also been stolen, you will need to get an emergency passport first from your country's Embassy/Consulate.
3. We advise notifying the airline of your situation prior to flying. If the airline has any concerns prior to boarding, they can contact the Border Management Unit directly.
4. We recommend carrying the police report and a copy of the lost IRP, as well as your valid passport.
5. Please note that the Embassy cannot advise or issue a letter, as we do not have a role in processing residence permission in Ireland. Please note also that permission to board an aircraft is the sole responsibility of the airline concerned.

If you have been denied boarding, you may send an email to the Embassy’s Visa Section madrid.visados@dfa.ie during working hours (9:00 – 17:00, Mon-Fri) outlining the situation. Please indicate Lost IRP in the subject line.

I have lost my valid IRP and I am not visa required:

1. You must file a police report in Spain if your IRP has been lost or stolen.
2. If your passport has also been stolen, you will need to get an emergency passport first from your country's Embassy/Consulate.
3. You may travel carrying the police report and a copy of your lost IRP.
4. Please note that boarding of passengers is an operational matter for all carriers to determine whether or not to carry a passenger.
5. If you require further assistance, you may contact the Embassy’s Visa Section madrid.visados@dfa.ie during working hours (9:00 – 17:00, Mon-Fri). Please indicate Lost IRP in the subject line.