Ireland Visa

One of the countries that recently has attracted lots of visitors to Ireland. Many people choose it to live, work, study, develop ties, etc. The government and people have worked hard to gain such prestige around the world. To visit this beautiful country you might need an Ireland visa.
In this blog, you will know all visas, requirements, application process. If you found the visa that suits your purpose, you can read more about it in its blog.

Do You Need an Ireland Visa?

The answer to whether you need a visa or not depends on a few factors:

• Your Nationality.
• The purpose of your visit to Ireland.
• Lengths of your stay in Ireland.

When you wish to stay in Ireland for up to 90 days, it gets called a short-stay visit. Once you want to stay longer than 90 days, it is a long-stay visit.

A few countries are of Ireland short-stay visa. Many more need it. Providing that you are a national of these countries and want to stay for up to three months, there is no need for a visa. However, when you need to stay longer than three months (90 days), you need a residence permit or long-stay visa. Staying longer than three months (90 days), you should apply for the right type of visa.

Ireland Visa Types

Visa types for Ireland come in two categories:

1. Short-stay visa

Ireland transit visa

Ireland is a safe country in the world. Many airlines use their airspace. So many passengers might need to change a flight in this country. If you are going to catch a connecting flight in an Irish airport, you might need an Ireland Transit visa. It permits visitors to stay in the international zone of an Irish airport to catch a flight.

Ireland tourist visa

There is numerous tourist attraction in Ireland. More than NINE MILLION people visited Ireland in 2017. The number is increasing each year. If you have chosen Ireland for your next holiday, you might need an Ireland tourist visa. It is a short-stay visa. It authorizes you to stay in the country for up to 90 days.

However, you can not work or study under an Ireland tourist visa. You need the right type of visa to study or work.

Ireland Business visa

Ireland has business relations with many countries in the world. Business people from all over the world consider developing ties with Irish companies. To visit Ireland for business purposes, you might need an Ireland business visa. It comes under the short-stay visa. It permits visitors to visit the country for whatever business intention they might have. However, they may not engage in any paid job. They can visit industries, sign contracts, participate in meetings, etc.

Ireland work visa

The non- EU, EEA nationals who want to work in Ireland for the short-term can apply for Ireland work visa. Atypical Working Scheme is the official permission to work in the country for the short-term. Please note that the non- EU, EEA  nationals can work in Ireland without a visa. But, the non-EU nationals need a visa. Whether you need a work visa or not depends on your nationality.

2. Long-stay visa

Ireland student visa

According to reports, there were more than 18.000 foreign students in Ireland during 2018. The number is increasing every year. Non-EU students choose Ireland for education. It has several attractions, the quality of education is high, and there are people from all around the world.

To study in one of the Irish education centers, you need an Ireland student visa. However, you might not need one. It depends on your nationality and the duration of your course.

Ireland work permit

Ireland work permit is an authorization from the Irish government to work for the long-term in the country. Apart from the work permit, applicants might need an entrance visa. While Ireland work permit is permission to work, an entrance visa is an authorization to enter Ireland. However, a few groups might be exempt from the work permit. The Irish employer and employee must be eligible for a work permit. Then there are requirements, the application process for a work permit, and entrance visa.

Critical Skills employment permit

Ireland has been facing a shortage of skilled workforce. So the government introduced the Critical Skills employment permit program. It is to attract non-EU highly skilled workers to Ireland. You can apply for it with whatever your nationality is. However, you must be eligible. Having a job offer from an Irish employer is the first one. There are also certain required skills. Your expertise must be in one of them.

 Ireland family visa

When one of your relatives is living in Ireland, you can join him/her. You could do it through Ireland family visa. It allows non-EU residents to bring their relatives to the country. However, you can only bring only close members of your family. The supporter living in Ireland and the applicant must be eligible for a family visa. Financial requirements in one of them. The rules differ for EU and non-EU residents.

Ireland working holiday visa

People who want to visit Ireland but do not have enough money can apply for Ireland working holiday visa. Only a few countries whose residents can apply for it. However, the EU and EEA nationals do not need to apply fo it. They have permission to work in Ireland without a visa.

There are limitations and eligibility for this visa. Applicants have to meet the age requirement. When receiving this visa, you can only stay in Ireland for one year. There is no way you can extend it.

Ireland investment visa

According to UNCATD’s report, Ireland’s Foreign Direct Investment reached 78 billion USD in 2019. Many people choose it to continue living. The retired people with enough funds, etc. want a safe country with a strong economy. The future is satisfying in Ireland. You can move to the country through an Ireland investment visa. The Irish government introduced it to attract foreign investments to the country. There are different ways of investments in Ireland. However, you must be eligible for each method of investment.

Ireland permanent residence permit

When you stay in Ireland long enough, you can apply for a permanent residence permit. When you hold permanent residency, there is no restriction over lengths of stay. Applicants must be eligible to apply for Permanent Residency. While lengths of stay in Ireland is a must, a few groups may not be eligible for a permanent residence permit. Such people can not apply for it even if they have stayed in the country long enough.

Ireland Residence permit

When you wish to stay in Ireland for longer than 90 days, you need an Ireland Residence permit. The residence permit much depends on the purpose of your visit to Ireland. It could be a work permit or study permit. However, you need a residence permit if you come in the following groups:

• People who come from non-EU, EEA, or Switzerland.
• Visitors who wish to stay in Ireland for longer than three months.

The residence permit also determines the rules of your stay. It will set what you can and can not do. You should know about residence permits when you want to apply for them.

Visa Waiver & British Irish Visa Scheme

Ireland and the UK are two neighboring countries living in peace with each other. To improve the relations and tourism industry, the visa waiver program got introduced. It allows a few countries to enter Ireland with a UK visa. The residents of these countries can enter Ireland with a UK visa. There is no need to apply for a visa. However, they can only visit Ireland for short-stays.

Aside from the visa waiver program, the British Irish Visa Scheme came into the picture to improve tourism. The Chinese and Indians can visit Ireland and the UK, holding the visa of one country. It means with a UK visa; they can visit Ireland. With a visa, they can visit the UK.

Ireland Permission Stamps

When you enter Ireland, officials put a stamp on your passport. When you wish to stay in Ireland for longer than 90 days, you need a stamp on your visa. Visa stamps get divided by numbers. The numbers represent:

• Limitations
• Things you can and can not do
• The lengths of your stay in Ireland

The stamps also get called residence stamps. You should know these stamps and their function. If you break the rules under each stamp, there will be penalties for you.

Ireland Visa Requirements

Visa requirements are part of the application process. You have to submit them to prove you are eligible. They also prove you have been honest with your application. The requirements are as follows:

• Application form
• Passport
• Photo
• Proof you have paid the visa fees
• Declaration letter
• Proof of accommodation
• If relatives are living in Ireland, proof of relationship.
• Previous visas (if applicable)
• Proof to have enough funds
• Proof you will leave when your visa expires

There are also requirements based on your job status. They are different if you are employed or self-employed.

Please remember that the Irish officials might ask for more requirements. There are also specific requirements for every type of visa.

Ireland Visa Application Process

Ireland’s visa application process is often online. Mostly, there is no need to visit the Irish embassy or consulate. However, you have to go through Border Control.

Please remember that the process might be different for every type of visa. Yet, we will explain the general process.

1. Discover if you need a visa or not

Before you begin the procedure, see if you need a visa or not. There are visa exemptions rules in every country. It might be true for you.

2. Check are you eligible for the visa or not

The first thing to accomplish is to find out eligibility. Before you begin the process, discover you are eligible for the visa or not. It differs for every type of visa. There might be age, financial, educational, etc. requirements. If you do not follow them, you have wasted your time and effort.

3. Application form

One you are sure you need a visa, complete its application form. You can complete most of the visa application forms online. Applicants can find the application form on the AVATS website. Please note that there might be a different application for your particular visa. You have to complete the right application form. Then print the summary page, date, and sign it. Remember that the system you use must have access to a printer.

4. Gather the requirements

There are also required documents for the visa. The supporting documents are to prove you are eligible. They will also prove the provided information on the application is correct and honest.

5. Submission of requirements

When you collected all the supporting documents, submit them. You have to either submit them online or in person. The printed summary page of the application to inform you. It will tell you where to submit them. If you have to submit them online, you should have access to a computer connected to a scanner.

6. Fees

There is also a fee for the application process. You have to pay the fees and attach the receipt to your application. The way you will have to pay is either online or in person.

7. Wait for processing

When submitted all the requirements and paid the fees, wait for processing. Wait until the Irish authorities process your application. The processing time depends on different factors. It is also different for each type of visa. When you read about a particular visa, we have explained the processing time.

When your application gets approved, the officials will mail it to your address. Providing that it gets denied, they will notify you.

8. Entering Ireland

Receiving a visa will not assure your entrance to the country. You have to pass the Irish Border Control. The visa officers will check your visa and documents. Please remember to bring everything with yourself. They have the permission not to let you in if they do not find you fit.