Ireland is a wonderful nice country with lots of attractions. Millions of people visit it every year. If you are going to visit it next time, you might need an Ireland visitor visa. In this text, we will explain different types of Ireland visitor visas, who needs them, the requirements, its application process, and more.
Who Needs an Ireland Visitor Visa?
Ireland visitor visa has different categories. Yet all of them are short-stay. Whether you need a short-stay visa for Ireland depends on your nationality. Some countries do not need a short-stay visa for Ireland. They can enter the country with a travel document or passport. Providing that you are from one of these countries, there is no need to apply for a visitor visa.
Providing that you are not a national or citizen of the visa-free countries, you have to apply for a visitor visa. The lengths of your stay in Ireland does not matter.
Ireland visitor visa Requirements
The requirements for an Ireland visitor visa is as follows:
- Application
- Declaration Letter
- Proof of accommodation
- Health insurance
- Proof of paid visa fees
- Passport
- Photo
- Financial independence proof
- Proof you will leave Ireland on time
- Proof to have a clean record
- Invitation letter
- Previously rejected visa (if applicable)
Ireland Visitor visa Application Process
The application process for Ireland visitor visas is as follows:
1. See you need a visa or not
Before you apply for an Ireland visitor visa, see whether you need it or not. As mentioned above, a few countries do not need it. You might be one of them. Try not to waste your time, effort, and energy.
2. Eligible people
Once you know you need a visitor visa, see if you are eligible or not. You might not qualify for the visa. If it is true and you apply, the application will get refused by officials.
3. Application
Complete the application form for Ireland visitor visa on Ireland government official website (AVATS). Concentrate on completing the right application. There could be a bit different. When you filled in everything, print the summary page; sign and date it.
4. Requirements
Collect the requirements for the visitor visa. They are to prove your identity and the purpose of your visit.
5. Submission of requirements
Applicants have to submit the gathered requirements to the Irish officials. You either have to submit them online or in-person to the Irish embassy. The summary page of the application will notify you of where to submit them.
6. Visa fees
Pay the fee for the visa application. The cost of each visa is various. The fee is different for each visa type.
7. Wait for processing
In the end, wait until the officials process the application. The processing time is different for every type of visa. It also depends on a few elements.
8. Border Control
When you receive the visa, you can travel to Ireland. Yet, at the Irish border, you have to go through the Border Control. The immigration officers will check all of your documents. They might not let you into the country.
If everything is fine with them, they will stamp your visa and let you in. The stamp determines the valid duration of your stay in Ireland.
Types of Ireland Visitor Visa
Ireland Tourist visa
Ireland tourist visa is the visa to visit the country for tourism. You can take it to visit places and see friends and family. Ireland visa rules are a bit different than Schengen members. If you apply with your family, each family member must apply for his/her visa. The longest validity fo tourist visa is three months. In case you need to stay longer, apply for a different visa.
Not everyone needs an Ireland tourist visa. A few countries are exempt from it: separate
- EU/EEA members
- The US
- The UK
Before applying for a tourist visa, see whether you need it or not.
Ireland transit visa
Ireland transit visa is to catch a connecting flight in one of the Irish airports. It also gets called Ireland airport visa. If you have to change the way you are traveling in Ireland, you need a transit visa. People need a transit visa providing that they have to get to one of Ireland seaports.
A Transit visa does not authorize you to enter Ireland soil. You could only stay in the international transit area and wait for connecting flights.
Not all countries need a transit visa for Ireland. Many countries, like the EU members, do not need it. Do research to see whether you need a transit visa or not.
Ireland Visa Waiver Program
The nationals of a few countries can visit Ireland with the UK visa. The program gets called Visa Waiver Program. The nationals of eligible countries do not need to receive an Ireland visa. They can visit Ireland with a UK visa. However, people can not work or study with a UK visa in Ireland. Visa Waiver Program is only for tourism purposes. Also, if you have a UK long-stay visa, you will not become eligible for the Waiver program. Only those who have a UK short-stay visa and are from the eligible countries can use the waiver program. Also, the holders of UK transit visa are not eligible to use the program.
Applicants can not stay in Ireland for longer than 90 days. The validity of the UK visa does not matter. Even if your UK visa is valid for six months, you may not stay in Ireland for longer than three months. Remember that eligible countries can not visit the UK with an Ireland visa.
British Irish Visa Scheme (BIVS)
The citizens of India and China can visit Ireland and the UK while having only one country’s visa. If a Chinese or Indian national has a UK visa, he/she can visit Ireland and vice versa. This program gets called British Irish Visa Scheme. It is to improve the tourism industry and help better interactions between. However, the people who have a short-stay visa can only use the program. They will become ineligible if having a long-stay visa of the two countries. Also, the UK visa or Ireland visa must have a stick for the British Irish Visa Scheme. Applicants can not use the scheme if the visa does not hold the stick. Consider this point in your application process.
Under a BIVS, you can only stay in Ireland for 90 days. However, the longest time you can stay in the UK is 180 days. The permitted time you can stay in the countries depends on different elements.
Let’s sum up…
In this blog, we covered all you should know about Ireland visitor visa.
We have looked at requirements, application process, different types of Ireland visitor visa, and more.
Please visit the menu to receive more Info on Ireland visas.
You could also find out more about other countries’ visas by looking at the homepage of Visa Library.
If you have gained information about visas, please write it in the comment section. They are great tips for visa applicants.
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- Support
- August 25, 2020
I am an Irish citizen and Colombian resident.
I would like to bring my long term Colombian partner to a family wedding in Ireland in August.
I see the Schengen and the UK do not ask for tourist or visitor visa for Colombians and that Ireland has a “Short Stay Visa Waiver” for Colombians, but confusingly that it does not apply for entry after November 2022.
This means, that for a simple short tourism stay in Ireland my partner needs to travel 1000km to Bogotá and 1000km back to Santa Marta just to make an in-person application to enter Ireland as a tourist from the UK or the EU, who both allow her entry with no such regressive policy.
Can I please ask you to resolve this in one of a number of ways?:
1. Extend the visa waiver beyond Nov 2022
2. Remove the need for in-person tourist visa, allowing online application instead to address Ireland’s out-of-step Colombian visitor requirements
3. Step into line with your EU & UK counterpart’s and indeed into the 21st century, recognising the huge steps Colombia is making to integrate into the global economy by removing all tourist visa requirements
Regarding your request, the Irish government would have to decide whether to prolong the visa waiver or eliminate the requirement for an in-person tourist visa application. It is worth mentioning, however, that many nations have visa restrictions and rules in place for various reasons, including security, immigration control, and reciprocity.
That being stated, your companion has a few choices for applying for an Irish visa. The Irish embassy in Colombia should be able to give additional information on particular visa kinds and conditions. However, alternatives might include a short-term visa waiver, a tourist visa, and a marriage visa.
Check with the Irish embassy or consulate for the most up-to-date information and assistance on the visa application procedure and requirements. Best wishes with your plans!