Invitation Letter for Irish Visa

If you are a national of a visa-required country, you may need to apply for an Irish Short Stay ‘C’ visa before travelling to Ireland. The visa category you choose depends on the purpose of your visit.

If you plan to visit friends or family in Ireland, you should select the Short Stay ‘C’ visit (family/friend) visa category when completing your application.

Applicants under this category must include an invitation letter from a friend or family member they plan to visit.

The invitation letter must explain why you are being invited to Ireland, the dates of your planned visit, and how the host knows you. The host must sign and date the letter and provide a clear, legible colour copy of the photo page of their passport or National Identity Card.

Where the host is a non-EU, non-EEA, or non-Swiss national living in Ireland, they must also provide copies of their valid Irish Residence Permit and current immigration permission stamp.

If they will cover any costs of your visit, the letter must explain the expenses they will pay and include evidence that they can afford them.

Page Contents

• Overview of the Irish Visa Invitation Letter
• What Should the Invitation Letter State?
• Additional Information to be Included in the Invitation Letter
• Who Should Write the Invitation Letter?
• What Documents Should Be Included With the Invitation Letter?
• Sample Invitation Letter
• How Can Total Law Help?

At its most basic, an Irish visa invitation letter should include a statement from the friend(s) or family member(s) that they are inviting you to come to Ireland to visit them.

It must also include:

• The reason why you’ve been invited to Ireland by the friend(s) or family member(s)
• The dates they’ll be seeing you in Ireland
• Details of how they know you
• Confirmation that they are inviting you to stay with them in their home (if applicable)
• The dates you are invited to stay with them and their full postal address, including EirCode (if applicable)

The letter must also include a statement from the friend(s) or family member(s) that they understand you must:

• Obey the conditions of your visa in full
• Not rely on public services (such as public hospitals) or become a burden on the State
• Leave Ireland before your immigration permission expires

The friend or family member who writes your invitation letter must provide identity documents with the letter. This applies whether they are an Irish citizen or another person lawfully resident in Ireland.

The invitation letter must include a clear, legible colour photocopy of the photo page of the host’s passport or National Identity Card.

If the person inviting you is not an EU, EEA, or Swiss citizen, they must also provide:

• A clear, legible colour photocopy of their current valid Irish Residence Permit
• A clear, legible colour photocopy of their current valid immigration permission stamp in their passport

If your friend or family member will fund or contribute to the cost of your visit, they must also provide financial evidence. This should demonstrate that they have sufficient funds to cover the expenses listed in their invitation letter.

They should provide an up-to-date bank statement and the following evidence of their income or business activities.

If they are employed, they must provide:

• Their three most recent payslips
• Their most recent tax document, such as an Employment Detail Summary from Revenue
• A letter from their employer confirming their employment

If they are self-employed, they must provide a letter that includes:

• A description of their business and the goods or services it provides
• Evidence that the business is trading
• Their most recent financial accounts
• Their most recent tax return
• Evidence of payments received from customers within the previous six months

You must also provide your own bank statements for the past 6 months with your visa application, even if another person will fund all or part of your visit. Explain any large or irregular deposits shown in those statements.

If you will stay in the host’s home, include evidence that they live at the stated address, such as a tenancy agreement and a recent utility bill.

Below is an example of what an Irish visa invitation letter may look like. Note that this is only a rough template, and sections may be added, taken away, or edited as needed according to your own personal circumstances.

<Host’s Full Name>
<Host’s Full Postal Address>
<EirCode>
<Telephone Number>
<Email Address>

<Date>

To Whom It May Concern,

I am writing to invite <Applicant’s Full Name>, holder of passport number <Passport Number>, to visit me in Ireland from <Arrival Date> to <Departure Date>.

<Applicant’s Full Name> will stay with me at <Full Address, Including EirCode> for the duration of their stay in Ireland.

I know <Applicant’s Full Name> because <explain the relationship, such as “we studied together at University College Cork from <year> to <year>” or “they are my <relationship>”>. We have known each other since <year>.

The purpose of the visit is for <Applicant’s Full Name> to visit me and spend time with friends or family in Ireland. During the visit, we plan to <brief description of planned activities, if relevant>.

<I will not contribute to the cost of the visit. Applicant’s Full Name will pay for their own travel, accommodation, and living expenses.>

OR

<I will contribute to the cost of Applicant’s Full Name’s visit. I will pay for <state the expenses, such as accommodation, meals, local travel, or flights>. My estimated contribution is €<amount>. I have enclosed evidence showing that I can meet these costs.>

I understand that <Applicant’s Full Name> must obey the conditions of their visa in full, must not rely on public services or become a burden on the State, and must leave Ireland before their immigration permission expires.

I am an Irish citizen and have enclosed a clear, legible colour copy of the photo page of my passport.

I can be contacted at <Telephone Number> or <Email Address> if further information is required.

Yours faithfully,

<Host’s Signature>

<Host’s Full Name>