Ireland Visa From Canada

Canadian nationals do not require a visa to travel to Ireland, although other immigration procedures will apply, including submitting relevant documents at the Canadian border control, and registering their permission with local authorities upon arrival and applying for an appropriate Irish residence permit if they are going to stay there for more than 90 days.

If you are an EEA Swiss or UK citizen currently residing in Canada, you can travel to Ireland and even work, study or live there for 90 days or more without requiring a visa or residence permit.

If you are, however, from a visa-required country for Ireland, you will need to apply for an appropriate visa, i.e., a short stay ‘C’ visa or a long stay ‘D’ visa, to travel to Ireland from Canada.

The type of visa you need to apply for will depend on your reason(s) for travel as well as the length of your visit to Ireland.

Page Contents

• Do Canadians Need a Visa for Ireland?
• Ireland Travel Visa From Canada
• Short Term Irish Work Visas
• Long Term Irish Work Visas
• Coming to Ireland for Study for Less Than 90 Days
• Coming to Ireland for Study for More Than 90 Days
• Visa to Join Family in Ireland
• Investor Visa
• Retire in Ireland
• General Requirements for an Irish Visa
• Required Documents to Apply for an Irish Visa
• How to Apply for an Irish Visa From Canada?
• Irish Visa Application Cost
• Irish Visa Processing Time From Canada
• What Happens If My Irish Visa Application Is Successful?
• How to Renew Your Permission in Ireland?
• Permanent Residency and Citizenship in Ireland
• What If My Irish Visa Application Has Been Rejected?
• How Can Total Law Help?
• Frequently Asked Questions

Canadian nationals or residents moving to Ireland for work for any length of time must have a valid employment permit or immigration permission. There are various permissions available depending on (a) the duration of your employment and (b) your employment type.

While the work permission is enough for Canadians to travel to Ireland, visa-required country nationals will also have to apply for a visa once they get the work permission.

If you are coming to work in Ireland for a short term, i.e., for less than 90 days, you have the following options to choose from depending on your eligibility and requirements (subject to the fulfilment of additional conditions specified by the Department of Justice):

• Atypical Working Scheme (AWS): The AWS allows non-EEA and non-Swiss foreign nationals to work in Ireland in positions that are not covered by other employment rules. The Department of Justice and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (DETE) developed this scheme to facilitate specialised, highly-skilled employment of a short-term nature not supported by current Employment Permit legislation
• Company transfers within EEA or Switzerland: If you are already lawfully residing and working in any of the EEA countries or Switzerland, you may be allowed to work on a temporary basis in Ireland for your current employer. In such cases, you need an employment visa called a Van der Elst visa, and do not need to obtain a work permit
• Short stay business visa: You can travel to Ireland for up to 90 days for business purposes or for work that lasts up to 14 consecutive days on a short stay business visa
• Unpaid internship: If your college or university studies require you to complete an internship in Ireland, you may apply for an unpaid internship visa, which is valid for less than 90 days
• Performance or Tournament visa: You can come to Ireland for up to 90 days to stage a performance or to take part in a competitive tournament on a short stay performance or tournament visa
• Training visa: To attend a training course in Ireland for work or for professional development for up to 90 days, you will need to apply for a short stay training visa
• Conference or Event visa: A short stay conference/event visa that allows you to travel to Ireland for up to 90 days to attend a conference, symposium or any other events
• Exam visa: A short stay exam visa that allows you to travel to Ireland for up to 90 days to sit an exam necessary for your current employment or course of study

If Canadian citizens or residents intend to come to work in Ireland for a longer term, they must have a contract of employment and must apply for the relevant work permission to the Department of Justice, the DETE, or the Department of Foreign Affairs.

Once the permission is granted, they need to apply for a long stay ‘D’ visa before travelling to Ireland if required (not applicable for Canadian citizens).

Here are the long-term Ireland work visa options to choose from depending on your eligibility and requirements (subject to the fulfilment of additional conditions specified by the Department of Justice):

• Critical Skill: If you have any of the critical skills mentioned on the DETE’s Critical Skills Occupations List, then you or your Irish employer can apply for a critical skills employment permit. Once your permit has been granted by the DETE, you must apply for a work visa
• General Work: If you are a general worker your Irish employer can apply for an employment permit to the DETE. Once your permit has been granted, you must apply for a work visa (if required)
• Intra Company Transfer: If your employer is transferring your work temporarily to Ireland, you may be allowed to come to the country and work
• Internship: You will need to obtain an Internship employment permit issued by the DETE to do a paid internship in Ireland for more than 90 days
• Scientific Researcher on a Hosting Agreement: An Employment (Scientific Researcher) visa allows you to travel to Ireland as a Scientific Researcher on a Hosting Agreement for a period of between three months to five years, to carry out a research project with an accredited research institution
• Working Holiday: Young Canadians (aged 18-35 years) can apply for a working holiday authorisation or an international co-op/internship authorisation to work in Ireland for up to two years. While no formal job offers is required for the former, you must have a pre-arranged contract of employment or a formal internship offer for the latter
• Atypical Working Scheme (AWS): Work for a duration of greater than 90 days is permitted under the AWS only for foreign doctors providing locum services in the hospital and overseas nurses seeking to complete the Clinical Adaptation and Assessment Programme to work as a nurse in Ireland
• Visiting Academic: The Department of Justice may permit a visiting academic or researcher to work in the country for no longer than 12 months. Such individuals must be paid from outside Ireland
• Volunteer: If you intend to travel to Ireland to work in a volunteering role with an eligible organisation for up to two years (with an option to extend for a third year), you will need preclearance approval before travel
• Minister of Religion: If you intend to travel to Ireland to work as a Minister of Religion with an eligible religious body or faith community for up to three years (with a possible three-year extension), you will need preclearance approval before you travel

Canadian nationals immigrating to Ireland to study for less than 90 days can do so without applying for a visa or permit. Canadian residents, however, must apply for a short stay visa for study purposes if they are visa-required country nationals for Ireland.

A short stay ‘C’ visa will allow you to travel to Ireland and take up a short-term study course for less than 90 days. However, you will not be allowed to work (paid or unpaid) in Ireland nor use any publicly funded services (including public hospitals).

Visa-required Canadian residents must make their ‘C’ visa application from Canada. Requests to make a ‘C’ visa application from any other country where the applicant is not a legal resident will not be accepted.

Canadian nationals coming to study in Ireland for more than 90 days do not need to apply for a D visa to enter the country (although other immigration procedures will be applicable), but they must register with Irish immigration authorities (i.e., Immigration Service Delivery or ISD) upon arrival and obtain a residence permit. Canadian residents must apply for a long stay ‘D’ visa before travel if they are visa-required country nationals for Ireland.

A long-term study visa can be applied for up to three months before your date of travel to Ireland. If you are visiting any other country before travelling to Ireland, you must have the relevant visa for that country in your passport before applying for an Irish visa.

Please read and understand Ireland’s ‘Policy on Non-EEA Nationals’ studying in the country before you make your study visa application. Consider consulting an Irish immigration specialist lawyer if you need more clarity regarding this policy. To connect with our team of expert immigration advisers, call us on +1 844 290 6312 today.

If you are a Canadian citizen or resident wishing to come to Ireland for more than 90 days to live with your family member(s) settled in the country, you will need to apply for the relevant permission based on your personal circumstances.

Your options are as follows:

• If your family member residing in Ireland is an Irish citizen, you can apply for a long stay join family visa
• If your family member residing in Ireland is a UK national, you will need to apply through a preclearance or visa scheme
• If your family member residing in Ireland is an EU citizen, you can apply for a ‘Residence Card of a Family Member of a Union Citizen’ (also referred to as an EU Treaty Rights application)
• If your family member residing in Ireland is a non-EEA or non-Swiss national who is lawfully resident in Ireland, you can apply for a long stay (join family) visa
• Certain family members of an international protection beneficiary residing in Ireland can obtain an immigration permission under the International Protection Act 2015

If you are interested in starting your own business in Ireland, you may take the investor route to immigrate from Canada to Ireland. If you are a Canadian national, you do not need to apply for a D visa to enter the country (although other immigration procedures will be applicable), but must register with ISD upon arrival and obtain a residence permit. If you are a Canadian resident originally from a visa-required country for Ireland, you must apply for a long stay ‘D’ visa before travel.

In 2012, the Irish Government launched two programmes, the Immigrant Investor Programme (IIP) and the start up entrepreneur programme (STEP), to encourage high net worth investors and business professionals from outside the EEA and Switzerland to invest in the country, and in return acquire a secure residency status in Ireland.

The Irish government has closed the IIP with effect from close of business on 15 February 2023. The STEP is, however, still available for non-EEA and non-Swiss nationals (except for Russian or Belarusian citizens) if they would like to set up a business in Ireland and to work in the said business on a full-time basis.

The STEP permit holders are not permitted to be employed in any other capacity, and they must not become a financial burden on the Irish State. Once the permission is granted, you can apply for a ‘D’ visa (if applicable).

Financially independent, high net worth individuals may be able to retire to Ireland provided they meet all specified conditions. Such individuals will not be entitled to any government benefits otherwise provided to Irish citizens and permanent residents.

To retire in Ireland, you should have an individual income of €50,000 per year, and access to a considerable sum of money to cover any sudden major expenses. This amount should be equal to the price of a residential house in Ireland. Such proof of funds must be certified by an Irish accountancy firm having required expertise to understand the format of overseas banking/accountancy documentation.

You must first apply for permission by completing the TPER application form, then apply for a D visa if required (not applicable for Canadian passport holders), and complete the application process and register once you arrive in Ireland.

The visa requirements for immigrating to Ireland will depend on your reason to travel to the country, and your chosen visa/permit option thereof. Similarly, the requirement for supporting documents will vary based on your chosen immigration route.

Generally speaking, you must fulfil the following requirements to be able to travel to Ireland from Canada:

• Irrespective of whether or not you can travel visa-free to Ireland, you must have a valid passport or an equivalent travel document issued by the relevant Canadian authorities or by your country of origin (i.e., if you are a Canadian resident)
• You must fulfil all eligibility conditions with regard to the Irish visa/permit you are applying for, or for your stated travel purpose. For example, if you are travelling to the country for a short stay, you cannot take up paid or non-paid work in Ireland
• All Irish visas and permits come with their respective requirements for supporting documents. Even if you are visa-exempt, an Irish immigration officer may ask you for documents other than your passport at your port of entry
• You must be able to prove that you have sufficient funds to cover your expenses in Ireland during your stay. If you have eligible family members coming to Ireland as your dependants, you must be able to show proof of financial means to cover their costs as well

In this context, note that the EU has introduced a new Entry/Exit System (EES) from 12 October 2025 onwards to replace the current system of manually stamping travellers’ passports. Under this new system, travellers, even the visa-exempt ones, will have to register their biometric details.

However, since Ireland is not participating in EES, you will not be required to submit your biometrics at the port of entry if you are coming directly to Ireland from Canada.

We have provided here a list of documents generally required for Irish immigration. However, note that ISD may ask for other relevant documents depending on your specific immigration circumstances.

• Application summary form (from AVATS online application facility) and declaration, which you must print, sign and date
• Application Letter (signed and dated) with your full contact details, visa application number, all details of your family members in Ireland/in the UK/in any EEA member state, the reason for your proposed trip to Ireland, and a commitment from you that you will obey the conditions of your visa or permit in full, not rely on public services while in Ireland and leave the country before your immigration permission expires
• Proof of fee payment/fee exemption
• A current and valid passport with an expiry date that is at least six months after the intended date of the applicant’s departure from Ireland
• Previous passports, if any
• Previous visas, if any, including rejected visas
• Proof that the applicant intends to leave Ireland at the end of their valid visa or to make arrangements to apply for a new visa before the expiration of their current document
• Proof of sufficient funds/ financial stability to support self and any dependent family members (e.g., spouse, children)
• Biometrics (where required)
• Two standard size passport photographs in ISD’s prescribed format
• Other information that supports your reason for travel, such as work permits, acceptance letters, marriage certificate, etc.
• Proof of travel/medical insurance
• Travel itinerary
• Proof of accommodation in Ireland

If you are a Canadian resident and require a visa to enter Ireland, you must apply for a C (short stay, i.e., less than 90 days) or a D (long stay, i.e., more than 90 days) visa once you have confirmed your eligibility for your chosen immigration route.

Start your Irish visa application from Canada by filling up the application form online using ISD’s AVATS online application facility. Have all your supporting documentation ready with you for submission prior to filling up the form.

To apply for an Irish visa, you need to:

• Complete the online application form online
• Generate the application summary form and declaration at the end of the online application. You need to print, sign and date this application summary form and declaration
• Arrange your supporting documentation
• Submit your application, passport and supporting documents for processing at a visa application centre providing consular services

All your supporting documents must be sent by post to the following address:

Embassy of Ireland, Canada
150 Metcalfe Street,
Suite 1700,
Ottawa,
ON K2P 1P1.

Irish visa processing fees and costs will vary depending on your chosen immigration route. If you have chosen the STEP route, it will cost you a different fee, for example.

You may have to pay the following types of fees to immigrate to Ireland:

• A non-refundable visa fee if you need to apply for a visa to travel to Ireland (e.g., €60 for a single entry and €100 for multiple entries)
• An employment permit fee if you are moving to Ireland for work
• A residence permit fee of €300
• Fees for certified translated copies made of original required documents where required, etc.

Irish visa processing time will vary depending on the type of visa you are applying for and the volume of visa applications the embassy is handling at the moment. Usually, the Irish Embassy in Ottawa, Canada takes eight to 10 weeks to process a visa application.

The embassy will contact you once a decision regarding your visa application has been made. If you have applied directly to an ISD visa office, or if your application has been referred to ISD for a decision, you can check the ISD Visa Decision Weekly Listing using your case reference number.

If the embassy or ISD gets back to you requesting more details or additional/missing documents, reply as soon as you can to avoid further delay in your visa processing or a possible rejection.

If you are travelling to Ireland on a ‘D’ visa, you need to apply for an immigration permission, and then register it, once it is granted, within 90 days to apply for your Irish Residence Permit (IRP) card.

Registration is the process for the Irish immigration authorities to record how you have been given permission to stay in Ireland. Once you have successfully registered, you will receive your IRP card by post which will contain the information on the type of permission you have received.

Your IRP card will mention the date when your current permission to remain in Ireland expires, as well as the date by when your permission must be renewed. Usually, you can apply to renew your IRP up to 12 weeks prior to the expiry date.

If you wish to renew your permission and are eligible to do so, you will have to submit an online application through ISD’s online renewals portal. You have to follow the same procedure if you are eligible (and are switching to) an alternative permission (i.e., stamp) category.

After legally residing in Ireland for a minimum of five years (60 months) with long-term work authorisation, you may be eligible to apply for a Long Term Residency permit, provided you fulfil all relevant terms and conditions.

To apply for Irish citizenship by naturalisation as a foreign national, you must be a legal resident in Ireland for at least five years (or at least three years if you are a spouse or civil partner of an Irish citizen including those living in Northern Ireland) out of the previous nine years, including one year of continuous residence immediately before your application date.

If your Irish immigration visa application is refused, you will receive a letter from the visa office stating the reason why it has been refused and if you can appeal the decision. All visa appeals are handled directly by ISD. There is no fee. However, your appeal must reach the visa office within two months from the date on the letter of refusal.

If you submitted false or misleading information with your original application, you will not be allowed to appeal a visa decision and may be blocked from applying for an Irish visa for up to five years. The letter of refusal will state if this applies to you.

If your appeal is late, the original visa decision cannot be changed. However, you may submit and pay for a new visa application if you wish.