Irish Visitor Visas for Canadian Citizens and Residents

A visitor visa, also sometimes called a tourist visa, gives foreign nationals permission to visit Ireland. The visitor visa generally requires the applicant to complete an online application process in advance of their travel. A visa application requires you to provide personal information such as proof of identity, details of the nature of your visit, and documents to support your claim.

If you are a Canadian citizen planning a trip to Ireland, whether you need to apply or register for permission depends on the overall length of your stay.

Canadians may travel to Ireland for up to 90 days without obtaining a visa. During this time, Canadian citizens are permitted to study, conduct business, and visit with friends and family members.

Even though a visa is not required in this instance, you will still be subject to border control as you enter the country. If you are refused entry you will have to leave Ireland. In order to travel to Ireland for 90 days or less, you will need a passport that is valid for the duration of your trip to Ireland and that has at least one empty page left to stamp.

However, residents of Canada who aren’t citizens of non-visa-required countries must apply for a visitor visa if they wish to visit the country.

For stays of longer than 90 days, Canadian citizens and residents will need to apply for a visa or register for a residence permit. There are a variety of routes to obtaining a long-stay visa or residence permit depending on your situation. Generally, these are to:

• Work
• Study
• Join family
• Retire

Each category may have additional eligibility requirements of its own. Typically visas can be applied for online at the Irish government website. For some Canadian citizens who are eligible, dual citizenship in Ireland may be an option. Other Canadians may need to register for a residence permit once in Ireland. A Total Law professional can guide you through this process.

Work Permit

When applying for a Long Stay Visa on the basis of work, you will need to first apply for permission from the Department of Justice, the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs, or the Department of Enterprise, Trade, and Employment in the form of a work permit.

Eligibility requirements for a work permit in Ireland include having a qualified job offer and being determined to be of good character. During the application process, you will need to select which employment permit you are applying under.

Working Holiday Authorization

Young people who are between the ages of 18 and 35 may apply for a working holiday authorization. Unlike a work permit, the working holiday authorization program does not require you to obtain a job prior to entering the country. It allows you to enter the country for up to 12 months to work. The WHA program has its own eligibility requirements separate from other visas. These requirements include:

• You must be 18 years or older
• You will only be permitted to work for the same employer for 6 months of time
• The WHA must be applied for from outside of Ireland

In order to apply for the long-stay study visa in Ireland, you must:

• Have enrollment in an accepted course of study
• Provide a signed letter of enrollment from your academic institution or university
• Provide proof of payment for course fees
• Register for immigration permission when staying in Ireland for longer than 90 days. You can register for permission at the local Garda registration officer or at the registration office in Dublin. You must register before your landing stamp expires. Applicants will need to bring a current passport and supporting documentation to the registration office to be reviewed.

Foreign nationals who travel to Ireland to join a family member who currently lives in the country will apply based on the family member’s citizenship and employment status.

• When applying to join a family member who is an Irish citizen, you can simply apply for the long-stay join family visa.
• When applying to join a family member who is not an Irish citizen, you may need to apply for preclearance or other immigration permissions.
• Whether you are visa-required or not, for stays of 90 days or more you must register with the Garda National Immigration Bureau or Immigration Service Delivery Registration office upon arrival in Ireland before your landing stamp expires.

Ireland is a popular destination for retirees. Foreign nationals who plan to visit Ireland to retire will have to undergo a significant amount of preparation.

You may initially apply for a long-stay visa. You will then have to register for residence permission once you arrive in Ireland.

Once you stay in Ireland for a certain amount of reckonable residence, you can apply for Irish naturalization provided you meet all other eligibility requirements. The INIS requires a significant amount of income for non-EEA foreign nationals who plan to retire in Ireland.

Costs and fees may vary depending on your travel plans and circumstances.

• Single entry visa fee: approximately 102 CAD
• Multiple entry visa fee: approximately 171 CAD
• Transit visa fee: approximately 42 CAD
•  The fee for a preclearance application is 102 CAD

Applicants may have additional costs and fees for international travel, visa services, work permits, and residence permits.

Visa requirements may be different depending on what category you are applying under. When you fill out the online visa application, a list of supporting documentation will be provided. Required documents may include:

• Receipt of application form and proof of payment
• Financial proof, such as bank statements that show you have sufficient funds to support yourself while in the country
• Your current and valid Canadian passport as well as previous passports
• Proof of significant ties to your home country such as a home or spouse
• An itinerary that shows the details of your trip, including the date you plan to leave Ireland

Note that documents that are not originally written in English or Irish will be required to be provided along with certified translations. All visa applications that are submitted without the complete and correct documentation are subject to refusal. The visa office may request additional documents during the application process. Missing information is one of the most common reasons for a visa to be delayed or rejected.