Ireland Tourist Visa

Citizens of EU/EEA countries and citizens of Switzerland do not have to apply for the Tourist Visa to visit Ireland. If you are a citizen of an EU/EEA member state or Switzerland you can present your passport or national id card when entering Ireland and you will be able to remain there for 90 days visa-free.

Additionally, under the Short Stay Visa Waiver Programme, citizens of certain countries can also travel to Ireland for tourism without a visa. These countries are:

• Belarus
• Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Montenegro
• Russian Federation
• Serbia
• Turkey
• Ukraine
• Bahrain
• Kuwait
• Oman
• Qatar
• Saudi Arabia
• India
• Kazakhstan
• People’s Republic of China
• Thailand
• Uzbekistan.

Those coming to Ireland from a country eligible for the Short Stay Visa Waiver Programme can remain in Ireland for up to 90 days.

All non-EEA citizens who need the Tourist Visa to visit Ireland have to meet the following eligibility requirements:

• You have enough money to support yourself during your visit to Ireland
• You have a passport valid for at least six months past the date when you intend to leave Ireland
• You can provide details of any family members living in Ireland and the EU
• You can provide details of any applications for Irish visas you submitted previously.

If you are not sure whether you meet the eligibility requirements or whether you need to apply for a Tourist Visa to visit Ireland, talk to our own immigration officer or lawyers. They can assess your eligibility for the visa and help you apply. If based on the purpose of your trip to Ireland they determine that the Tourist Visa is not the right choice for you, they can help you choose another, more appropriate immigration permit.

The first step of the application process for the Tourist Visa is to complete and submit an online application form. Once you do that, you will see a web page where you will find your application number and your application summary sheet. Make sure you note the number as you will need it to check the progress in the processing of your visa application transaction number one. As for the application summary sheet, you have to print, sign, and date it. Then you have to submit it alongside other supporting documents.

After submitting the online application you have to pay the first visa fee and application fee. Then you can start gathering evidence that proves your eligibility for the visa. It is advisable to hire an immigration lawyer to ensure that you prepare all the documents that might be required. The failure to include some of them can lead to your application being delayed or even rejected.

Finally, the last step of the application is to send the portfolio of evidence to the same embassy or consulate immigration office displayed on your application summary sheet.

As part of your application for the Tourist Visa to Ireland you have to submit the following documents:

• Your application summary sheet
• Details of the purpose of your visit to Ireland
• Your passport valid for at least six months past your stay in Ireland
• Information about your accommodation in Ireland
• Two coloured passport size photographs
• Proof of having enough finances to support yourself during your stay in Ireland
• Evidence of having ties in your home country that will make you leave Ireland after your visa’s validity ends
• Receipt confirming that you paid the visa application fee.

If any of the documents were issued in a language other than English or Irish, you have to have them translated by a certified translator. Moreover, all documents you submit have to be originals. Photocopies and other documents will not be accepted but do not worry because the original documents you submit will be returned to you after immigration officials review them and process your application.

There is no set time frame for the processing of applications for the Tourist Visa to Ireland. How long you will have to wait depends on how complex your case is. Nevertheless, most applications for business visa are processed within eight weeks.

If you forget to include some of the required supporting documents, the processing of your application will be delayed. Similarly, if the immigration office is dealing with a large number of applications, you can expect to wait longer.

Once your application is accepted, you will receive a Tourist Visa stamp in your passport and you will have the right to travel to Ireland. If your tourist visa application is rejected, you will be given reasons for the refusal.

To maximise your chances of a positive outcome, hire one of our immigration lawyers. They will help you ensure that your application has been completed to the highest standard.

The Irish Tourist Visa is a Short Stay ‘C’ Visa type, which means that its holders can stay in the country for up to 90 days. When applying for the Tourist Visa applicants can indicate whether they want to obtain a single entry or a multiple entry permit but the latter is granted only in exceptional circumstances.

It is not possible to extend your visa office the Irish Tourist Visa. If you want to come to Ireland to stay there for more than 90 days, you have to apply for one of the Long Stay ‘D’ Visas.