Irish Minister of Religion Visa

Working as a Minister of Religion in Ireland means carrying out the following duties and responsibilities for an established congregation, religious order, religious organization and faith community:

• Conduct spiritual worship and/or ceremonies to an established congregation
• Offer pastoral care to members of an established congregation (in the form of preaching)
• Conduct classes based on a religious ethos, supervise prayer meetings etc.
• Offer regular spiritual leadership
• Assisting religious workers
• Minister to the spiritual needs of an established congregation
• Pastoral visitation
• Provide senior administration support of a full-time nature to a religious institution/order/church
• Be a member of a religious community whose members take public vows of poverty, chastity and obedience

For any religious minister that wishes to stay in Ireland for over three months (90 days) as a Minister of Religion, then they must apply for permission to do so.

A key part of the pre-clearance documents is proof of sponsorship from the religious body or faith community that has invited you or wishes to hire you.

This sponsorship letter must confirm:

• There is a genuine need for the person applying
• The applicant is suitably qualified to perform the duties and responsibilities expected
• The applicant has a clean police record
• Child protection policies are in place in the religious body or faith community
• The applicant is cleared to work with children and vulnerable adults
• The applicant will be supported with funds and/or accommodation while in Ireland.

Additional supporting documents for pre-clearance include:

• A full-colour copy of your current passport and of all previous passports or valid travel document
• Evidence of financial support by the sponsoring organization completely tailored to your application
• Your statements from your bank account over the last six months and your personal savings
• Audited accounts of the sponsor over the last six months
• Evidence of educational qualifications
• Evidence of at least three years of experience as a Minister of Religion
• Police Clearance Certificate
• Evidence of medical insurance cover for the applicant and group insurance scheme for any additional family members
• Details regarding any previous visa refusals or deportations

Upon arriving in Ireland, your pre-clearance approval letter must be shown to an immigration officer at the border to be granted entry to enter Ireland to work as a minister of religion. Your online application form must be accurate and can not contain mistakes or inconsistencies. If it does have any false or inaccurate information, it may result in you being prevented from making any new applications for up to 5 years.

Any non-EEA nationals who want to work as a Minister of Religion in Ireland must have been offered the position by an eligible religious body or faith community.

This religious body must:

• Be established in Ireland
• Have a congregation within Ireland
• Have dedicated premises in Ireland serving the religious body
• Must be a body as opposed to a single sponsor

While in Ireland, your sponsor is responsible for you and is responsible for ensuring that you leave Ireland when your permission is due to expire.

Can my family join me in Ireland?

If your family is a citizen of a visa required country, they must apply for long-stay Join Family visas after you have received your pre-clearance permission and can not travel abroad to Ireland without it. They must submit all the required supporting documentation for a Join Family visa,

If they are granted a Join Family visa, they must then apply for permission to stay in Ireland on arrival.  If successful, their permission will then be dependent on your immigration permission, which means if your permission is withdrawn or if you do not renew your permission, both you and your family must leave Ireland.

If your family members who intend to join you in Ireland are citizens of a non-visa required country, they do not need to apply for a Join Family visa or any other type of visa before joining or accompanying you. However, they must present themselves to an Immigration Officer at the border and apply for permission to stay.