Ireland Working Holiday Visa: Apply from the US
If you are a young US citizen or resident that wants to enter Ireland, the Ireland Working Holiday Visa may be for you.
If you have any questions regarding your eligibility to get a working visa or need assistance with obtaining one, please contact our expert immigration lawyers. Give us a call at +1 844 290 6312, or contact us online, seven days a week via our live chat.
Page Contents
- What is the Irish Working Holiday Visa Programme?
- What are the requirements to be approved for the working holiday visa?
- What are the conditions of the Ireland Working holiday visa?
- What is the processing time for getting the visa?
- What is the application process for the Ireland Working Holiday Visa?
- What happens at the Garda National Immigration Bureau registration?
- Can one extend the Working Holiday Visa?
- How Total Law Can Help?
- Frequently Asked Questions about the Working Holiday Visa
What is the Irish Working Holiday Visa Programme?
The Irish Working Holiday (WHA) Visa program is for young people aged 18 – 35 from certain countries to enter Ireland for up to one year to experience the culture, travel, and visit the country. It is a sought-after scheme to be enrolled in, and therefore, places for citizens are limited.
To be eligible, you must be national from one of the following 10 countries:
- Argentina
- Australia
- Canada
- Chile
- Hong Kong
- Japan
- New Zealand
- South Korea
- Taiwan
- USA
The primary purpose of Ireland should be to have a holiday with working or studying being supplemental to the holiday.
With this visa, one can exit and enter Ireland as many times as one wants. This permits you to travel around Europe or other countries or even travel home to the USA for as long as you wish. However, it is imperative to keep in mind the one-year duration does not stop/start when you exit and enter Ireland.
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What are the requirements to be approved for the working holiday visa?
To get a working holiday authorization, there are a number of entry requirements to satisfy by the immigration officer.
For the Irish Working Holiday visa, you must meet the following requirements:
- You must be a citizen of any of the 10 eligible countries
- You must have a valid passport that’s valid for 30 days from the date of your proposed entry into Ireland
- It must be your first time participating in the visa scheme program
- You must hold a clean police record and court record from your country and any other countries you’ve lived in
- You must provide proof of payment of the visa application fee
- You are not permitted to bring any dependent family members with you. If you wish for dependent family members to come, they must have their own visa
- You must have medical insurance or private medical insurance
- You must have sufficient funds and be eligible to sponsor yourself throughout your time in Ireland. To prove you have sufficient funds, you must have a minimum of €1,500 and a return air ticket to leave Ireland or €3,000 without a return air ticket to leave Ireland.
As a US citizen, you must also be enrolled in full-time post-secondary education or graduated in the last 12 months.
What are the conditions of the Ireland Working holiday visa?
The conditions of the visa are as follows:
- You cannot stay longer than the duration (1 year) of the Irish Working Holiday Visa
- You cannot apply for a Working Holiday Visa more than once
- You must have valid medical insurance for the duration of your stay
- You must have the necessary financial means to support yourself for the initial period of your stay (while you look for work)
- You may not pursue study courses that last more than 6 months
What is the processing time for getting the visa?
The Ireland Working Holiday Visa processing time is between 6-8 weeks. If your application is accepted, you will receive it via mail to your address.
After this, you will have 12 months to use your Working Holiday Authorization. The WHA will be activated once you land in Ireland. If you do not activate the WHA within 12 months, it will no longer be valid.
What is the application process for the Ireland Working Holiday Visa?
To obtain your working holiday authorization, you must apply to the Garda national immigration bureau for a Working Holiday visa in the US before you travel to Ireland.
If you meet all requirements, highlighted above, and the quota for the US is not already filled up, you’ll receive a working holiday authorization.
People who qualify for the working holiday authorization program must bring the working holiday authorization with them to enter Ireland and re-enter Ireland. This paperwork is imperative as the immigration officer needs to see it when you enter immigration in Ireland.
At the border, the immigration officer will examine your documents and decide if you are eligible to enter Ireland or not.
Should the immigration officer be content with your documents, a landing stamp will be placed in your passport. The landing stamp indicates permission to enter and to stay up until a certain date in Ireland, which is usually 90 days. It is imperative that you then register at the Garda National Immigration Bureau in Ireland at an immigration registration office as soon as possible.
What happens at the Garda National Immigration Bureau registration?
At your appointment, you are required to bring your passport and original Working Holiday Authorization. If you do not bring both of these documents, your registration will not be able to be processed.
The cost of registration is €300 per person (or 316.33 USD).
At the registration office, an immigration officer will decide whether you qualify to have your immigration permission extended beyond 90 days. Should your registration documents be submitted successfully, the immigration officer will give you a new permission stamp in your passport and issue you with an Irish Residence Permit (IRP).
The Irish Residence Permit explains the type of permission you have. It is important to have your IRP with you.
Depending on where your registration took place, the immigration officer will either stamp your passport and register you before your appointment ends or your IRP will be sent to you in the mail within ten working days.
Can one extend the Working Holiday Visa?
No, it is not possible to extend an Irish Working Holiday Visa beyond the date it is issued. Once it expires, you have to leave Ireland, or you will be staying illegally.
In addition, you cannot apply for another Working Holiday Visa twice.
How Total Law Can Help?
Total Law is a successful immigration service that will help you through every step and stage of applying for a working holiday visa as a US citizen. This working holiday can be an excellent, exciting journey and to avoid disappointment, it is best to work with us and let us take away the stress of making your application.
The team at Total Law is extremely competent and a highly experienced group of immigration lawyers that are pros at helping people with the application, so they can go on to enjoy their time in Ireland.
Our team is available to support applicants every day of the week, either via phone at +1 844 290 6312 or via our online chat. Reach out today to find out how Total Law can support you.
Advice Package
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Appeal Package
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During this Advice Session, an immigration lawyer will assess your circumstances, explain your options and tell you what you need to do to make a strong application.
We review your circumstances, explain the relevant requirements, identify potential problems or refusal risks, and advise you on the evidence and next steps.
The Application Package
With our Application Package, your dedicated immigration lawyer will assess your case, prepare your application, check your supporting documents and submit your forms on your behalf.
We check your application for missing information, inconsistencies and potential issues before submission, helping you avoid common mistakes that could affect your case.
The Fast Track Package
Our Fast-Track Application Package gives your case priority with our immigration lawyers, helping you get your application prepared, checked and submitted as quickly as possible.
Your case receives priority handling, including accelerated document reviews, application preparation, communication with your caseworker and submission support.
The Appeal Package
Our immigration lawyers will review the decision, explain why it was refused and advise on the strongest option available to you, including an appeal, review or fresh application where appropriate.
We will examine the reasons for refusal, identify weaknesses or errors, assess your available options and provide the legal support and representation your case requires.
Related pages for your continued reading.
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is not possible for applicants from the US to extend their Irish working holiday visa. Should you wish to stay longer, you must leave Ireland and re-enter the country on a new, different immigration application as you cannot apply twice for the working holiday visa.
The application fee is for processing purposes and therefore is considered non-refundable.
No, the Working Holiday Visa is not eligible to count towards citizenship in Ireland.
Typically it takes between 6-8 for the application to be processed.
The cost is between $352 to $360 USD.
The Working Holiday Visa (WHV) program allows applicants to visit Ireland for up to 12 months and take on employment so long it’s not permanent.
