Arranging visas can be one of the most important parts of planning your study abroad experience. Our team is here to guide and support you in this process, providing clear information and practical assistance before and during your stay in Ireland.
Do You Need to Apply for a Visa?
Find out what you need to enter Ireland based on your nationality on the Irish Immigration website.
Submitting your application
Please ensure you have completed the correct application form and supplied all the required documentation. A full list of the different application forms and the necessary documents can be found on the Irish Immigration website.
The processing times for visa applications vary depending on the visa type and the Office to which the application is lodged.
Visa applications are considered in as speedy a manner as possible but timeframes for decision can be dependent on a number of factors including, the number of applications received and the resources available to process them at any one time.
While the vast majority of applications are dealt with within a much shorter timeframe, it is recommended that applicants allow as much time as possible when applying for a visa. Just in case further enquiries have to be made, we advise you to apply for your visa eight weeks before the date you plan to travel.
Note: Applicants planning on a long term or permanent stay in Ireland, such as, in the case of join family visa applications, should be aware that they will require more in-depth consideration than short-stay visa applications and it is recommended applicants make their applications as early as possible. For further information please see IrishImmigration.ie.
You need to:
If you submit false or misleading information in support of your application, it will result in the refusal of your visa application and may have a negative impact on any future applications made.
How long does it take?
If you’re applying for a business visa and it’s being processed in an Irish Embassy or Consulate, you should have a decision within 10 working days, provided all your documentation is in order.
Some categories of visa (eg Study, Visit or Join Family visas) can take longer, depending on the time of the year.
Tracking your application
Track your application by contacting the Embassy or Consulate to which it was submitted, quoting the reference number from your application.
If you sent your application to Dublin, you should contact Immigration Service Delivery directly.
Notification
If you applied at an Embassy or Consulate, they will contact you once a decision has been made.
If you applied directly to INIS in Dublin, or if your application was referred to INIS for a decision, you can check the Immigraion Service Delivery’s Visa Decision Weekly Listing using your reference number.
