Non-European Union citizens who want to enter Ireland for tourism purposes can apply for an Ireland Tourist visa, otherwise known as an Ireland Visit visa or Short-stay 'C' Tourist visa. With this visa, you will be allowed to enter and stay for up to 90 days.
You can do several things with an Ireland Tourist visa, such as tourism, visiting a family member or friend, participating in short-term courses, getting married, and receiving medical treatment. If you are a European Union/European Economic Area (EU/EEA) citizen residing in Ireland, you may be permitted to bring your non-EU/EEA family members to come and stay with you.
Who Can Come to Ireland as a Tourist Without a Visa?
Some individuals can enter Ireland as tourists without a visa. These are EU/EEA nationals and citizens of countries with a visa-free agreement with the EU, such as Switzerland and the US.
Ireland is an EU country and has agreed to remove controls at its internal borders and encourage unrestricted movement for EU citizens. Therefore, if you are an EU citizen, you will just need your valid passport or national identification card to enter Ireland.
Additionally, citizens from certain countries, such as India, Kazakhstan, and Kuwait, are allowed to enter Ireland for tourism without a visa under the Short-stay visa waiver program.
What Are the Eligibility Requirements for the Tourist Visa?
Before you apply for a Tourist visa, you are required to meet certain eligibility requirements. You must:
- Provide your passport that will be valid for about 6 months after the expiration of your Tourist visa.
- Present the details of your previous Irish visa applications.
- Get the details of your family member who lives in Ireland, if applicable.
- Have sufficient funds to cover your expenses in Ireland.
It's best to seek legal assistance to ensure you are qualified for an Ireland Tourist visa. With legal assistance, you will know the right steps to take and apply appropriately.
What Is the Application Process for the Tourist Visa?
You can obtain an Ireland Tourist visa by following the below step-by-step guide:
Apply Online for the Visa
You must first visit the Irish Online Application Facility (AVATS) to complete the Ireland Tourist visa application form. When you start the application, you must choose the short-stay visa and tourist/visit as your visa type.
Complete the visa application form with the correct answers and print out the summary. Filling out the online application form with wrong answers may cause your application to be rejected, and you may also be banned from applying for an Irish visa for up to 5 years.
Submit Your Visa Documents
Within 30 days of starting your visa application online, you need to submit all your required documents. These documents must convince the Ireland immigration officials that you qualify for the visa.
Pay Your Fees
You must pay your visa processing fee while applying, which is €60 for a single entry or €100 for multiple entry. You may also be required to pay additional costs, such as a consular fee, legal fee, translation fee, etc., if necessary.
Submit Your Biometrics
You need to enquire from your visa application centre if you must submit your biometric information (fingerprints and photographs) along with your documents.
What Supporting Documents Are Required?
You are required to provide certain documents to support your application for an Ireland Tourist visa. These documents include:
- A passport that must be valid for an additional 6 months after the expiration of your visa.
- Two passport-sized photographs that conform with the Irish visa application photo requirements.
- Evidence of having sufficient funds.
- Details of your accommodation in Ireland.
- Receipt for your visa application fee payment.
- Proof that you have connections to your home countries that will cause you to leave Ireland once your visa expires.
- Summary sheet of your application.
- Information regarding your purpose of travelling to Ireland.
You must ensure that all documents in foreign languages are translated into English by a licensed translator and that they are duly notarised. You must submit your original documents because photocopies are not accepted. Your original documents will be returned to you once the Ireland immigration officials assess them and process your application.
What Is the Processing Time for Tourist Visa Applications?
It typically takes about 8 weeks to process your Ireland Tourist visa. That said, several factors, such as the time of the year (like the holiday season typically takes more time), the office that is processing your application or your unique situation, may impact your application processing time.
Besides that, incomplete or incorrect documents in your application may delay the processing time of your visa. Therefore, ensure you apply early enough to avoid unnecessary delays in the processing time.
How Long Can I Stay on a Tourist Visa in Ireland?
When you enter Ireland, you will be allowed to remain in the country for up to 90 days. However, if you wish to remain for more than 90 days, you must apply for residence upon your arrival.
Conclusion
If you are applying for an Ireland Tourist visa for the first time, you may not know how to navigate the application process correctly. Due to how overwhelming it is to gather several documents and make a solid application, it's best to involve an immigration lawyer to assist you.
An immigration lawyer will help assess your situation to know how eligible you are for the Tourist visa, help you gather all the needed documents, and even assist you in applying on your behalf.
