Irish Immigration
We are a team of highly-qualified immigration lawyers who want to help you successfully apply for a visa to Ireland. Regardless of whether you want to visit Ireland short-term or you want to immigrate there permanently, we can assist.
Call us today on 0333 305 9375 to find out more about the services we offer and discuss your individual needs and goals.
Do I need a visa to travel to Ireland?
If you are a foreign citizen and you are thinking of travelling to Ireland, you might have to first apply for an Irish Visa.
You have to obtain a visa prior to arriving in Ireland if you are a citizen of a non-EEA country. There are many kinds of Irish visa you might be eligible for depending on your circumstances and the reason for your journey to Ireland.
Citizens of the UK, EU/EEA member states, and citizens of Switzerland have the right to come to Ireland and remain there for up to 90 days without a visa. During this period they can work and study there freely.
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Do I need a visa to travel to Ireland?
If you are a foreign citizen and you are thinking of travelling to Ireland, you might have to first apply for an Irish Visa.
You have to obtain a visa prior to arriving in Ireland if you are a citizen of a non-EEA country. There are many kinds of Irish visa you might be eligible for depending on your circumstances and the reason for your journey to Ireland.
Citizens of the UK, EU/EEA member states, and citizens of Switzerland have the right to come to Ireland and remain there for up to 90 days without a visa. During this period they can work and study there freely.
What are Short Stay ‘C’ Visas to Ireland?
Those who are thinking of going to Ireland for up to 90 days should apply for a short-term visa to Ireland. Visas that allow its holders to remain in the country for up to 3 months, without the possibility of extension, are known as Short Stay ‘C’ Visas to Ireland.
There are several visas that belong to this category so the specific one you should apply for depends on the reason for your trip to Ireland. You might be eligible for one of the following visas:
- Tourist Visa
- Business Visa
- Family/Friends Visa
- Conference/Event Visa
- Atypical Working Scheme Visa
- Exam Visa
- Internship Visa
- Join Ship Visa
- Marriage Visa
- Medical Treatment Visa
- Performance/Tournament Visa
- Training Visa.
If you are not sure which Short Stay Irish Visa you should apply for, talk to our lawyers. They can assess your circumstances and help you choose the right visa to Ireland.
What are Long Stay ‘D’ Visas to Ireland?
Foreign citizens who want to spend more than 90 days in Ireland have to obtain a Long Stay ‘D’ Visa to Ireland. These visas are intended for those who want to come to Ireland to work, study, or join a family member.
There are several visas that fall under the Long Stay ‘D’ category. Depending on your circumstances, you might be eligible for one of the following visas:
If you want to join an Irish family member in Ireland, there are several available routes. These include:
Similarly if you want to come to Ireland on the Employment Visa, you have to choose one of nine possible Employment Permits.
Our immigration lawyers can explain to you in detail what are the eligibility requirements for each type of Long Stay ‘D’ Visa to Ireland.
How can I visit Ireland as a tourist?
Citizens of non-EEA countries must apply for an Irish Visitor Visa to be able to visit Ireland for the purpose of tourism. If you want to explore Ireland or complete a short-term English language course, you should apply for this permit.
This visa is a Short Stay ‘C’ Visa, which means that if your application is successful, you will be able to stay in Ireland for up to 90 days. While your visa is valid, you can travel around the country and enjoy your holiday there but you are not allowed to work.
Certain non-EEA countries take part in the Short Stay Visa Waiver Programme which allows its citizens to travel to Ireland for tourism without having to apply for the visitor visa first.
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
If you are not sure whether you need a Tourist Visa to visit Ireland, talk to our immigration lawyers. They will explain to you in detail what the application process looks like.
How can I work in Ireland?
To be able to work in Ireland, non-EEA citizens need to first obtain an Employment Permit and then apply for a Work Visa.
Depending on your area of expertise, you might be eligible for one of the nine Employment Permits to Ireland, which are:
- The General Employment Permit
- The Critical Skills Employment Permit
- The Dependent/Partner/Spouse Employment Permit
- Intra-Company Transfer Employment Permit
- Exchange Agreement Employment Permit
- Internship Employment Visa
- Sports and Cultural Employment Permit
- Contract for Services and Employment Permit
- Reactivation Employment Permit.
Each Employment Permit comes with slightly different eligibility requirements regarding your income, qualifications, and work experience. Once you receive your permit, you have to apply for a Long Stay ‘D’ Visa to Ireland.
The Critical Skills Permit and the General Employment Permit are the most sought-after Employment Permits to Ireland.
To be eligible for the Critical Skills Permit, you have to be a highly-skilled worker coming to work in one of specific eligible occupations that are in shortage one the Irish labour market. This permit is a path to permanent residency in Ireland.
As for the General Employment Permit, almost all jobs are covered by it but you have to hold a job offer from an Irish employer and you need to have relevant qualifications, skills, and experience required for the job.
How can IAS help me with my application for a visa to Ireland?
Our lawyers have expert knowledge of Irish immigration law and they are committed to business helping clients successfully apply for their chosen visa to Ireland. Regardless of whether you want to come to Ireland short or long-term, our lawyers can help.
They will ensure that you choose the right visa for your circumstances and will help you prepare documents that prove your eligibility for it. Your lawyer will guide you through each step of the application process from beginning until the very end, making sure that you do not have to go through it alone.
Thanks to our lawyers you can easily achieve your desired result and start preparing for your trip to Ireland. Moreover, getting assistance from an immigration expert can help you maximise the chances of your application being accepted.
If you decide to go through the application process alone, you might make mistakes or forget to submit some of the required evidence. These problems can be avoided if you hire one of our lawyers. They will review your application before you submit it so you can be sure that it has been completed to the highest standard.
To find out more about how we can help, call us today on 0333 305 9375.
Advice Package
Comprehensive immigration advice tailored to your circumstances and goals.
Application Package
Designed to make your visa application as smooth and stress-free as possible.
Fast Track Package
Premium application service that ensures your visa application is submitted to meet your deadline.
Appeal Package
Ensure you have the greatest chance of a successful appeal. We will represent you in any case.
The Advice Package
With our untimed Advice Session, our professional immigration lawyers will review your case and provide you with comprehensive advice, completely tailored to your needs and your situation.
The Application Package
With our Application Package, your dedicated caseworker will advise you on your application process and eligibility. Your legal advisor will then complete and submit your forms to the Home Office on your behalf.
The Fast Track Package
Our Fast-Track Application Package is a premium service for those who need to submit their application in time with their deadlines. Your case will become a top priority for our lawyers and you will benefit from our highest-quality services.
The Appeal Package
By choosing our Appeal Package, you can rely on our lawyers’ legal knowledge and experience to ensure you have the highest chance of a successful appeal. We will also fully represent you in any hearings/tribunals.
Related pages for your continued reading.
Frequently Asked Questions
Before you start preparing for your journey to Ireland, you need to determine whether you need to have a visa to enter the country.
If you are a citizen of an EU/EEA member state, or a citizen of Switzerland, you do not need a visa to enter Ireland. You just need to show your passport or national id and you can stay in Ireland without any restrictions for up to 90 days. After that you might be able to stay longer if you find employment or begin a study course.
Those who are nationals of non-EEA countries, however, need to apply for a visa before coming to Ireland. If you arrive in Ireland without a visa, you will not be allowed in.
There are 6 Irish immigration stamps, which indicate the terms of your immigration permission in Ireland. That means that they indicate what you can and cannot do in Ireland and how long you can stay in the country.
For example, Stamp 4 means that you can stay in Ireland for a certain period of time, which counts as reckonable residence, and you have the right to work without having to apply for an employment permission.
UK citizens have the right to move to Ireland freely without having to apply for a visa or meet any specific requirements. They can do so thanks to the Common Travel Area (CTA), which is an agreement between Ireland and the UK giving their citizens a number of rights.
Generally, if you are coming to Ireland on a Short Stay ‘C’ Visa, you are not allowed to work. There might be some exceptions if you hold the Business Visa or the Atypical Working Scheme Visa, but still you will not be able to engage in full-time employment that requires an employment permit.