Ireland Exam Visa

The Exam Visa to Ireland allows foreign citizens to come to Ireland to undertake a certain type of exam within 90 days of arrival. Find out more about the eligibility requirements and the application process.

To receive assistance with applying for the Exam Visa, call our immigration experts today on +44 (0)333 414 9244 or use our online chat service.

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Benefits of Choosing IAS‘ Ireland Immigration Lawyers

When it comes to obtaining an Ireland visa or permit, IAS Ireland immigration lawyers are well-equipped to help you.

With IAS’ track record of successfully helping clients visit or immigrate to Ireland successfully, we can help you achieve your goal.

Our dedicated immigration lawyers provide our services through a comprehensive and personalised approach. With IAS, you enjoy:

Compassionate support from an experienced immigration lawyer dedicated to your success

Support in gathering supporting documents and completing a high-quality application.

Confidence that your case is being handled by an experienced team.

In-house document checks done by lawyers who are well-versed in Ireland immigration matters.

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What is Exam Visa in Ireland?

The Exam Visa to Ireland is intended for foreign citizens who want to come to Ireland to sit an exam within a 90-day period. The exam you intend to take in Ireland has to be relevant to your current job or study.

If an immigration officer determines that the exam is not necessary for your current occupation, they can reject your application. That said, you cannot apply for the Exam Visa to come to Ireland to undertake any exam you wish.

As the Exam Visa is a short stay ‘C’ visa, it allows you to stay in Ireland for a limited period of time only. After it expires, you have to go back to your home country. Keep in mind that while you are in Ireland on the Exam Visa, you are not allowed to work or study, even if the work is done on a voluntary, unpaid basis.

What are ‘C’ Visas to Ireland?

Short Stay ‘C’ Visas to Ireland allow its holders to come to Ireland and stay there for up to 90 days. There are many visas that fall under this category and the Exam Visa is one of them. The eligibility requirements for ‘C’ Visas vary depending on the purpose of your visit to Ireland. Nevertheless, all of them allow you to stay in Ireland only temporarily. If you want to stay in Ireland longer than three months, you should apply for one of Long Stay ‘D’ Visas instead.

Short Stay visas to Ireland cannot be extended. That means that after the 90 days, you are obliged to leave Ireland and you need to apply for a new permit if you want to come back.

If you have citizenship of a country that belongs to the EU/EEA, or you are a citizen of Switzerland, you do not need a visa to come to Ireland for a short stay of up to 90 days.

What are the eligibility requirements for Ireland Exam Visa?

The most important eligibility requirement for the Exam Visa to Ireland is being able to prove that the exam is relevant to your employment or study course. In addition to that, you have to meet the following eligibility requirements:

You intend to sit the exam within 90 days of arriving in Ireland.
You intend to leave the country after your Irish visa expires
You have enough funds to cover your expenses during your stay in Ireland.
You have booked an onwards journey from Ireland.
You have not previously violated Irish immigration law
You do not have a track record of serious crimes.

If you are not sure whether you meet the requirements for the Exam Visa, get in touch with our immigration experts. They will assess your individual eligibility for it and will tell you what your next steps should be.

How to apply for Ireland Exam Visa?

You need to apply for the Exam Visa before you visit Ireland. You must apply for the Exam Visa from your home country or a country where you live as a legal resident. If you seek entry into Ireland without a valid visa, you will not be allowed in.

To obtain the Exam Visa, you have to submit your visa application online. In the form, you have to state what the reason for your travel to Ireland is and you need to provide details of the exam you intend to take.

After submitting the online application form, you have to pay the visa application fee of either €60 or €100, depending on whether you are seeking a single or multiple entry visa. This visa fee is non-refundable so you will not get your money back even if your visa application is refused.

Once you have paid the visa application fee, you have to send your passport and all other supporting documents for processing.

What documents to include in Irish Exam visa application?

To prove your eligibility for the Exam Visa to Ireland, you have to include a number of documents in your application. These may include:

Your valid passport
An application letter explaining the reason for your travel to Ireland, the dates you plan to arrive in and leave the country, an estimated cost of your trip, as well as your full name and date
Application summary sheet that you received after submitting the online application
A declaration that you will obey the conditions of your visa and that you will not try to get work experience in an Irish hospital, which includes observing
A statement where you promise not to become a burden on the State during your visit
Two passport-size photographs in colour
Information on where you will be staying during your stay in Ireland
Proof of having enough finances to support yourself during your stay in Ireland
Proof that you have ties in your home country that will make you return there after your visa expires.

If you forget to include some of the required documents, the processing of your application might take longer. None of the documents should include false or misleading information or you will risk your application being rejected, Our immigration consultants can help you put together a complete portfolio of evidence based on your circumstances, allowing you to avoid delays.

What information about the exam do I need to provide?

When applying for the Exam Visa to Ireland, you have to provide a detailed description of the exam you want to sit in Ireland.

The information you need to submit includes the name of the exam, the confirmation of you having registered and paid for it, the date on which it is supposed to take place (if it is already known), and the body that holds the exam.

Make sure to provide as much information about the exam as possible.

In addition to that, you have to explain why it is necessary that you sit the exam in Ireland and not in your home country and you have to prove that the exam is relevant for your work or studies.

Usually, foreign citizens apply for the Exam Visa to come to Ireland to sit an exam that will allow them to complete a medical course, receive professional accreditation, or finalise a distance learning course.

Other types of exams might also be eligible for the Exam Visa but, if you want to take a different exam, you should consult with an immigration lawyer before you submit your application. They will determine whether the Exam Visa is the right permit for you.

Ireland short stay exam visa fees

The application fee for an Ireland Exam Visa is typically €60 for a single-entry visa, which permits you to enter Ireland once for your exam. If you require a multiple-entry visa for example, if your exam involves more than one session and you need to leave and re-enter Ireland. The fee is usually €100.

Contact our Irish visa lawyers for your exam visa application for Ireland.

How can IAS help?

At IAS, we have expert knowledge of Irish immigration law and we have helped many clients successfully apply for Short Stay ‘C’ Visas, including the Exam Visa.

If you hire one of our team, they will analyse your circumstances and will help you determine whether the Exam Visa is adequate for the purpose of your trip to Ireland. If the Exam Visa turns out not to be the right choice, your lawyer will tell you what other permits you could apply for. Then, they will guide you through each step of the application process, making it stress-free and easy.

Thanks to the help of our immigration experts, you can be sure that your application is completed to the highest standard and that you included all the necessary documents with our immigration service.

Call us today on +44 (0)333 414 9244 to find out more about how we can help you.

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Written by Immigration Advice Service

Editorial Team

This content was developed by a team of researchers, editors, and lawyers who provide valuable information to those with immigration queries.

Legal Disclaimer

The information provided is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. While we make every effort to ensure accuracy, the law may change, and the information may not reflect the most current legal developments. No warranty is given regarding the accuracy or completeness of the information, and we do not accept liability in such cases. We recommend consulting with a qualified lawyer at Immigration Advice Service before making any decisions based on the content provided.

Frequently Asked Questions

Generally applications for Short Term ‘C’ Visas to Ireland are processed within 8 weeks. Nevertheless, if you fail to submit some of the required evidence or you make mistakes in your application, the waiting time can be longer.

To avoid delays, hire one of our immigration experts. They will go over your application before you submit it to make sure all the information and documents that might be needed are there.

In most cases, Short Stay ‘C’ Visas to Ireland cannot be extended. That means that you can stay in Ireland for a maximum of 90 days and after that you have to leave the country. Extensions are granted only in the most exceptional circumstances, for example, when a medical emergency happens.

The Exam Visa to Ireland allows you to come to Ireland for up to 90 days to sit an exam. The exam you will take part in has to be relevant to your current job or course of study. The Exam Visa is a short stay visa, which means you have to leave the country after your visa expires.

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