Ireland Visa Appointment in Nigeria

Understanding the Ireland Visa Appointment Process

An Ireland visa appointment is a scheduled meeting between an applicant and immigration officer at a visa application centre. Meeting with an immigration officer is essential to complete the visa application process.

Visa appointments for Nigerian citizens and residents are conducted at aVFS Global Centre, known as a Visa Application Centre (VAC) for Ireland, in Lagos and Abuja, Nigeria.

VAC partners with the Embassy of Ireland in Nigeria to manage visa applications to Ireland. Nigerian citizens must book an appointment with VFS Global officials to submit their visa application and submit their biometrics.

Nigerian Emigration

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Other Immigration and Emigration Matters

For immigration/emigration to/from other countries, please call:

US –  +1 844 290 6312

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UK –  (+44) 333 4149244

Understanding the Types of Ireland Visas for Nigerians

Understanding the types of Ireland visas is vital so applicants can apply for the appropriate visa based on their travel purposes. Visa appointments booked must tally with the type of visa filled on the online application form.

Here are the categories of Ireland visas:

• Short stay ‘C’ visas
• Long stay ‘D’ visas
• Transit Visa

These categories of visas are available to Nigerian citizens living in or outside the country who are applying to enter, join family, visit, work or live in Ireland.

Short-Stay ‘C’ Visas

Nigerians must apply for a short-stay visa if they intend to travel to Ireland for up to 90 days. The table below explains some types of short-stay visas available to Nigerians.

Long-Stay ‘D’ Visas

Nigerians must apply for a long-term visa if they intend to travel to Ireland for over 90 days. Here are some types of long-stay visas available to Nigerians.

Transit visa

Nigerian citizens travelling to another country and passing through Ireland must apply for a transit visa to be granted permission to pass through the sea or airport. This visa does not give an applicant a right to live, stay or enter Ireland.

For instance, you need a transit visa if your arrival and departure flights are at the Dublin airport between 4:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. on the same day.

How to Book Your Ireland Visa Appointment Online

Here are the steps Nigerian citizens must follow to book an Ireland visa appointment:

Step 1: Visit the VFS Global Website

You must visit the VFS Global website to book an appointment. Click on ‘Book an Appointment’. You will be asked to log into your account.

Step 2: Sign up or Log on to the VFS Global Website

Log on to the VFS Global website. You should only sign up if you do not already have an account. The availability of the Ireland visa appointment depends on the open slot at the Visa appointment centre, which you can see once logged in.

Step 3: Schedule Your Appointment

Select the time that is convenient for you and book your appointment. Also, Select the type of Ireland visa you applied for, provide your details as requested, and pay the service charge fee. You will receive an email of confirmation and your appointment letter.

It is vital to have the confirmation letter as you will show it as proof when you get to the visa application centre.

Step 4: Assemble Your Documents

While waiting for your appointment, gather all your original supporting documents, including the summary Automated Visa Application and Tracking System (AVAT) application form. You must submit them to the Visa application centre on the day of the appointment.

Nigerian citizens must complete the visa application form and questionnaire online before attempting to book an Ireland visa appointment. The summary of the completed AVAT form must be printed out. It is important to note that the VAC does not accept handwritten forms.

Step 5: Visit the VAC

Biometrics are an essential aspect of the application process. When scheduling an appointment, adults and children over six must take their biometrics at the VAC centre in Lagos or Abuja. Ensure you arrive 15 minutes before your appointment, and your mobile phones should be silent or switched off.

It is advisable to wear dark-coloured clothes instead of light-coloured clothes and avoid decorations on your fingers such as abrasion, marks or henna because your fingerprints and photographs will be taken in the VAC.

You should also avoid wearing sunglasses, a head covering, or tinted spectacles for your passport photographs at the VAC. Head coverings are only accepted if they are for medical or religious purposes.

Ireland Visa Appointment Locations and Centers

Nigerian citizens can attend their Ireland visa appointments at the nearest VFS Global Centre in Lagos or Abuja. An adult must accompany a child in taking their biometrics. The centre is open Monday to Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and is closed on public holidays and weekends.

After your visa appointment, the VFS Global officials forward your application to the Embassy for Ireland in Abuja. The embassy for Ireland, Abuja, processes the visa and decides on your application.

Managing Your Ireland Visa Appointment

The Visa appointment centre in Nigeria does not permit appointment cancellations, but you can reschedule. If you cannot meet your appointment, you can only reschedule once. You can reschedule your appointment via the VFS Global website. You must log in, fill in your details, and choose a convenient time from the available open slots.

Walk-in without an appointment service is not available for any of the Visa application centres in Nigeria. You must book an appointment and visit the centre on the booked date.

There will be fewer open slots for visa appointments when there are high volumes of applications from Nigeria during peak travel season. That is why applying and booking your appointment three months before your travel date is advisable.

If there is no available slot when booking the appointment, Nigerian citizens are advised to click on ‘waitlist’ while waiting for an available time. It is advisable to apply and book your appointments at least three months to the travel time to avoid delay.

Tracking the Status of your Ireland Visa Application

While waiting for a decision on your application, you can track its status online using your date of birth, last name, and unique reference number written on the receipt given to you at the VAC.

You will be notified by email when the Irish embassy in Abuja sends your decision and passport to the visa application centre. It is essential to stay informed about the status of your application. Check your email often so you know when a decision has been made.

Ireland Visa Appointment Fees

Nigerian citizens must pay the visa appointment fee online when booking an appointment. The Ireland visa appointment fee costs 104,849 Naira and can be paid via credit or debit card.

An additional cost for photocopying, SMS notification, and courier services is optional and can be paid for at the visa application centre. Here is a breakdown of additional costs and services that you can pay for:

Premium Lounge is a personalised service that enables Nigerian applicants to submit their visa applications quickly. It can be requested anytime. The premium lounge service allows your documents to be collected by the VFS global staff in a single office while refreshments are served to you.

This service does not guarantee a favourable decision on your application or faster processing.

Ireland Visa Appointment Requirements

Whether you are a resident of Nigeria or a citizen applying for an Ireland visa, you must submit original and coloured photocopied documents. Your documents must be readable, verifiable, and in English or Irish. If your documents are in another language other than English or Irish, they must be translated by a certified translator.

The following are the required documents for an Ireland visa appointment in Nigeria if you are applying for an Ireland visa:

• Your valid Nigerian passport with at least two blank pages
• Your online summary application form that has been signed and dated
• Two recent 35 mm x 45 mm coloured passport photographs. The photograph should have an excellent colour balance with a centred head pose and a neutral expression, and avoid head covering, face mask and glasses
• Your visa fee must be paid at the visa application centre in naira unless you are exempt from it
• Proof of Medical or travel insurance
• Provide proof, such as bank statements, that you or a sponsor can manage your finances in Ireland
• Provide details of your accommodation in Ireland, such as hotel reservation receipts or your address
• Receipt of purchased additional service if you paid online
• Your letter of confirmation stating that you booked an appointment online
• Other supporting documents peculiar to the type of Ireland visa you are applying for. For instance, an invitation letter if you apply for an Ireland visit visa. A letter of acceptance from a certified Ireland school if you apply for a study visa

Please note that if you are not a citizen of Nigeria but are a resident there applying for an Irish visa, you must prove that you are a legal resident of the country.

Ireland Visa Appointment for Specific Purposes

Visa appointments are booked for specific purposes depending on the type of visa you are applying for. For example, if you intend to study, you must apply for a student visa, or if you want to join a family, you must apply for a family reunification visa.

Ireland Visa Appointment for Students

Nigerian citizens who want to study in Ireland must have been admitted to an Irish school, paid the school fees and applied via the Irish immigration website before booking an appointment with the visa application centre. The VFS Global officials will collect and review your documents following the Irish immigration checklist.

On the day of your appointment, the visa officials will want to know if you plan to return to Nigeria after your studies. You must show them proof that you have a reason to return home, such as the birth certificate of a dependent child still in Nigeria who will not be travelling.

Your application must include information regarding your study plan and academic ability (previous exam results/qualification), which the visa officer will verify. Students under 18 who intend to travel alone to Ireland need extra documentation, such as a consent letter from a parent or legal guardian.

Please note that before booking the Ireland visa appointment as a student, you must have applied online via the Irish immigration service for either a short-stay or long-stay study visa, depending on the length of your intended course.

Ireland Visa Appointment for Family Reunification

Nigerian citizens booking a visa appointment for family reunification online at the VFS website must ensure that the purpose of travel (to join family) matches the visa appointment booked.

Nigerian citizen or resident can join their family member in Ireland if the family member they want to join is:

• An Irish citizen
• A UK national
• An EEA or Swiss citizen
• An international protection beneficiary
• An Afghanistan citizen under the Afghan Admission Programme
• A non-EEA or non-Swiss citizen who holds an employment permit (such as a critical skills employment permit) and has been legally working for a year or is a Stamp 4 visa holder

Nigerian family reunification applicants must submit supporting documents to the visa application centre. The following documents are particular to the family reunification visa (join family)

• A letter of application that has been signed outlines the reason why you want to travel to Ireland and details the sponsor
• Evidence to show that you are genuinely related to the person you wish to visit in Ireland. For instance, your marriage certificate if you want to join your spouse or birth certificate/adoption papers if you apply for your unmarried child below 18 years
• Documentary evidence to prove that you are entirely dependent on your sponsor if you are going to be financially and socially dependent on them

Ireland Visa Appointment for Employment Purposes

Depending on your situation, Nigerians applying for employment can apply for a short-stay or long-stay employment visa. Nigerian citizens applying for an Ireland employment visa for over 90 days must apply for a work permit.

You can apply for a work permit from the Irish Department of Justice, the Irish Department of Enterprise, the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs, or Trade and Employment. Your work permit must be granted before you apply for a long-stay employment visa and book your visa appointment.

Here are some types of Ireland employment visas you can apply for:

• Van Der Elst visa
• Short-stay business visa
• Internship visa
• Performance/tournament visa
• Training visa
• Conference/ event visa
• Minister of Religion
• Employment (scientific researcher) visa

What Happens if My Ireland Visa Is Rejected?

If your Ireland visa was rejected, you can appeal it or reapply based on the reason for the visa rejection. You will be sent a rejection letter that states the reason for the visa rejection. You can appeal the decision within two months of receiving the rejection letter.

To avoid a visa rejection, it is essential to note the reasons for it. The embassy of Ireland Abuja can reject an application if:

• You submitted incomplete documents
• Your document is in another language other than English or Irish and is not translated by an acceptable translator
• The information on your application cannot be verified

How Can IAS Help?

Preparing your documents for an Ireland visa appointment can be challenging without proper guidance. An immigration lawyer can help you prepare your documents. The immigration advice service team of lawyers is highly experienced in immigration matters.

Remember that your Ireland visa application is not complete without submitting it and taking your fingerprints and photographs at the VAC. Regardless of the complexity of your situation, our lawyers at IAS can give you tailored advice and guidance for your Ireland visa appointment.

Apart from offering help with your visa appointment in Nigeria, we can also help with other Irish immigration applications, such as applying for a work permit, getting permanent residency, and visa appeals.

Our expert lawyers at IAS can help you book and manage your Ireland visa appointment. There is no barrier to contacting us for immigration advice and guidance. You can visit our Nigerian office, call us at +2342013306361, or message us online.