- Visa Processing Times
- Visa Decisions
- How to contact us
Visa Processing Times
Visa processing times
Delays to visa processing due to student visa backlogs
13 September 2023
Our visa office has been receiving unprecedented volumes of student visas this summer; up 30% on 2022 volumes and up 65% on 2019 volumes. To ensure students are processed in time for the start of term, processing times for other visa application categories have, unfotunately, been pushed out. The updated expected processing times are listed below. We continue to prioritise applications from nurses travelling on atypical working permits, critical skills permit holders and business travellers.
If you wish to withdraw your visa application, please make a request through our Contact us page.
Processing times
13 September 2023
Due to unprecedented demand for student visas this year, the processing times for all other application categories have been pushed out. The updated expected processing times are listed below. We continue to prioritise applications nurses travelling on atypical working permits, critical skills permit holders and business travellers.
Our processing times refer to the median number of working days from the date we receive to the date we approve. This means the time it takes to secure a VFS appointment is not included. Nor is the time it takes for the documents to reach us from VFS or be reach VFS after approval (see VFS transit times). Please note that 'Working days' exclude Saturdays, Sundays and all office closure dates; listed under About Us.
Remember, flight bookings are not a requirement for an Irish visa. Any person who books a flight prior to the receipt of their visa does so at their own risk.
| Visa category | Sub-category | Median processing time (working days) |
| Business / Conference / Event | 10 | |
| Employment |
Critical skills permit | 10 |
| General / Other permit | 35 | |
| Join family* | 35 | |
| Study | 25 | |
| Visit | 35 | |
| Other* | 30 | |
| Appeals (approx.) | 40 |
* see Dublin-based processing.
Priority processing and contacting the visa office for a status update
How do I know if my visa is ready?
My application has gone over the stated processing time, what does this mean?
Dublin-based processing
- Family member of EU/EEA/Swiss cit. (de facto partner);
- Family member of EU/EEA/Swiss cit. (other);
- Family member of EU/EEA/Swiss cit. (spouse);
- Join Family (Irish nat.)(de facto partner);
- Join Family (de facto partner CSEP/HA) ;
- Join Family (UK nat.);
- Minister of Religion; and
- Volunteer.
VFS transit times
| Visa application centre | Transit time (working days) |
| Ahmedabad | 2 |
| Bangalore |
2 |
| Chandigarh | 2 |
| Chennai | 2 |
| Cochin | 4 to 6 |
| Hyderabad | 2 |
| Jalandhar | 2 |
| Kathmandu | 4 to 6 |
| Kolkata | 2 |
| Mumbai | 2 |
| New Delhi | 1 |
| Pune | 2 |
Visa Decisions
Visa decisions
Every Tuesday evening and Friday morning a report detailing all visa decisions made during the reference period, by the New Delhi visa office, is posted below. Where an application is made through a VFS visa application centre (VAC), it will take a number of days for your documents to transit back the the VAC once a decision is made by the visa office. Further information on document transit times can be found under the Visa Processing Times tab above.
To search for your decision, open a report, press Ctrl + F and enter your eight digit visa application reference number. This information is hosted on behalf of the responsible authority, the Irish Immigration Service.
How to contact us
How to contact us
The visa office does not operate a public telephone line, nor do we operate a public office. All applications are lodged through VFS or by post, as outlined under Applying for an Irish Visa. If you have a query, please read the information on our website, or contact your nearest VFS Office.
If you cannot find the answer to your question, you can contact the visa office through our Contact us form. As noted under the Visa Processing Times tab, we do not reply to requests for application status updates, unless in the case of genuine emergencies. The outcome of all applications lodged to our office will be available under the Visa decisions tab above.