Who needs a Visa?

Whether you need a visa to enter Ireland depends on what country you’re from.

S.I. No 473 of 2014 groups countries into five different categories (schedules).

Please see Schedule 1, which is a list of countries that DO NOT NEED a visa. If your country is NOT listed you must apply for a visa before you travel to Ireland.

Note: A Schengen visa or UK visa is not valid for travel to Ireland. Note: For exceptions to this, please see Schedules 2, 3 and 4 below

Remember…

If you’re a citizen of a non-EEA country, whether you need a visa or not, you will be subject to immigration control when you enter Ireland.

Schedule 1 - Countries that do not need a visa

You DO NOT NEED an entry visa for Ireland if you are a passport holder of one of these countries:

Convention travel documents

If you hold Convention travel documents issued by an EEA state, please refer to Section 3. (b) (i) of S.I. No 473 of 2014 (short-stay visits only). 

Schedule 2 - Diplomatic Passport waiver programme

A holder of a diplomatic passport issued by a State or territorial entity specified below is not required to have a visa to enter Ireland

Schedule 3 - Visa waiver programme

If you’re a citizen of one of these countries and you meet Visa Waiver Programme requirements, you may be able to travel on to Ireland from the UK without the need to obtain a separate Irish visa.

If not, you’ll need to apply for an entry visa before you travel to Ireland.

NOTE: This also applies to nationals of Oman, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates who have entered the United Kingdom on foot of a C-visit Electronic Visa Waiver (EVW)

Schedule 4 - British Irish Visa Scheme (BIVS)

United Kingdom visitors who are – nationals of a state or territorial entity specified in Schedule 4, AND holders of a visa issued by the competent authorities of the United Kingdom that is endorsed by those authorities with the letters “BIVS”

Schedule 5 - Transit Visas

If you are a citizen of one of these countries, you will need to apply for a transit visa

 * Requirement for a transit visa waived for Ethiopian nationals transiting through the State via Dublin Airport to/from the USA and Canada

How to Apply

Please note that from 2 March 2009, all applications must be submitted online.

Steps in the online process

1. Complete the online application form and print off your summary sheet. Following the online application;

• refer to checklists and the Types of Visa and Documentation tab of this website to check all of the documents required in support of visa your application
• check the Visa Fees tab to find out about the current visa fees
• check the Photo Requirements page to ensure that you are providing an appropriate photo

     2.  Gather your supporting documentation, passport, photograph and fee

     3.  Submit your printed summary sheet, photo, payment (if required) and supporting documentation to the Embassy of Ireland in Seoul:

• In person during the Embassy’s visa opening hours; 09:30-12:00 and 13:30-16:30, from Monday to Friday.
• Alternatively, you can also post your summary sheet, photo, payment and supporting documentation to:- Embassy of Ireland Seoul, Leema Building. 13F, 42, Jong-ro 1-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul 110-755

NOTE 1: Do not attach your photograph to the summary sheet. We will do that at the Embassy!

NOTE 2 : Original documents should be submitted. Where these are not in English they should be accompanied by a notarised English translation. All documents must be clear and legible.

NOTE 3: If you decide to post your summary sheet, photo, payment and supporting documentation, we strongly recommend you to use registered mail or a reputable courier service (Taek-bae in Korean). The Embassy cannot be held responsible for applications or documents lost in transit.

Residency Requirement

Proof of residence in the Republic of Korea (South Korea) will be required with all applications submitted at the Embassy of Ireland in Seoul, for instance, a valid Korean residence visa, Korean immigration card etc.

Processing Time

The majority of visa applications are sent to Dublin for processing. The Embassy of Ireland, Seoul strongly recommends that you apply at least 8 weeks before you intend to travel to Ireland.

Visa Decisions are published on the website of the Irish Naturalisation & Immigration Service. Search for your application using the reference number given to you at the time of application.

NOTE1: The long term or permanent nature of the intended stay in Ireland, in the case of join family visa applications, means they will require more in-depth consideration than short-stay visa applications and it is recommended applicants make their applications 12 weeks prior to their proposed dates of travel.

Queries

Many common questions are answered in Top Visa Questions.

Remember…

All supporting documentation (bank statements, letters of employment/study, car/property ownership certificates, marriage certificates, birth certificates etc.) should be in English or accompanied by a notarised translation. Failure to translate your documents into English may result in your visa application being refused. It is not sufficient to send in copies of your documents. All documentation submitted must be original and verifiable (e.g.) employment/study details, accommodation bookings must have correct contact details on each document. If this Office is unable to verify the information supplied this may result in your visa being refused.

The onus is on you, the applicant, to ensure that your application is fully complete before submitting it for consideration. You should note that if you submit an incomplete application, it may result in your application being refused.

If you have been refused a visa for any country, details of this must be given. Submit a copy of the letter issued to you by the authorities of that country, including a notarised translation if not in English. Concealment of visa refusals will result in your Irish visa application being refused.

Please note that if you provide false, fraudulent or misleading information or documentation, your application will be refused. You may also lose the right to appeal the decision. Any future applications made by you may also be refused. In addition you may become liable for prosecution and/or deportation.

If deemed necessary, additional documentation / information may be requested by the Deciding Officer upon detailed examination of the application.

Remember…

The granting of an Irish visa is, in effect, only a form of pre-entry clearance. It does not grant permission to enter Ireland and Irish Immigration Officers have the authority to grant or deny admission. Visa holders are subject to normal immigration control at the point of entry and should always carry with them the originals or copies of the documents submitted with their visa applications for possible inspection by Immigration Officers.

Furthermore, a visa does not grant permission to remain in Ireland. The date of validity shown on the visa indicates only the date before which it must be presented to an Immigration Officer. The length of stay is decided by an Immigration Officer at the port of entry.

A visa holder who remains in Ireland longer than the permitted period may become liable for prosecution and/or subject to deportation

What sort of Visa do I need?

A comprehensive list of the different visa types that are available, and the documentation required in respect of each, is available from the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service - INIS website.

For ease of reference, separate links for some of the most common visa types are set out below.

Travelling to Ireland as a tourist

If you are a Visa-required national and you would like to visit Ireland for a short period (90 days or less) you will find useful guidelines and details of requirements for Visit/Holiday Visa applications from INIS

For further information on tourism in Ireland please visit the website of Tourism Ireland.

Travelling to Ireland as a Family members of EU/EEA/Swiss citizens seeking to reply on Directive 2004/38/EC (Free Movement Directive)

Please refer to INIS for details and comprehensive information regarding these types of applications.

Travelling to Ireland on business

Business Meeting

If you are a Visa-required national and coming to Ireland for a business meeting you will find useful guidelines and details of requirements for Business Visa applications on INIS.

Conference

If you are a Visa-required national and coming to Ireland for a conference, you will find useful guidelines and details of requirements for Conference Visa applications on INIS.

Starting a Business in Ireland

If you are a Visa-required national and you wish to set up a business in Ireland, you will require Business Permission from the Department of Justice and Equality, prior to applying for your visa. Find more information on the INIS website.

Studying in Ireland

If you require an entry visa for Ireland and would like to study here, you will find useful guidelines and details of requirements for Study Visa applications on INIS.

For further information on studying in Ireland:

• Immigration Regime for Full Time Non-EEA Students
• Irish Council for International Students
• Immigration and Visas - A guide for international students
• Internationalisation Register

Travelling to Ireland for the purposes of employment

If you are a Visa-required national and coming to Ireland to work in Ireland you will find useful guidelines and details of requirements for Employment Visa applications on INIS.

If you are from a visa-required country and you wish to work in Ireland, the Embassy of Ireland will not accept an application for an entry visa unless you have already obtained a Green Card or Work Permit. The Embassy does not process applications for Green Cards or Work Permits. These must be obtained directly from the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation.

Visa Fees

Please note that KRW fees are regularly updated to keep in line with the Euro fees charged by the Department of Foreign Affairs in Ireland.

Standard non-refundable visa application processing fees are:

Payment is by postal money or cash. Postal orders or cash should be made payable directly to the Embassy of Ireland, Seoul, in all cases. 

Personal cheques are not accepted and the Irish Embassy Seoul does not have credit/debit card payment facilities. 

Once a visa application is lodged for processing, the processing fee cannot be refunded.

No fee required

Some applicants don't have to pay a fee for their visa. These include visa-required spouses and certain family members of EEA citizens (including Irish nationals). You must provide proof of the relationship with the application.

In addition, applicants from the countries listed below don't have to pay a fee:

Visa Appeals

My application has been refused

If your application has been refused and you still want to travel to Ireland, you can:

• Appeal the decision or
• Make a new application

If you decide to make a new application, your previous application history may be taken into account.

Appealing the decision

You'll be sent a letter outlining the reasons for refusal. If you believe the decision is wrong, you can make an appeal within two months of receiving the refusal notice.

How do I make an appeal?

Your appeal must be made in writing to the address specified in the refusal letter you have received. Faxed or emailed appeals will not be considered.

You should:

• Address each refusal reason in your appeal
• Supply clear and relevant evidence in your appeal to support your application
• Include any further information or documentation with your appeal letter
• Be aware that provision of the additional information/documentation doesn't guarantee approval

Find more information on the INIS website.

The review

The Appeals Officer will review your application, taking account of any additional information or documentation that you have supplied.

On examination and review the original decision may be reversed. The Appeals Officer will notify you in writing when the decision is made and in general, a decision should issue within 4-6 weeks.

Is there a charge?

There is no charge for lodging an appeal.

On Arrival in Ireland

Immigration control

An Irish visa is not an entry permission. It's a document giving you permission to present at a port of entry to ask to be admitted to Ireland.

All non-EEA citizens, whether they need a visa or not, will be subject to ordinary immigration controls at the port of entry.

Additional documents

As well as your visa, an Immigration Officer may ask to see additional information such as:

• Accommodation bookings
• Return flights
• Contacts in Ireland

Length of stay

The Immigration Officer at the port of entry will decide your length of stay by stamping your passport; which will reflect the purpose of your journey and the amount of time you are allowed to stay in the State.

The validity period shown on your visa indicates the dates between which you must travel to Ireland. These dates are NOT the dates between which you're permitted to remain in Ireland.

Staying over three months

If you need a visa to enter Ireland and you want to stay longer than 90 days, apply for a 'D' type visa before you travel. Permission to enter on the basis of a 'C' type visa will not give you permission to remain beyond a 90 day period.

Registration

If you're a non-EEA national and you want to stay longer than three months in Ireland, you must register with the Garda National Immigration Bureau and apply for permission to remain in Ireland.

Conditions of your visa

Under Irish law, you're not allowed to engage in any activity or to remain in Ireland for any purpose other than that for which your visa or permission to remain was granted.

Overstaying your visa

If you stay in Ireland longer than your permission to remain permits, you could be liable for prosecution and/or deportation.

Change of activity

If you want to undertake any activity in Ireland other than that for which your visa was granted you must leave the country and apply for a new visa. You can’t return to Ireland while you're waiting for a decision on your new application.