Covid-19: Visa Services Update

The Embassy of Ireland in Washington DC accepts visa applications from Washington DC, Maryland, Virginia, Puerto Rico and the Caribbean Islands - Anguilla, Antigua, Barbuda, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Martinique, Montserrat, Netherlands, Antilles, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands, Virgin Islands (US), Virgin Islands (British).

Update on Visa Services - 5 January 2022

As of 13 September 2021, we are now accepting short stay visa applications. We continue to accept all long stay visa and preclearance applications (as of 1 June).

The Minister for Justice, Heather Humphreys TD, and the Minister of State for Law Reform, Youth Justice and Immigration, James Browne TD, have announced the resumption of short stay entry visa processing. The move will come into effect from Monday, 13 September 2021.

The move to resume short stay visa processing is in line with the next phase of the Government’s response to the pandemic, Covid-19: Reframing the Challenge, Continuing Our Recovery and Reconnecting.

All remaining Covid-19 restrictions on entry visa and preclearance processing, which were brought in as a necessary interim measure to help reduce the spread of Covid-19, have now been lifted. Please note that visa processing times are still affected and applications may take longer than usual to be processed.

In order to ensure that resources can be used to the best effect, we ask that you do not contact the Embassy to seek updates on your application. Please note that we are unable to provide any information on applications submitted to other Irish missions in the US.

All travellers arriving into Ireland must continue to comply fully with measures required by law including producing proof of vaccination, recovery from Covid-19 or a negative PCR test. This is detailed under the Travel to Ireland heading on the Covid-19 section of our website.

If you are unsure as to whether you require a visa/preclearance to enter Ireland you can check here by entering your nationality.

Please note that US citizens do not require a visa for study in Ireland. However, you must register with the immigration authorities on arrival. If your university is delivering your course of study online only for the next semester, you should not travel to Ireland at this time.

As of 1 November, processing of applications under the Working Holiday Authorisation programme has resumed in the US and Canada.

If you are travelling from or via a designated state then you must also pre-book and pre-pay for a place in a designated facility for mandatory hotel quarantine.

Visa Fees

Single-entry visa: $81

Multi-entry visa: $136

Transit visa: $36

Shipping (FedEx Overnight)

Domestic: $10

International: $20

*In-person pickup at the Embassy is not available at this time.

Payment is accepted by cashier's check, money order, or bank draft payable to: Department of Foreign Affairs - Ireland. Debit cards, credit cards, personal checks, and cash are not accepted.

Who needs a Visa

Whether you need a visa to travel to Ireland depends on what country you're from. Visit the Irish Immigration Service Travel Path for more information regarding your personal requirements for travelling to Ireland.

Information on visa requirements for transiting through Ireland is available here

Please note that Ireland is not party to the Schengen Agreement, and a Schengen visa or residence permit does not entitle you to travel to Ireland without a visa.

Unless you qualify for the Short Stay Visa Waiver Programme or the British Irish Visa Scheme a valid UK visa does not entitle you to travel to Ireland without a visa. Further information on these schemes is available on the website of the Irish Immigration Service.

Note: A visa allows you to travel to Ireland only. It does not give you permission to enter the country or to stay here. An immigration officer at border control can refuse entry even if you have a visa.

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.

Types of Visa and Documentation

Full information on the different types of visas, required documentation, and how to apply can be found on the website of the Irish Immigration Service.

Information on applying for a short-stay (less than 90 days) tourist visa is available here.

Information on coming to work in Ireland is available here.

Information on coming to study in Ireland is available here.

Information on coming to join family in Ireland is available here.

Visa Appeals

If your visa application is refused, you will receive a letter from the visa office telling you why it has been refused and if you can appeal the decision.

Further information on appealing visa decisions is available on the website of the Irish Immigration Service

All appeals are handled directly by the Irish Immigration Service

How to Apply

You need to:

Complete the online application form

This will generate an application summary form and declaration at the end, which you must print, sign and date.

Gather your supporting documentation, passport photograph and fee.
Submit your application

To complete the process, you must submit your passport and supporting documents for processing. Where you submit your application depends on where you are living. The summary application form will direct you to the relevant Embassy, Consulate or Visa Application Centre.

Check the website of the relevant Embassy or Consulate for further information on how to submit your application for processing

If you applied at an Embassy or Consulate, they will contact you once a decision on the visa application has been made.

If you applied directly to an Irish Immigration Service Visa Office or if your application was referred to the Irish Immigration Service for a decision, you can check the Irish Immigration Service Visa Decision Weekly Listing using your reference number.

On Arrival in Ireland

Further information on what to expect on arrival in Ireland can be found on the website of the Irish Immigration Service.

Information on entry for EU/EEA and Swiss nationals is available here.

Information on entry for non-EU, non-EEA and non-Swiss nationals is available here.

Information on travelling with children is available here.

Information on transiting through Ireland is available here.

Fees

Check the website of the Irish Immigration Servicefor information on preclearance and entry visa fees, including information on visa fee exemptions.

You can also contact your local Embassy or Consulate for more details on fees and payment methods

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Embassy of Ireland, USA