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Discover the essential steps and guidelines for immigrating to Ireland from India. Explore visa options, residency requirements, Procedure, Benefits and valuable insights to make your immigration journey smoother.
As an Indian citizen, in order to travel to Ireland you will need to apply for a visa. In Ireland, an ‘Irish Visa’ is an official document which entitles a foreign national to travel to Ireland, though it doesn’t guarantee entry into Ireland.
Foreign nationals visit Ireland and move to Ireland for many different reasons; to accept a job offer, study, visit family, invest, and more. Citizens from non-EU/ EEA countries who want to immigrate to Ireland will need to obtain a visa in order to enter Ireland.
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Overview of Visa Options
Applicants wishing to add their family members or children as dependents to their travel plans must apply for the child’s travel visa too as their legal guardian as a separate application.
Under the British-Irish visa scheme, some Irish short-stay visas will allow travel to the UK, and some UK visitor visas will allow onward travel to Ireland. Under the scheme, an Indian visitor in Dublin will be able to make a short trip to London or Belfast without needing a separate visa. Alternatively, an Indian foreign national in London could travel to Dublin or Cork.
Aside the above, Indian nationals can travel to the UK and Ireland using Irish short stay visas for the following reasons:
- visiting family/friends
- visiting as a tourist
- visiting for a work conference/event
- visiting for business
List of Irish Visas for Indian citizens
Short Stay C Visa
A Short Stay ‘C’ visit visa allows you to go to Ireland for up to 90 days. Several visas belong to this category. You might be eligible for one of these main routes of short-stay visa:
- Irish Visitor Visa or Tourist Visa
- Atypical Working Scheme Visa
- Exam Visa
- Internship Visa
- Join Ship Visa
- Marriage Visa
- Training Visa
- Medical Treatment Visa
Long Stay D Visa
A Long Stay D Visa is ideal for those who wish to reside in Ireland for longer than 90 days. These Ireland visas are designed for those who want to come to Ireland to work, study, or join a family member.
Depending on your circumstances, you might be eligible for one of the visas in these categories:
- Irish Residency
- Irish Business Visas
- Irish Work Visas
- Irish Study Visa
- Irish Family Visas
Requirements for Candidates
Some paths to immigration do not have income requirements, while some are more stringent.
Typically income requirements are less strict for short-term visas, such as for tourists, and more strict for citizens who plan to live in Ireland and pursue Irish citizenship.
Individuals who meet the requirements can apply for an Irish residence permit after a certain amount of time spent in the country.
Candidates must present themselves in good character in order for a successful visa decision. This means individuals must meet:
- The Good character requirement
- Have no criminal history (or if so, must be well documented and presented with your application)
- Ideally meet the IELTS language requirement
- Meet the financial requirements
- Not have any criminal connections in Ireland
- Not intend to give fraudulent information on their visa application
How to Apply
For most paths of immigration, you will be able to apply easily online from your home country. The application process is straightforward as long as you meet the eligibility criteria.
The application form will ask you for personal details to prove your identity and intention, and then immigration services will review your documents and determine if you are eligible for the visa, residency, or naturalisation process you chose to pursue.
Biometric information
Depending upon your application process, some people might require biometric data. Contact your application bureau. This can be confirmed by a person who can give you biometric data.
The applicant must get a visa before attempting to enter Ireland. See how to get your visa from here. Applicants should apply separately to get the visa. For instance, a child must apply for tourism visa through their parent or guardian. It is advisable to not book a flight until you have an approved visa.
Documents Required
There are certain documents Indian nationals need to apply for any visa to provide proof, but for a short stay in Ireland as a foreign national the documents required are as follows:
- A valid current passport with at least 6 months validity left on it
- A national identity card (if applicable)
- Documentation of any previous passports or visa applications you had made before
- A letter detailing your intention in Ireland
- A strong tie to your home country showing that you intend to return (for short stay visas) such as family, property, etc
- A printed reservation confirmation of your pre planned accommodation in Ireland
- Proof of your medical and travel insurance
- Proof of a paid invoice of the application fees
- Proof of sufficient finances to support yourself and any dependents you have brought with you, such as a personal bank statement
Visa Fees
Payment methods and currency choice may vary from office to office. Please contact the application bureau for details on payment options and payment methods. Some applications will not require visa payments.
- Current costs for a Short Stay C Visa are:
- Current cost for a Long Stay D Visa are:
- Single entry visa fee: €60
- Multiple entry visa fee: €100
Depending upon the application, a fee may have to be added such as consular costs or re-application fees if there is a mistake in your original application. Fees could appear as:
- A visa fee
- A residence permit fee
- A fee for biometric information
- Fees to certified translated copies made of original required documents
The fee includes costs associated with processing a visa application. This won’t be reimbursed unless you have withdrawn or declined the application.
Processing Times
We accept applications for visa obtaining as soon as possible. Processing time varies according to the application office or application type. These variations can occur throughout the year. Especially during the holidays.
In general, the application process will start within 7 weeks after the receipt of your documents.
Dependents
Indian nationals wishing to add dependents to their travel plans to Ireland are eligible to do so as long as the dependents file a separate visa application.
Dependents are someone such as:
- A child below 18
- An elderly parent
- A Spouse
- An unmarried partner
- An adopted child
Applicants must be able to support their dependents and prove that they can provide for them financially by submitting their bank statement with their visa application.
They must also keep in mind their travel insurance, medical insurance, accommodation requirements to house them during their residency in Ireland.
Ireland Residence Visa benefits
Permanent Resident Status
Pathway to Citizenship
Ireland is a gateway to the EU and provides the opportunity to retain EU citizenship, if an individual acquires an Irish passport. Ireland is also a common law jurisdiction, similar to the UK legal system.
You will have the same rights to education as the Irish citizens and access to a world-class healthcare system.
Additionally, Ireland signed comprehensive tax treaties with 72 countries, including the US and all EU member states and has a low corporate tax rate of 12.5%.
There is no need to renounce your current residency(ies), thus benefiting from all residencies.
Frequently Asked Questions
1) Do I need a visa to visit Ireland for up to 90 days?
2) When should I apply for a Short Stay ‘C’ Visa?
3) How do I apply for a Short Stay ‘C’ Visa?
When you are filling in your information on the online application form:
- Select visa/preclearance type as ‘Short Stay (C)’
- Select journey Type as ‘Single’ or ‘Multiple’ and
- Select the correct Reason for Travel. For example, if you are travelling to Ireland for a holiday, you will select ‘Visit Tourist’.
You must make your visa application from the country where you are ordinarily resident, i.e. the country where you live.
Requests to make a visa application from any other country (e.g. a country that you are visiting while on holiday) will not be accepted.
4) What documents do I have to submit as part of my application?
The document requirements are listed for short stay applications. These are requirements for all applicants. You will need to provide additional documents, depending on your circumstances or Reason for Travel.If you find that you cannot submit a document requested, you should provide an explanation as to why you cannot provide it, and any other documents for consideration by the visa officer.
Important: Do not include false or misleading information or documents in your application. If you do, your application may be refused. In some circumstances, you may not be allowed to appeal the visa decision and may be blocked from getting an Irish visa for 5 years.
Documents must be original.
We do not accept photocopies (except where stated).
Letters from companies, universities, schools, colleges, and so on, must be on official headed paper and show the organisation’s:
- Full name
- Full postal address
- Telephone number (fixed/land line – not mobile/cell phone)
- Website address
- Email address (Yahoo and Hotmail email addresses are not accepted)
- A contact person’s name and title/position
- Written signature of an authorised representative (an electronic signature is not accepted).
Documents must be translated & certified
You must provide a full and certified translation into the English or Irish language of any documents not in English or Irish. Send us both the original documents and the certified translations.
5) Can I avail of the Short Stay Visa Waiver Programme?
The Short-Stay Visa Waiver Programme allows nationals of certain countries, who have entered the UK on foot of a UK short stay visa, to travel to Ireland without the requirement to obtain an Irish visa. They instead may use the time remaining on their current leave to remain in the UK.
In order to avail of the Programme you must have landed and gained lawful entry to the UK on foot of your current UK visa, prior to undertaking the journey to Ireland.
Each distinct period of leave to remain in the UK (up to a maximum of 180 days each time) requires a prior legal entry into the UK before travel to Ireland under the programme, no matter what the duration of the UK visa.
This programme is not reciprocal. It does not permit a person who is a visa required national under UK immigration rules to enter the UK on foot of an Irish visa. If you wish to enter the UK (including Northern Ireland), you must be in possession of a valid UK visa.
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