Different Types of Ireland Travel Visas Explained

The country of Ireland is full of breathtaking nature, friendly people, and amazing culture that is an aspiration of the several travellers of the world. No matter which option you will choose to visit cliffs of Moher, a literary tour of Dublin, or stay with relatives and acquaintances, the initial stage is to obtain the necessary visa. But the decision on the correct visa is so confusing considering the numerous types that tourists, students, business people, or any other person have to choose.

It is important to know the classifications of travel visa to Ireland to make the process flawless and fruitful. Whether it be short stay visitor visa, or long term work or study visa, the Irish immigration system is designed in such a way that it can support all kind of travel requirements. Within this guide, we will discuss how many types of visas there are in the Ireland, what purposes they are used to serve, who is eligible to apply and which visa can be the easiest to get depending on your traveling plans.

Here are the Types of Travel Visa to Ireland

As far as the types of Ireland travel visas to Ireland are concerned, there are primarily divided according to the length and the purpose of stay:

1. Short Stay C visa (up to 90 days)

This is the visa used by the person who is planning to visit Ireland and spend not more than 90 days there. This group consists of:

• Tourist Visa A tourism or vacation travel.
• Business Visa is issued in case of meeting and conferences and minor business activities.
• Family or Friends Visit Visa- To visit family or friends living in Ireland.
• Conference/Event Visa: To attend conferences, seminars, or travels in the country to attend some of the cultural events that take place in the country.
• Exam Visa- To conduct exams or interviews which are of short duration.
• Short-stay visas cannot be extended and do not entitle to any type of employment or receipt of the state funds. These are some of the simplest Ireland visa to obtain provided that you are up to the paperwork and financial threshold.

2. Long Stay D Visa (More than 90 days)

This visa is intended to individuals who intend on spending over 90 days in Ireland. Categories include:

• Study Visa – To student who visit classes in established Irish colleges.
• Employment Visa – To the skilled professionals who have job offers in the areas where there is need of labour shortage.
• Join Family Visa- Dependants are joining family members residing in Ireland.
• Volunteer Visa – To people who have joined non-profit organisations or volunteer work after a specified period of time.
• On arrival, long stay visa holders should report to the Irish Immigration Service who may assign them residence permits based on their type.

Specialized Types of Ireland Travel Visas

Besides the usual classes of visas known as C and D, Ireland has some Visas:

1. Transit Visa

You would also need a Transit Visa in case you are transiting through the Irish airport to a different destination. It does not allow you to get out of the airport or in Ireland.

2. Marriage Visa

It is a short term visa, which is addressed to the people who want to marry or to make a civil partnership in Ireland. It needs a special documentation, evidence of your intended ceremony and relationship.

3. Medical Treatment Visa

When you have to visit Ireland to have a short medical procedure, then this visa is suitable. It must be confirmed by Irish medical facilities and treatment financial coverage.

How Many Visa Types Are There in the Ireland?

The question of many applicants is how many types of Ireland travel visas? To form a general picture, they are clumped as either short-stay (C) and long-stay (D) by the Irish visa system but within these two categories, there are a plethora of 10+ sub-types that support different purposes ranging in tourism, education, family re-unification, and employment. All these alternatives guarantee that the traveller can always use the most convenient visa according to the purpose, whereas the paperwork and requirements differ depending on the type.

Which Ireland Visa Is Easiest to Get?

Among the most frequently asked questions, one may state the following one: Which Ireland travel visa is easiest to get? In most cases, the Short Stay Tourist Visa is the easiest one to get, as long as you know your travel plan and where you are going to stay, have money and the way to get back home. The requirements of this visa are less compared to work or student visa and the decisions are normally faster.

Ease of approval is however also dependent on nationality, travel history and completeness of documents of the applicant. To others, a business visa can also be somewhat simple upon the backing of a valid invitation by an Irish organisation.

Key Documents Required

Here are typical documents required in most visas in Ireland:

• Passport (validity not less than 6 months)
• Filled visa application form
• Passport-type photos (according to the standards)
• Evidence of intention (letter of invitation, school enrolment etc.)
• Travel insurance
• Accommodation evidence
• Bank Statements (36 months)
• Round trip ticket (short stay visas)

Visa Application Process

• Apply online – Make an online application by using AVATS (Irish visa application portal).
• Pay Visa Fee: There are different fees according to type of visas and stay duration.
• Submit Biometrics and Documents- under the closest VFS or Irish Embassy.
• Wait to be decided on Processing may take 48 weeks depending on the type of the visa and country of origin.

FAQs

Q1: How many visa types are there in the Ireland?

They have two major categories, Short Stay C and Long Stay D with more than 10 categories of visas available below it in terms of tourism, studies, work, family visits etc.

Q2: What is the easiest Ireland visa to acquire?

Short Stay Tourist Visa is usually perceived as the least difficult to get subject to the individual making a thoroughly documented and honest application.

Q3: Would I be able to work in Ireland under tourist visa?

No, under no condition should tourist visa be used to work. To be able to take up employment, you have to apply under the Long Stay category of Work Visa under the D category.

Q4: Is Ireland also a Schengen Area member?

No, Ireland is not included in Schengen Zone. Even though you may be holding a valid Schengen visa, you need to apply separately using Ireland visa from Oman.

Q5: Is it possible to extend your Ireland Visa upon arrival?

Short Stay visas are not extendable. In case of Long Stay visas, they can be extended, but under certain circumstances as well as the authorization of the immigration officers.

Q6: Will I require a transit visa to transit Ireland?

There are nationalities that need transit visa in case they are not going to enter Ireland. See the Irish immigration official site or the embassy closest to you.

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