Ireland Visa for Indians

Ireland has become one of the hottest tourist destinations over the years because of all it can offer people. They receive a heavy footfall of tourists annually, especially when they host many famous festivals, like the Dingle Festival.

However, before you start building castles in your head about seeing the many castles in Ireland, you need to get the appropriate Ireland tourist visa from India. You must be mindful of India's Ireland visa processing time when applying for your visa. If you keep things for the last moment, you might not get your visa on time. Also, keep in mind that Ireland does not make provisions for visas on arrival for Indians, so make your arrangements accordingly.

As we have already mentioned, the Ireland visa for Indians is like a stamp of approval saying that the Irish authorities do not object to having you in their country. Once you get your visa, you should be able to move freely about the country for the time your visa is valid.

You need to note that if you wish to travel throughout Ireland, you must have an Ireland tourist visa from India, but if you wish to travel only to Northern Ireland, having a UK visa is enough.

Before getting your visa to make your way into Ireland, you need to have your visa stamped on your passport. To apply for your Ireland visa, you first need to determine the Ireland visa type for Indians you require. We have discussed the Ireland visa types in the next section.

Once you have settled on the kind you need, you can follow the steps below;

• Go to the official Ireland visa website.
• Click on the reason you wish to visit Ireland.
• Once you have chosen your reason, fill out the appropriate visa application form.
• Check the details you have filled in twice to ensure all the information is correct. Print and sign the copy.
• Book an appointment with the Visa Facilitation Service (VFS), submit your form, all the documets and provide biometrics if needed.
• Pay the visa fee for Ireland from India as applicable.
• Set an appointment with your closest Ireland visa center for your interview or Visa Facilitation Service (VFS) for your interview.

Once your visa has been processed, and your interview is over, you need to wait to hear back from the visa centre on the status of your application. The general Ireland visa processing time in India is about 10-15 days, but in some cases, there may be a delay of up to 30 days. However, you must prepare your visa application 3 months before your travel date.

There are different types of visas available to Indian citizens based on the purpose and duration of their visit. Therefore, you must carefully look at the categories below and choose the one you fall under. Your activities while in Ireland will largely be dictated by the kind of visa you have.

1. Short Stay Visa - If you wish to visit Ireland but do not intend to stay in the country for more than 90 days, you need to apply for a Short Stay or ‘C’ visa. A short-stay visa can be used for various reasons ranging from tourism; attending a short-term course in English; having business-related work for a short period, like attending a meeting or signing a contract; or visiting family or friends on their invitation.

The criteria here are that you will not be in the country for more than 90 days and will not be allowed to use public amenities such as a public hospital on this visa.

2. Long Stay Visa - A long-stay or ‘D’ visa applies to those wishing to be in Ireland for over 90 days. This type of visa is useful to those who wish to attend a full-time course in Ireland, set up a business, find employment, or immigrate to Ireland.

You need to prove that you have just cause to apply for such a visa and that you will not be using your visa privileges wrongly before you are granted this type of visa. Thus, your average visa processing time may be longer than a short-stay visa.

Keep in mind that if you are granted this type of visa, you must apply for an Irish Residence Permit (IRP) if you wish to remain in Ireland for longer than 3 months.

3. Re-entry Visa - If you plan to leave Ireland for a short duration and then return to the country, you will need to apply for a re-entry visa. This visa is not required if you have an IRP.

No Indian who wishes to visit Ireland can do so without a valid visa. You need to check the types of visas available and the type you will require and apply for the same. Again, it is important to remember that a visa on arrival for Indians is not a possibility in Ireland. Therefore, you need to apply for your visa well in advance.

The first thing you need to do when planning a trip to Ireland is to determine how long you intend to stay there and what you wish to do while in Ireland and apply for your visa accordingly. This reduces the chances of you not getting your visa on time and, thus, having to cancel your trip. Also, note all the documents you will be required to present when applying for your Ireland visa and keep them on hand before making your application.

The timing of your visa application will greatly depend upon the purpose of your visit and when you plan to visit. For example, if you are planning a trip during the peak tourist time when the volume of applications may be high, it is always preferable that you make your application with time in your hand.

Furthermore, if you are seeking a visa because you want to attend a specific event in Ireland or wish for your trip to coincide with a special tour, you need to apply for your visa in advance so you can get it in time as you lack a certain amount of flexibility.

Generally speaking, the Ireland visa processing time in India is usually within 10-15 days, but this can sometimes get stretched to 30 days. Thus, it is always preferable to err on the side of caution and apply for your visa a month in advance. This gives you ample time for your interview and the processing of your visa application.

Before you are approved for an Ireland visa for Indians, these are the documents you will need to submit for a Visitor Visa;

• The filled visa application form, having your signature
• Your passport with at least one empty page for the visa stamp, having a validity of at least 6 months after the commencement of your trip to Ireland
• Your round-trip tickets
• A cover letter stating the purpose of your visit
• Your travel itinerary
• Your accommodation details for the duration of your trip
• Your travel insurance
• Bank statements going back 6 months to prove you have adequate funds to sustain yourself while in Ireland
• Letter from the person staying in Ireland, if you are being invited by someone

Your visa fee for Ireland from India depends on how you have fashioned your trip to Ireland.

If you are going to be visiting multiple countries, alongwith Ireland, and intend to leave and re-enter Ireland, your visa fees will be different than what they will be if you will not be leaving Ireland until your departure.
The fees for both scenarios have been tabulated below for your convenience. Note that these rates are not inclusive of service charges.

*The visa fee for Ireland from India varies depending on the Indian rupee and Euro conversion rate.

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Another popular reason people like buying travel insurance is the amount of money one invests in a trip. Trips abroad are never cheap, especially if you are travelling to a European country. If you have travel insurance, the financial burden is taken off of you once the trip starts. If things go haywire and you need financial assistance, your travel policy will take care of it.

Yet another popular reason for a travel policy is health care. Healthcare can be very expensive in European countries. This is because while healthcare is largely free for citizens, it is not so for tourists. Tourists, thus, see large medical bills should they need medical aid abroad. Now, we can never foresee when our health will take a turn for the worse or if we happen to meet with an accident. If these happen abroad, we could feel a pinch in our pockets. But, if you have a travel policy with medical cover, all your medical needs will be taken care of within policy limits.
Most importantly, travel insurance is mandatory if you wish to go to Ireland. Your visa will not be approved, and you will not be allowed to pass immigration if you do not have a valid travel insurance policy. Ireland has mandated travel insurance, like many other European countries, so that a tourist can provide for themselves if they need help in any situation.
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Starting 6 March 2022, all Covid restrictions were removed from Ireland. Now, travellers no longer need to quarantine after arrival, nor is being fully vaccinated a travel criterion any longer.

However, if a person notices they are having Covid-like symptoms before their trip to Ireland, they are expected not to make the trip. Likewise, if a person notices they have Covid-like symptoms while in Ireland, they are expected to self-isolate and seek proper care.

Keep in mind, though, that Covid guidelines for countries are constantly changing as per the country's needs, so check for the latest news updates before planning your trip to Ireland.

Ireland is generally very liberal when handing out visas to tourists. They also generally do not take much time to approve your visa application, making it very easy for travellers to get their visas. All you need to do is submit your correct documents with your visa application and be honest about the details being asked for.

However, there are a few instances where a visa application may get rejected. These instances are:

• If your travel itinerary is improper and your intentions for going to Ireland do not seem clear.
• If you have a history of immigration-related crimes or a criminal record.
• If you have not filled your visa form correctly or if it is incomplete.
• If the details supplied by you do not match your records.

If you are interested in the place you are going to be visiting, it is always fun to know tidbits of information about it. Knowing these things also helps you to get a better understanding of the place and helps you enjoy it more. So, here are a few fun things about Ireland that may interest you.

• The official symbol of Ireland is the Shamrock.
• The total population of Ireland is 4.9 million.
• Halloween has roots in Ireland, originating from the ancient Irish festival of Samhain.
• St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Ireland is over 1500 years old, and regular mass is still observed there.
• The population of Ireland is largely Christian.
• Bram Stoker, the author of the famous ‘Dracula’, is Irish.
• St. Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland, even though he was not Irish but Roman!
• There are over 20,000 castles in Ireland, making it impossible for a tourist to see them all.
• There are no snakes in Ireland.
• County Cork in Ireland has over 900 pubs!
• It is possible to see the Northern Lights from Ireland.
• The oldest lighthouse in Europe is situated in Ireland.

There is something for everyone to do in Ireland. From Game of Thrones enthusiasts to nature lovers, Ireland can cater to the needs of a large cross-section of people. But there are a few places and things here that you absolutely cannot miss out on, and we have listed them for you. These places and things include;

• Do not leave Ireland without seeing at least a few regal castles out of the 20,000 spread throughout the country.
• Try reaching the O’Brien’s Tower, the highest point in the Moher Cliffs.
• Visit the Bend of the Boyne, tombs that date back to the 32nd century BC.
• Go shopping in Dublin.
• Have a drink in the Guinness factory in Dublin.
• Enjoy a Gaelic football match.
• Take in the Northern Lights if you are visiting in October.
• Book a Game of Thrones-specific tour across 4 counties in Ireland.
• Attend mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral.
• Trek up The Burren.
• Stroll across Galway City.
• Have a party of a lifetime at an Irish Festival.

Information last updated July 22. While this information is sourced reliably, visa requirements can change. For the most current visa details, visit the official Consulate/Embassy website.