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Ireland

Ireland visa

Europe · Northern Europe

In Ireland, visas fall under Immigration Service Delivery, a service of the Department of Justice. The pages consulted on 17 September 2026 describe the “Short Stay (C)” visa for a stay of less than 90 days, applied for online on the AVATS system, from the country of habitual residence. The printed and signed file is then sent to the visa office or the competent mission. Fees are published in euros and documents must be originals.

Updated on 7 October 2026 · Official sources consulted on 17 September 2026

At a glance

Authority
Immigration Service Delivery, Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration
Where to apply
AVATS online form, then the printed and signed file sent to the competent visa office, embassy or consulate
Electronic visa
Not stated on the portal consulted: the application is entered online, but the paper file and the original documents are then sent in
Portal language
English; the online form is available in English only according to the page consulted

Do you need a visa?

Poland passport: no visa needed for a short tourist stay.

For a short tourist stay with an ordinary passport. To work, study or stay longer, the rules are different: check your situation.

Good to know

Visa not required: “No” in the “Visa & Non-Visa Required Nationalities” list of the Irish Immigration Service; EU/EEA/Swiss national, free movement not detailed by this list.

Official source: Irish Immigration Service (ISD) — Visa & Non-Visa Required Nationalities (new tab) Verified on 24 September 2026

All destinations for this nationality

VisaGuideline helps you prepare your application. The decision belongs to the country’s authority: check the official page before paying or applying.

Ireland visa: who needs one?

Based on the verified entry rules, for a short tourist stay with an ordinary passport.

Visa exemption 75

List of nationalities

Visa required 122

List of nationalities

A nationality missing from this list does not establish a visa exemption. Consult the official authority.

Documented visa types

“Short Stay (C)” — short-stay visa, including the tourist visa
According to the pages consulted, for a stay of less than 90 days. The applicant chooses a single or multiple journey and a purpose of travel among those provided for. Official page (new tab)
“Transit” — transit visa
Category priced on the fees page consulted. Its conditions are not stated on the pages consulted. Official page (new tab)
“Preclearance” — prior authorization
Type of authorization offered by the AVATS system alongside the visa, according to the guide consulted. Its conditions are not stated on the pages consulted. Official page (new tab)

Where and how to apply

The “Coming to visit Ireland” page consulted on 17 September 2026 states that a holiday or a short stay in Ireland lasts less than 90 days and that people from a visa-required country must apply for a “Short Stay C” visit (tourist) visa.

The AVATS guide consulted the same day states that the application is entered online, that the form is available in English only and that all answers must be given in English, in standard characters. The frequently asked questions specify that the application must be made from the country of habitual residence, and that an application made from another country, for example a country visited during a holiday, will not be accepted.

The guide states that applicants dealing with the visa offices in Abu Dhabi, Abuja, Ankara, Beijing, London, Moscow or New Delhi must also consult the website of those offices for additional documents, the contact details being on the website of the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs.

Steps of the procedure

  1. File the application no earlier than 3 months before the travel date, according to the frequently asked questions.
  2. Gather the supporting documents before entering the application, as the official guide recommends.
  3. Enter the application online on the AVATS system, after accepting the terms and conditions and the privacy statement.
  4. Choose the “Short Stay (C)” type, the journey type “Single” or “Multiple” and the exact purpose of travel.
  5. Print the form produced by the system, sign it and date it.
  6. Send the signed form and the documents to the submission office shown on the application summary.
  7. Pay the visa fee in the manner stated by the visa office, the embassy or the consulate.

Documents listed by the authority

The exact list depends on the visa type and on the purpose of travel; only the official page prevails. Additional documents may be requested by the caseworker.

Stated fees and processing times

According to the portal consulted on 17 September 2026: 60 euros for a single entry, 100 euros for multiple entries and 25 euros for a transit. The page specifies that these are administration fees covering the processing of the application, non-refundable if it is refused or withdrawn, and that additional fees may apply, in particular for returning documents.

The fees page also mentions exemptions, in particular for certain family members of an Irish citizen and for beneficiaries of Directive 2004/38/EC, as well as exemptions linked to nationality, which are not reproduced here.

According to the frequently asked questions consulted on 17 September 2026, processing times vary from one embassy and visa office to another and by type of application; the page invites applicants to check current times with the office handling the application. No single processing time is published: “Not stated on the portal consulted.”

After the decision

According to the frequently asked questions, the validity of a short-stay visa normally begins on the date it is granted and expires 90 days later; it may be shorter in some cases. The page states that the visa officer determines the period of validity and that this period is not open to appeal. Travel must take place between the dates shown on the visa, those dates included.

The same page sets out the conditions of the stay: leave Ireland before the permission expires, do not work, paid or unpaid, unless the visa provides for it, do not become a burden on the State or use publicly funded services, hold travel or medical insurance suited to the length of the stay, and do not seek to enter the United Kingdom, the European Union or the European Economic Area without the visa those States require.

Where an application is refused, the page states that the refusal notice says whether the decision is open to appeal. Marriage, birth and death certificates are returned after processing; other documents to be returned must be listed and accompanied by a photocopy.

Prepare your application

Frequently asked questions

Where is the application filed?

The application is entered online on the AVATS system, from the country of habitual residence, then the printed and signed form and the documents are sent to the submission office shown on the application summary.

Is there an electronic visa?

Not stated on the portal consulted. The application is entered online, but a signed paper file and original documents must then be sent in.

When must the application be filed?

According to the frequently asked questions consulted on 17 September 2026, no earlier than 3 months before the intended travel date.

What are the stated fees?

According to the portal consulted on 17 September 2026: 60 euros for a single entry, 100 euros for multiple entries and 25 euros for a transit. These fees are not refunded if the application is refused or withdrawn.

How long is the short-stay visa valid?

According to the frequently asked questions, validity normally begins on the date it is granted and expires 90 days later; it may be shorter. The visa officer determines it and this period is not open to appeal.

Points to check with the authority

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