C Short stay ‘C’ visit (tourist) visa

At a Glance

Item	Details
Visa Name	Short stay ‘C’ visit (tourist) visa
Stay Duration	Up to 90 days
Cost	Administrative fee varies; exemptions may apply
Eligibility Timing	Apply approximately 3 months before travel
Work Rights	No paid or unpaid work allowed
Study Rights	Short-term courses permitted
Medicare / Public Healthcare	No publicly funded health services allowed
Travel Facility	Allows travel to Irish border only
Citizenship Path	Not stated in the source
Family Sponsorship	Individual visas required; no family visas
Visa Record	Physical sticker placed into passport
Processing Time	Approximately 8 weeks
Extension Options	Rare, unforeseen emergency circumstances only
Right of Appeal	No appeal for short-stay refusals

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Purpose & Permitted Activities

A short stay ‘C’ visa allows foreign nationals to travel to Ireland for up to 90 days to:

• Travel as a tourist.
• Visit family or friends.
• Study on a short-term course.
• Get married.
• Receive medical treatment.

Prohibitions

• You cannot undertake any paid or unpaid work.
• You cannot access publicly funded services (such as public hospitals).

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Special Travel Programmes & Waivers

• School Group Trips (EU/EEA or Switzerland): School students legally resident in an EU/EEA country or Switzerland may travel without a visa under the School student visa waiver decision.
• Short Stay Visa Waiver Programme: Citizens of approved countries holding an eligible UK short-stay visitor visa may visit Ireland without a separate Irish visa under the Short Stay Visa Waiver Programme.
• British-Irish Visa Scheme (BIVS): Eligible Chinese and Indian passport holders may visit both Ireland and the UK on a single visa under the British-Irish Visa Scheme.

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Application Fees & Processing

• Fee Requirement: The administrative fee is non-refundable if the application is withdrawn or refused. Certain applicants are exempt from fees via visa fee exemptions.
• Processing Time: Approximately 8 weeks from the date documents arrive at the visa office, embassy, or consulate.
• Dublin Visa Office Decisions: Updates and waiting times are published every Tuesday via Visa Decisions.
• Refusal & Appeals: Refusals receive a Letter of Refusal. There is no right of appeal for short-stay visa refusals; applicants must submit a new application addressing the refusal reasons.

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How to Apply: Step-by-Step

1. Complete Online Application: Submit your application online through the Automated Visa Application and Tracking System (AVATS). Print, sign, and date the generated Summary Application Form.
2. Pay Application Fee: Follow the instructions on the summary sheet to pay the required visa fee.
3. Submit Supporting Documents: Package all original supporting documents into a strong padded envelope and send them to the designated visa office within 30 days of completing the online application.
   • Group/Family submissions: Place each person's documents in separate labeled envelopes showing their name and Visa Application Transaction Number before placing them into the larger outer package.
   • Biometrics: Check with your local office to determine if biometric information is required.

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Required Supporting Evidence

Hardcopy documents only. Do not submit files via USB, CD-ROM, memory cards, or cloud file-sharing platforms.

• Passport: Valid for at least 6 months after the intended departure date from Ireland, accompanied by copies of all pages of all previous passports.
• Non-Citizen Residents: Proof of legal permission to reside in the country of application, valid for at least 3 months after intended departure from Ireland.
• Passport Photos: 2 passport-sized color photos meeting the rules for visa photographs. On the reverse side, sign your name (in native script) and write your AVATS transaction number.
• Signed Application Letter: Explaining the reason for the visit, dates, accommodation, financial sponsor, and committing to abide by visa rules, avoid public services, and depart on time.
• Proof of Finances:
  • Self-funded: 6 months of original up-to-date bank statements on headed paper (or bank-certified printouts). Savings accounts must include an official letter confirming withdrawal rights. Explanations for large transactions are required.
  • Friend/Family-sponsored: Cost breakdown in Euros, sponsor's bank statements, 3 recent payslips, employer letter, and most recent tax document (e.g., Employment Detail Summary from Revenue).
• Obligations to Return Home: Evidence of social/economic ties (e.g., employer letter with return date and 3 payslips, college enrollment letter, birth certificates of dependent children staying home, property title deeds, or tenancy agreements).
• Accommodation & Itinerary: Booking confirmations for hotels/rentals, a study plan (for short-term courses), or an invitation letter.
• Visa Refusals / Immigration History: Original refusal letters or official deportation/entry-refusal documents from any country. Failure to disclose past refusals results in mandatory refusal.

Translation and Document Legalisation

• Non-English/Irish documents must include a full certified translation.
• Official civil documents (birth, marriage, divorce, death certificates) issued outside the EU/EEA/Switzerland must be apostilled/attested by the issuing country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
• EU/EEA/Swiss civil documents do not require an apostille if accompanied by a Multilingual Standard Form (MSF).

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Requirements for Family / Friend Visits

If you are visiting a friend or family member, you must include:

• Application Letter Details: Relationship history, evidence of connection (photos, communications), and contact details of any other family members residing in Ireland, the EU/EEA, or Switzerland.
• Invitation Letter: Signed letter from the host containing their full address (including EirCode), dates of the stay, confirmation of relationship, commitment to rules, and a color copy of their passport/national ID picture page.
  • Non-EEA Hosts: Must also submit color photocopies of their valid Irish Residence Permit (IRP) and passport immigration stamp.

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Border Entry, Conditions & Extensions

• Border Control: An Irish visa does not grant automatic entry. You must present your passport, visa, medical/travel insurance, and supporting documents to immigration officers at the port of entry.
• Medical / Travel Insurance: Mandatory upon arrival in Ireland. You may be asked to present proof before a visa is issued or at the border.
• Landing Stamp & Departure: Your permitted stay is determined by the landing stamp in your passport. Ireland does not issue exit stamps.
• Extensions of Stay: Extensions are granted only in rare, unforeseen emergency circumstances arising after arrival. Extensions are not granted for foreseeable reasons (such as further tourism). Applications must be made from within Ireland before the initial permission expires via Extension of Visitor Permission.

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Important Warnings

• Fraud and Deception: Submitting false, misleading, or fraudulent documents may lead to immediate refusal, forfeiture of appeal rights, and a 5-year ban on receiving an Irish visa.
• Travel Bookings: Do not purchase non-refundable flight or travel tickets before receiving a final visa decision.