Short Stay (C) Short stay ‘C’ visit (family/friend) visa

At a Glance

Item	Details
Visa name	Short Stay ‘C’ Visit (Family/Friend) Visa
Stay duration	Up to 90 days
Cost	€60 single entry; €100 multiple entry
Eligibility timing	Apply up to 3 months before travel
Processing time	Generally about 8 weeks
Work rights	No work permitted (paid or unpaid)
Study rights	Short-term study permitted with study plan
Medicare / Public healthcare	No access to publicly funded services
Travel facility	Single or multiple entry
Citizenship pathway	Not stated in the source
Family sponsorship	Sponsor provides invitation and financial evidence
Visa record / Biometrics	Landing stamp issued; biometrics may be required

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Purpose and Overview

The Short Stay ‘C’ Visit (Family/Friend) Visa allows visa-required foreign nationals to travel to Ireland for up to 90 days to visit resident family members or friends.

• A visa grants permission to travel to Ireland only; it does not guarantee entry. An immigration officer at border control decides whether to grant entry and determines your duration of stay.
• Each traveller must submit a separate application. There are no group or family visas.
• Multiple-entry visas are approved only in limited circumstances (typically requiring a history of compliant travel under at least 2 previous Irish visas, or specific business/transit needs).

Rights and Conditions

While in Ireland on this visa, you must not:

• Perform work of any kind (paid or unpaid).
• Access publicly funded services (such as public hospitals) or become a burden on the State.
• Remain in Ireland beyond the duration granted by the immigration officer (maximum 90 days).

Fees and Processing

• Single Entry Fee: €60
• Multiple Entry Fee: €100
• Additional Charges: Consular or administrative fees may apply depending on the office. Fees are non-refundable even if an application is withdrawn or refused. Certain applicants are exempt from fees.
• Processing Time: Generally around 8 weeks from the date the application office receives your documents. Dublin Visa Office decisions are published weekly on Tuesdays. Other offices should be contacted directly.

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Required Documents and Evidence

All documents must be hard copies (USBs, memory cards, and cloud links are not accepted) and submitted within 30 days of completing the online application.

General Document Rules

• Originals: All submitted documents must be original unless photocopies are explicitly permitted.
• Official Letters: Must be on official headed paper with full contact details (free webmail addresses like Yahoo/Hotmail are not accepted) and contain an original handwritten signature (electronic signatures are not accepted).
• Translations: Documents in languages other than English or Irish require certified translations.
  • Non-EEA/Swiss civil documents (birth, marriage, death, divorce certificates) and translations done outside the EEA/Switzerland must be apostilled/attested by the issuing country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
  • EEA/Swiss civil documents do not require apostilles if submitted with a Multilingual Standard Form (MSF).
• Return of Documents: Marriage, birth, and death certificates are returned automatically. To request the return of other original documents, provide a checklist along with photocopies of those items.

Document Checklist

1. Summary Sheet: Printed, signed, and dated AVATS summary form.
2. Passport Photographs: 2 identical color photos signed with your name and AVATS transaction number on the back.
3. Passports:
   • Current passport valid for at least 6 months after your planned departure from Ireland.
   • Full photocopies of all pages of all previous passports.
   • Proof of legal residency (valid for at least 3 months after departure from Ireland) if applying outside your home country.
4. Application Letter: Signed and dated personal letter detailing the reason for travel, travel dates, accommodation address, funding source, details of any family in Ireland or the EU/EEA/Switzerland, and a formal undertaking to obey visa rules and leave Ireland on time.
5. Invitation Letter: Signed and dated letter from your host in Ireland stating:
   • Reason for the invite, dates, and how they know you.
   • A copy of the host's passport bio page or national ID.
   • If non-EEA/Swiss: a copy of their valid Irish Residence Permit (IRP) and passport immigration stamp.
   • Host's commitment confirming they understand your visa obligations.
6. Accommodation Plan: Utility bill from within the last 6 months from the host (if staying in their home) or booking confirmations for commercial accommodations (hotels, B&Bs, Airbnbs).
7. Proof of Finances:
   • Self-funded: 6 months of original, bank-certified bank statements showing name, account details, transactions, and explanation for large deposits/withdrawals. (Letter required for savings accounts confirming withdrawal access).
   • Host or Third-Party Funded: Letter outlining costs covered, bank statements, 3 recent payslips, recent tax summary (e.g., Revenue Employment Detail Summary), and employer confirmation letter (or business registration/tax records if self-employed).
8. Evidence of Ties / Obligation to Return:
   • Employed: Employer letter (stating employment length, approved leave, and return date) plus 3 recent payslips.
   • Self-Employed: Business description, recent financial statements, recent tax return, customer payments within last 6 months, and return date.
   • Students: College letter confirming course, duration, remaining study time, and return date.
   • Family/Property: Birth certificates of dependent children staying behind; title deeds or tenancy agreements.
9. Travel/Medical Insurance: Not mandatory during initial submission unless requested, but mandatory to hold and present at border control upon arrival.
10. Previous Visa Refusals: Full original refusal letters from any country must be provided. Failure to disclose past refusals, deportations, or overstays results in automatic refusal.
11. Additional Specific Intentions (if applicable):
    • Study: Course confirmation and details of institution.
    • Marriage/Civil Partnership: MRF or Registrar acknowledgment of intent.

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Minors (Under 18 Years)

• Applications must be submitted by a parent or legal guardian.
• Visas issued to minors specify whether the child is permitted to travel unaccompanied or accompanied by an adult.

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Step-by-Step Application Process

1. Complete Online Application: Access the AVATS online visa system up to 3 months before travel. Select Short Stay (C), reason Visit Family/Friend, and your journey type.
2. Print Summary Form: Note your Visa Application Transaction Number, print, sign, and date the summary sheet.
3. Pay Application Fee: Pay according to the specific instructions of your assigned application office.
4. Collate & Dispatch Documents: Package your documents into a padded envelope and send them to the allocated Dublin Visa Office, International Visa Office, or Irish Embassy/Consulate within 30 days of the AVATS submission.
5. Biometrics (if required): Attend a biometric appointment if instructed by your application office.
6. Decision & Travel:
   • If approved, the visa is affixed to your passport and returned with eligible original documents.
   • If refused, a refusal letter detailing reasons is issued. There is no appeal mechanism for short stay visit visa refusals; applicants wishing to travel must submit a new application addressing the refusal grounds.
7. Border Control Inspection: Present your passport, visa, insurance, and accommodation/travel documentation to immigration officers at the port of entry to receive your landing stamp.

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Important Warnings

• False Information: Submitting false, forged, or misleading documents or failing to disclose immigration history will result in visa refusal, loss of appeal rights, and a potential 5-year ban on receiving an Irish visa.
• Travel Bookings: Do not purchase non-refundable travel tickets before receiving an official visa decision.