Van der Elst visa

At a Glance

Item	Details
Visa name	Van der Elst visa
Purpose	Temporary service provision for EU employer
Maximum stay	Up to 12 consecutive months
Cost	€60 single entry; €100 multiple entry
Application timing	Up to 3 months before travel
Processing time	Generally within 8 weeks
Work permit required	No work permit needed
Work rights	Approved employer services only
Study rights	Not stated in the source
Public funds access	Not permitted
Medicare / Health coverage	Travel/medical insurance required at entry
Travel facility	Single or multiple entry options
Citizenship pathway	Not stated in the source
Family sponsorship	Not stated in the source
Biometrics	May be required during application

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Purpose & Overview

The Van der Elst visa allows a non-EEA national who is lawfully resident and legally employed in another EU Member State to come to Ireland to work on a temporary basis for that employer without obtaining an Irish work permit.

Eligibility Criteria

To qualify, you must:

• Be lawfully resident in the EU Member State where the employer is established.
• Be lawfully employed by and on the payroll of that sending employer.
• Be travelling to Ireland to provide services on behalf of that employer.
• Be on a temporary or short-term contract in Ireland for a maximum duration of 12 consecutive months.
• Hold any necessary visa for prior country visits if visiting another State before arriving in Ireland.

Visa Fees

• Single entry (Short stay 'C' visa): €60
• Multiple entry (Short stay 'C' visa): €100
• Additional charges: Extra charges (such as consular fees) may apply.
• Exemptions & Refunds: Some applicants are exempt from fees. Fees cover administrative costs and are non-refundable if an application is refused or withdrawn. Payment methods and accepted currencies depend on the processing office.

Processing Times

• Applications are processed in date order.
• Decisions generally take within 8 weeks from the date the application is lodged at the visa office, embassy, or consulate.
• Processing may take longer if supporting documents are missing or require verification, or due to personal circumstances (such as a criminal conviction).
• Applicants are advised not to purchase travel tickets until the visa decision is issued.

Conditions & Restrictions

• Unapproved Work: You must not undertake any other paid or unpaid work outside of the approved assignment.
• Public Funds: You are not permitted to access any public funds.
• Entry Requirements: You must hold valid medical or travel insurance upon arrival and present proof to the immigration officer at the border upon request.

Supporting Documents

All submitted documents must be hardcopy originals. Submissions via USB drives, memory cards, CD-ROMs, or cloud file-sharing services (e.g., Dropbox, Sharefile) are not accepted.

General Document Requirements

• Translations: Non-English/Irish documents must include a full certified translation stating accuracy, translation date, translator’s full name, signature, and contact details.
• Company Letters: Must be on official letterhead showing the full company name, postal address, fixed landline telephone number (mobile numbers rejected), website, business email (Hotmail/Yahoo rejected), contact person’s name/title, and an original handwritten signature (electronic signatures rejected).
• Official Civil Documents:
  • Issued outside the EEA/Switzerland: Must be attested/apostilled as genuine by the issuing country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. If translated outside the EEA/Switzerland, the translation must also be attested by the foreign affairs ministry in that country.
  • Issued within the EEA/Switzerland: Do not require apostille/attestation if submitted with a Multilingual Standard Form (MSF) or as an Extract of a European marriage certificate.

Required Document Checklist

1. Summary Application Form: Printed, signed, and dated.
2. Photographs: Two identical colour passport-sized photographs taken within the last 6 months, with the applicant’s name and visa application reference number printed on the back.
3. Passports: Current passport (valid for at least 12 months after the intended arrival date in Ireland) and full copies of all previous passports.
4. Proof of Legal Status in the EU: Evidence of legal residence and employment authorization in the sending EU Member State, including proof of permission to return there after the Irish contract ends.
5. Signed Letter of Application: Must state:
   • Full contact details.
   • Reason for coming to Ireland and proposed duration of stay.
   • Details of family members currently in Ireland or any EU Member State.
   • Accommodation details in Ireland.
   • A clear undertaking to abide by visa conditions, not become a burden on the State, and leave Ireland upon visa expiry.
6. Letter from Sending EU Employer: Must confirm:
   • Legal residence and employment status in the employer's Member State.
   • Details of the services to be provided in Ireland and contract duration.
   • Guarantee that you will return to the sending EU Member State after the contract.
   • Host company contact details and Irish host business name.
7. Letter from Irish Host Company: Stating the contract details, duration, and justification for why the employee is required.
8. Previous Visa Refusal Details: Full details and the original refusal letter issued by the authorities of any country, if applicable.
9. Medical/Travel Insurance: Does not need to be submitted initially unless specifically requested by the visa officer, but proof must be presented at the border upon arrival.

Return of Documents

Original certificates (birth, marriage, death) will be returned. Letters of invitation and bank statements will not be returned. Submit a written list with your application specifying any particular original documents you wish to have returned.

How to Apply

Step 1: Complete online application on AVATS (up to 3 months before travel)
Step 2: Print, sign, and date the generated summary application form
Step 3: Pay the required visa fee (subject to local office payment procedures)
Step 4: Submit hardcopy original documents and biometrics (if required)
Step 5: Await decision (generally within 8 weeks)

1. Submit Online Form: Complete and submit the application via the online AVATS system up to 3 months prior to travel.
2. Prepare Document Package: Print, sign, and date the summary application form and gather all required hardcopy supporting documents.
3. Submit to Office: Deliver the documentation package, summary form, fee, and biometrics (if required) to the assigned visa office, embassy, or consulate indicated on your summary sheet.

Important Warnings

• False Information: Submitting false, fraudulent, or misleading information/documents will lead to visa refusal, potential loss of appeal rights, and a possible 5-year ban on receiving an Irish visa.
• Failure to Disclose Refusals: Failing to disclose prior visa refusals from any country will result in the refusal of the application.