Ireland visa requirements for Nigerians

Basic Travel Requirements for Nigerians visiting
Ireland

Travelers are required to fulfill the following requirements in order to
apply for a Irish Visa.

  • A valid passport which has a validity of 6 months after your intended date of exit from the country. The passport must have two blank pages during the time of submitting the visa application.
  • Duly completed visa application form.
  • 2 passport-size photographs captured in a white background.
  • Proof that you have sufficient funds to take care of yourself while you are in the country.
  • Valid travel insurance which covers sufficient medical insurance for the duration of the stay.
  • Proof of accommodation for your stay in Ireland.
  • Copy of return flight ticket.
  • Proof of civil status.
  • Copy of travel itinerary.

Ireland Visa for Nigerians

Facts about Ireland

The Republic of Ireland is famous its coastline, villages, and towns by the shoreline. The country has a lot of resorts and cliffs. The most famous and highest cliffs in Ireland are the Croaghaun which rises to 688m. tourists can enjoy surfing and kayaking at the seaside resort to the south and southwest of Ireland. The cities in Ireland have a lot of attractions for every tourist. In Dublin, the main attractions are the Dublin Castle, Croke Park, Saint Stephen’s Green Park, and the Bloomsday Festival. Cork city has a wildlife park, an opera house, a castle, and an island. The best-known attraction in Limerick King John’ Castle, other attractions include; The Hunt Museum, Adare, and Lough Gur. Galway is not known for its attractions but rather for its atmosphere and lively scenery. Waterford is the city with the warmest climate in the world and has a 5km long beach which is very popular for surfing.
 
The tourism industry in the Republic of Ireland is one of the biggest contributing industries to the economy of the country. Each year, the industry contributes €5bn in revenue accounting for 4% of GNP and providing over 200,000 jobs. In 2017, over 9 million foreign tourists visited the country which was a 3.5% increase from the number that visited during the previous year. It is estimated that this number is going to be on the rise for years to come.
 
Being involved in any form of drug dealing, even if it is being in possession of a small quantity of will attract a lengthy prison sentence. Foreigners are not allowed to enter or leave the country with €10,000 or its equivalent.

Types of Ireland Visa

Types of Visa Processing Time Duration of Stay
Tourist visa 6 – 8 weeks 90 days
Business visa 6 – 8 weeks 90 days
Student visa 6 – 8 weeks 90 days
Work visa 6 – 8 weeks 2 years

General Requirements for Ireland Visa

  • A valid passport which has a validity of 6 months after your intended date of exit from the country. The passport must have two blank pages during the time of submitting the visa application.
  • Duly completed visa application form.
  • 2 passport-size photographs captured in a white background.
  • Proof that you have sufficient funds to take care of yourself while you are in the country.
  • Valid travel insurance which covers sufficient medical insurance for the duration of the stay.
  • Proof of accommodation for your stay in Ireland.
  • Copy of return flight ticket.
  • Proof of civil status.
  • Copy of travel itinerary.

Ireland Tourist Visa Eligibility &
Requirements

  • The tourist visa is issued to people who wish to visit Ireland for tourism or pleasure trips.
  • Those who wish to visit friends and family members residing in Ireland also need the tourist visa.
  • Ireland tourist visa is a short-stay visa that is granted for the purpose of temporary visits only. All short stay visas are also called ‘C’ visas.
  • This visa is usually single entry. Multiple entry visas are approved in limited circumstances only.
  • A short stay ‘C’ visit (tourist) visa allows you to travel to Ireland for up to 90 days for:
    • Tourism
    • Study, e.g. a short-term English language course
  • This visa does not allow you to:
    • Do work (paid or unpaid) of any kind
    • Use any publicly funded services, e.g. a public hospital
  • The visa is granted for a maximum period of 90 days (3 months) only.
  • A visitor with a tourist visa is required to leave Ireland on or before the date stamped on the passport by the Immigration officer in Ireland.
  • Holders of tourist visa in Ireland cannot extend their stay beyond the 90 days period.
  • You must substantiate the purpose of your visit by either a letter of reference or documentary evidence of a hotel booking which provides details of the dates when you will be in Ireland.
  • The passport you are using must have at least two blank pages.
  • Getting a visa does not automatically mean that you will be allowed to enter Ireland.
  • An immigration officer at border control can refuse you entry even if you have a visa.
  • There is nothing like a family visa in Ireland. Each traveler must apply for a separate visa.
  • A tourist visa application for a young person (aged under 18) should be made by their parent or legal guardian. Extra conditions for young people also apply.
  • You should not purchase travel tickets until you have received a decision on your visa application.
  • You must apply for a visa from your home country or a country where you are a legal resident.
  • You are advised to start preparing your application 3 months before you travel.

Ireland Business Visa Eligibility &
Requirements

  • This is the type of visa issued to Nigerians traveling to Ireland for business purposes.
  • The Ireland business visa is also a short-stay visa. All short-stay visas are called ‘C’ visas.
  • A short-stay business visa allows you to travel to Ireland for up to 90 days for business or for work that lasts 14 days or less.
  • The Ireland business visa allows you to travel to Ireland for up to 90 days for activities related to your job, including to:
    • Attend meetings
    • Negotiate or sign agreements or contracts
    • Work for 14 days or less
  • This visa does not allow you to:
    • Work in any way (paid or unpaid) for 15 days or longer
    • Rely on Irish public services, e.g. public hospitals
  • Getting a visa does not automatically mean that you will be allowed to enter Ireland. An immigration officer at border control can refuse you entry even if you have a visa.
  • A signed official letter from your employer confirming that you are undertaking this business trip on the company’s behalf is needed.
  • The purpose and dates of the trip will also be outlined in the letter.
  • If a number of trips are required/envisaged, this must be clearly stated in the letter.
  • If going for a business meeting, the Irish company you’d be meeting will also provide a letter confirming the trip.
  • If you are responsible for the costs of the trip, evidence of how you intend to finance your trip and support yourself for the duration of your visit must be provided.
  • You need to present details of any previous applications you have made for an Irish visa, including those refused.
  • If you have been refused a visa for any other country details of this should be submitted. Failure to disclose previous visa refusals will result in your Irish visa application being refused.
  • You must apply for a visa from your home country or a country where you are a legal resident.
  • You are advised to start preparing your application 3 months before you travel.
  • Your application has 3 parts:
  1. Create a visa application online
  2. Pay the visa application fee
  3. Send your passport & other documents for processing
  4. In some cases, you may also need to provide bio-metric information
  • You will be given information about where to send your documents after you create your visa application.
  • If your application is successful, an Irish visa will be placed into your passport/travel document and returned to you.
  • In general, you can expect a decision about 8 weeks after we receive your documents.

    • Ireland Student Visa Eligibility &
    Requirements

    • Applicants intending to go to Ireland for study will need a student visa.
    • You can apply for a study visa if you are planning to come to Ireland to undertake a course of study for more than 3 months.
    • You can apply for a study visa up to 3 months before your date of travel to Ireland.
    • If you are visiting another state prior to travelling to Ireland, you must have the relevant visa for that state in your passport before applying for an Irish visa.
    • You must apply online for your visa.
    • When you have completed the online application process, you must follow the instructions on the summary application form that is created by the online system.
    • The summary form will contain information on where you are to submit your supporting documentation.
    • The summary form which you must print, sign and date must be submitted with your supporting documentation.
    • You may be required to provide your bio-metric information as part of the application process.
    • Do not include false or misleading information or documents in your application. If you do, your application may be refused.
    • In some circumstances, you may not be allowed to appeal the visa decision and may be blocked from getting an Irish visa for 5 years.
    • You are allowed to pay the visa fee in your local currency.
    • The fees for visas are:
      • Single entry: €60
      • Multi entry: €100
      • Transit: €25
    • Visa applications are processed in date order. You are advised not to purchase travel tickets before you know the outcome of your visa application.
    • Processing times can vary between countries. They can also vary during high volume periods during the year.
    • You can generally expect a decision within 8 weeks from the date your application reaches the embassy.
    • Your application may take longer if e.g. you have not submitted all necessary supporting documentation, your supporting documentation needs to be verified or because of your personal circumstances (e.g. if you have a criminal conviction).
    • The estimated cost of living in Ireland for a student for one academic year is €7,000.
    • You must demonstrate that you or your sponsor has ready access to an amount of at least €7,000 for each year of your studies, in addition to the course fees for each of those years.

    Ireland Work Visa Eligibility &
    Requirements

    • You need an employment visa to come to Ireland to work.
    • Your exact preparations depend on your plans and personal circumstances. Beware of emails that ask you to pay for an ‘International Employment Eligibility Clearance and Security Bond’ to get a job in Ireland.
    • If you come across any of such mails, contact the embassy immediately for clarification.
    • You can apply for an employment visa after you have obtained your employment permit from the Department of Jobs, Enterprise & Innovation (DJEI).
    • There are different types of employment permits issued by DJEI including Critical Skills Employment Permits and Work Permits.
    • DJEI will shortly introduce a new range of employment permits. The correct visa type for a holder of any type of employment permit issued by DJEI is the Employment (Permits etc.).
    • You can apply for an Employment (Permits etc.) visa up to 3 months before your date of travel to Ireland.
    • If you are visiting another state prior to travelling to Ireland, you must have the relevant visa for that state in your passport before applying for an Irish visa.
    • You must apply online for your visa. When you have completed the online application process, you must follow the instructions on the summary application form that is created by the online system.
    • The summary form will contain information on where you are to submit your supporting documentation. The summary form which you must print, sign and date must be submitted with your supporting documentation.
    • Applications are processed in date order. You are advised not to purchase travel tickets before you know the outcome of your visa application.
    • Processing times can vary between countries. They can also vary during high volume periods during the year.
    • You can generally expect a decision within 8 weeks from the date your application reaches the embassy.
    • You are not permitted to take up any form of employment, other than that for which you have already been approved.
    • Original documents must be provided. If you submit a document that is not in English/Irish, it must be accompanied by a full translation. Each translated document must contain:
      • confirmation from the translator that it is an accurate translation of the original document;
      • the date of the translation;
      • the translator’s full name and signature; and
      • the translator’s contact details.
    •  All documents accompanying your application must be originals.
    • You should keep copies of all the documents that you provide.
    • Original documents such as marriage/birth/death certificates will be returned to you. However, other documents such as bank statements or letters of invitation will not be returned.
    • If there are particular documents that you wish to have returned, please provide a list of these documents with the application.

    Ireland Visa Fees

    Tourist visa

    100.00 (USD)

    Business visa

    100.00 (USD)

    Student visa

    100.00 (USD)

    Work visa

    100.00 (USD)

    Ireland Visa Application Centres & Embassies in
    Nigeria

    Lagos

    Address: 22A Lugard Avenue, Ikoyi Lagos – Nigeria

    Website: www.embassyofireland.org.ng

    Email: info@coi-ng.org / c.guilfoyle@coi-ng.org

    Phone: (+234) 1 903 6940 / (+234) 903 744 3553

    Abuja

    Address: 11 Negro Crescent, Maitama District, Abuja – Nigeria

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    Tel: +234 9 4621083

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