Ireland Family Visit Visa Application Process
Ireland Family Visit Visa Application Process
The Irish family and friends visit visa is a short-stay visa that allows the holder to visit family members and friends in Ireland for up to 90 days.
With an Irish family visit visa, family members and friends who have Irish citizenship or residence can visit for a maximum of 90 days.
Below are the steps to follow to apply to visit family and friends in Ireland.
- Fill out the online application form for the Ireland friend visit visa
- Payment of visa application fee for visiting friends in Ireland
- Delivering the passport and requested visa documents to the application center
The requested documents such as a valid passport, travel history documents, contact and accommodation information of family members and friends residing in Ireland, invitation letter, Irish family visit visa application petition, bank account statements must be submitted to the visa application center.
It is recommended that the Ireland friend visit visa application be made at least 20 working days before the travel plan. The Ireland family visit visa application is finalized within 10 working days after it is processed.
What are the Application Requirements for the Ireland Family Friend Visit Visa?
The Ireland family visit visa application requirements are listed below.
- Have received an invitation letter from a family member or friend in Ireland
- Be over 18 years old
- Will be leaving Ireland at the end of the visa period
- Not to commit acts that are legally punishable in Ireland
- Have funds or sponsors to cover travel expenses to Ireland
- Having travel health insurance in Ireland
Within the scope of Covid-19 measures, a negative PCR test result taken 2 days before the flight has been added to the Ireland visit visa application requirements.
What are the documents required to visit family and friends in Ireland?
The documents required for the Ireland family-friend visit visa application are listed below:
- Passport : Must be valid for at least 6 months after the planned return date from Ireland and have at least 2 blank pages.
- All old passports
- Visa application form : Printout of the fully completed and signed online visa application form
- Ireland visa photo : 2 biometric photos, 35 mm wide and 45 mm high, not older than 6 months
- Ireland family-friend visit visa application petition: The reason for travel to Ireland, family member information, information on how travel expenses will be covered, information and evidence of returning to the country at the end of the visa must be included in the application petition.
- Company documents for employees
- A visa invitation letter written by a family member or friend in Ireland
- Education/diploma information for students
- A letter written by the employer for employees: The letter should include how long the applicant has been working in which position, salary information, and information that the applicant will continue to work at the same location after the trip.
- Address and accommodation information for the individual in Ireland: The application file must also include a water or telephone bill issued in the name of the family member or friend whose home the accommodation will be held in.
- Detailed bank statements for the last 6 months
- Detailed population registration sample: It can be obtained as a full document via the e-government system.
- Last 3 months' pay slip
- Book round-trip flight tickets to Ireland
- Ireland travel health insurance policy
- Irish visa fee payment receipt
What is an Invitation Letter for Ireland Family-Friends Visit Visa?
The Ireland family-friend visit visa invitation letter is a letter that shows that the applicant in Turkey is invited to Ireland by the family members or the friend who is traveling in Ireland. The Ireland family-friend visit visa invitation letter must be signed and dated.
The Ireland family visit visa application letter must include the following information.
- Reason for being invited to Ireland
- Invited dates to Ireland
- Degree of closeness to the applicant, if a friend, the story of their meeting
A separate Ireland family-friend visit visa invitation letter must be written for each person to be visited who resides at different addresses in Ireland. However, a single Ireland family-friend visit visa invitation letter is sufficient for family members or friends living at the same address.
Additionally, the following information should be included in the Irish invitation letter.
- The applicant is explicitly invited to
- Travel and accommodation dates and all contact information of the inviting individual
- Colour photocopy of the individual's IRP Card (Irish residence permit card) in Ireland
- A color photocopy of the stamp in the person's passport in Ireland
- If sponsored by a person in Ireland, information to prove financial ability
What documents should the inviting person prepare during the application process?
The documents that the inviting person must prepare during the Ireland family visit visa application process are listed below:
- Invitation letter
- A current bill for the person's registered home address: Water, electricity, telephone bill, etc.
- Evidence of relationship to applicant: Birth certificate if family member, photograph if friend, etc.
- IRP Card information and photocopy
- A photocopy of the page in the person's passport that contains the Irish immigration permit stamp
- If sponsored by an individual in Ireland, proof of financial capacity: Last 6 months bank statements, last 3 months pay slips etc.
How to Get a Criminal Record for an Irish Family-Friend Visit Visa?
For the Irish family-friend visa, the criminal record can be obtained from the Criminal Record Offices located in the courthouses, from the District Governorships, and for individuals residing abroad, from the Turkish Embassy. The Irish visit visa criminal record document can also be obtained online through the E-Government system.
After the criminal record certificate is obtained, an English translation must be obtained along with all other Irish visa documents. Irish Consulates require all visa application documents to be certified and in English.
The Republic of Ireland does not allow entry into the country to individuals who may endanger the security of the country.
How to Apply for an Ireland Family and Friend Visit Visa?
Applications for a visa to visit family and friends in Ireland are made by filling in the online application form. Applicants must fill out the online application form at https://www.visas.inis.gov.ie/.
The information in the online application form for Ireland family-friend visit visa application must be complete and accurate.
Those who have completely filled out the online application form for the Ireland family-friend visit visa application are directed to the website of the intermediary institution determined by the Irish Consulates in the next step. Irish family-friend visit visa applicants make an appointment at the visa application center to submit the required visa documents requested through the website of the intermediary institution. The documents to be submitted to the application center must be consistent with the information in the application form, otherwise the Ireland family-friend visit visa application will be rejected.
Irish family-friend visit visa applicants must bring all requested documents together with their English translations by the appointment date they have made. Then, on the appointment day, they must go to the visa application center and first pay the Irish family-friend visit visa fee. For Irish visa applications, the visa application fee is paid to the application centers only in cash.
Ireland family visit visa fees are given below:
| Visa type | Visa Fee (EURO) |
|---|---|
| Single Visa | 60 |
| Multiple visa | 100 |
Persons who pay the Ireland family-friend visit visa application fee must attach the receipt to their application file.
After the documents required for the Ireland family-friend visit visa application are submitted to the visa application center, the documents are forwarded to the Irish Embassy.
How Long Does It Take to Complete an Ireland Family and Friend Visit Visa?
The Ireland family and friend visit visa application is finalised within 10 working days after the application file is processed.
The results of the Ireland family visit visa application are not sent directly to the applicants by e-mail or message. Individuals learn their Ireland family-friend visit visa application results face to face when they are called to collect their passports from the application center.
For those whose Irish family visit visa application has been rejected, a letter explaining the reasons for the rejection will be sent by the Irish Embassy. Applicants whose Irish friend visit visa application has been rejected have the right to appeal the decision within 2 months.
What are the rights of an Irish Family and Friend Visit Visa?
The rights granted to the holder of an Irish family visit visa are listed below.
- Visiting family member residing in Ireland
- Visiting friend residing in Ireland
- Reside in Ireland for the duration of the visa granted
- Travelling within the borders of Ireland within the visa period
The rights that people with an Irish family and friend visit visa do not have are listed below.
- To benefit from public services (hospital etc.)
- Applying for Irish state aid
- Working in paid or unpaid work in Ireland
- Studying at an educational institution in Ireland
- Have a residence permit in Ireland
How to Apply for Family and Friend Visits in Ireland for Minors Under 18?
For minors under the age of 18, applications for family or friend visitation in Ireland must be made by the person's parent or legal guardian.
Applications for children to visit Ireland are made by parents filling out the Ireland family-friend visit visa application form and preparing the necessary documents on behalf of the child and submitting them to the visa application centre.
For applications for an Irish visit visa for minors under the age of 18, a birth certificate must be included in the file. In addition, if the child will be travelling with only one of the parents, an original consent form signed by the other parent must be provided. For children travelling to Ireland with their parents, a colour photocopy of the parent's passport and ID must be included in the documents.
Individuals under the age of 18 travelling to Ireland alone will need a consent form signed by both parents, along with a copy of their parents’ passports and ID. For applicants under the age of 18 who have only one living parent, a death certificate for the deceased parent must be attached to the application file.
What Other Types of Irish Visas Are Similar to the Irish Family Visit Visa?
Other Irish visa types similar to the Irish family visit visa are the Irish Family Reunification Visa and the Irish Tourist Visa.
Ireland family reunification visa: It is issued for individuals who will join their family members in Ireland for more than 90 days. With the Ireland family reunification visa, individuals have the opportunity to visit their families for longer periods within the scope of their visa period.
Irish tourist visa: It is a short-term and tourist visa type that allows you to travel in Ireland for up to 90 days.