Visas for Ireland
Who needs a visa
Whether you need a visa to travel to Ireland depends on what country you're from. Visit the Irish Immigration Service Travel Path for more information regarding your personal requirements for travelling to Ireland.
Information on visa requirements for transiting through Ireland is available on IrishImmigration.ie
Please note that Ireland is not party to the Schengen Agreement, and a Schengen visa or residence permit does not entitle you to travel to Ireland without a visa.
Unless you qualify for the Short Stay Visa Waiver Programme or the British Irish Visa Scheme a valid UK visa does not entitle you to travel to Ireland without a visa. Further information on these schemes is available on the website of the Irish Immigration Service.
Note: A visa allows you to travel to Ireland only. It does not give you permission to enter the country or to stay here. An immigration officer at border control can refuse entry even if you have a visa.
Remember…
If you're a citizen of a non-EEA country, whether you need a visa or not, you will be subject to immigration control when you enter Ireland.
Types of Visa and Documentation
Full information on the different types of visas, required documentation, and how to apply can be found on the website of the Irish Immigration Service.
- Information on applying for a short-stay (less than 90 days) tourist visa is available on the Coming to Visit section of IrishImmigration.ie.
- Information on coming to work in Ireland is available on the Coming to Work section of IrishImmigration.ie.
- Information on coming to study in Ireland is available on the Coming to Study section of IrishImmigration.ie.
- Information on coming to join family in Ireland is available on the Coming to Join Family section of IrishImmigration.ie.
How to apply
- Fill in the online visa application form
- Ensure you have all relevant documentation
- Online summary sheet
- Application
- Two passport photos
- Current passport (valid for at least 6 months after the date of departure from Ireland or 12 months if applying for a stay long stay visa)
- All other documentation as listed on irishimmigration.ie
- The Embassy does not process visas. Please go to our visa partner Visa Facilitation Services Global (VFS) Office in to submit your application along with all required documents. VFS has three offices in Saudi Arabia:
- Riyadh
- Jeddah
- Dammam
Visa Checklist
Marriage, Family and Tourism
Study, Employment and Others
Remember
Processing Time: The Embassy aims to process visas in 3-4 weeks, however we encourage you to apply well in advance of your travel to avoid disruptions to your travel plans.
Any application that does not have the required documentation will not be accepted- see Home - Immigration Service Delivery (irishimmigration.ie) for details of required visas.
Application steps
King Abdullah Scholarship Program - KASP Scholarship Programme
You must also submit:
- Sponsorship letter showing the duration of the scholarship and visa purposes
- Specify the names of any dependents
- Proof of the relationship you have with any dependents (for example, marriage certificate, birth certificate and family book
- Proof of enrolment at the relevant Educational Institution in Ireland
All documents must be:
- original
- legible
- verifiable
- in English or Irish, or translated with a certified translation
- not in envelopes or folders
You must also submit photocopies of all documents including every page of your passport. Ensure you separate original documents from photocopied documents. We will send application decisions to you.
Returning your documents:
- We do not return photocopies of documents.
- Keep copies of any documents you submit.
- Send a letter with your application that lists the original the documents you would like us to return.
- Documents will be returned to you by DHL at the applicants expense.
- A third party can collect your passport. Send us a signed letter of authority authorising that person to collect.
We are under no obligation to contact you, or your contact/host in Ireland. We may request extra documentation and or information.
We can refuse applications if:
- your documents are not complete
- your documents are not in English or Irish, or translated with a certified translation
- we cannot verify the information you supplied
- your application is not signed
Visa appeals
If your visa application is refused, you will receive a letter from the visa office telling you why it has been refused and if you can appeal the decision.
Further information on appealing visa decisions is available on the website of the Irish Immigration Service.
All appeals are handled directly by the Irish Immigration Service.
On arrival in Ireland
Further information on what to expect on arrival in Ireland can be found on the website of the Irish Immigration Service.
Information on entry for EU/EEA and Swiss nationals is available on IrishImmigration.ie.
Information on entry for non-EU, non-EEA and non-Swiss nationals is available on IrishImmigration.ie.
Information on travelling with children is available on IrishImmigration.ie.
Information on transiting through Ireland is available on IrishImmigration.ie.
All visa payments are processed by our visa partner, VFS.
Current visa fees (subject to exchange rate and updates by the Department of Justice in Ireland)
- Current single entry visa fee: SAR 275
- Current multiple entry visa fee: SAR 460*
*Please ensure you are eligible for a multiple entry visa before paying for one.
Payment details
You can pay the visa fee in your local currency at the relevant SAR exchange rate.
All applicants must pay their visa fee in full.
Pay at your nearest Visa Facilitation Services Global (VFS) Office if you are applying from:
Other charges
VFS charges its own visa processing fee in addition to the amounts indicated above.
Fraud
The Embassy applies a zero-tolerance policy with respect to fraudulent applications.
An application containing a deception such as a forged document, a document containing false information or information withheld from an application (such as a previous visa refusal) may result in your application being refused without the prospect of appeal.
If the application was submitted as part of a group, all applications in that group maybe refused without appeal. Where applications are rejected on the grounds of a deception, a 5-year ban may also be applied.