Irish Business Visa Application
Non-EEA citizens who want to come to Ireland to do business have to obtain an Irish Business Visa. Find out more about the requirements and the application process.
Call us today on +1 844 290 6312 to receive assistance with your Business Visa Application.
What is the Irish Business Visa?
The Business Visa to Ireland is intended for non-EEA citizens who want to come to Ireland for business purposes. You should apply for the Business Visa if you are planning to, for example, attend a meeting with an Irish business partner, negotiate a deal with an Irish company, or participate in a business convention.
Holders of the Irish Business Visa can spend up to 90 days in Ireland. While in Ireland, they can engage in business activities and work for up to 14 days. Keep in mind that it is not possible to extend the Irish Business Visa so you must leave the country when your permit expires.
Citizens of EU/EEA countries can come to Ireland to do business without having to apply for a visa. They can remain in Ireland for up to 90 days visa-free.
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Who is eligible for the Business Visa?
Non-EEA citizens who want to obtain the Irish Business Visa have to meet a number of eligibility requirements. These include:
- They have a passport valid for at least six months past their planned stay in Ireland
- They plan to engage in business activities in Ireland
- They intend to leave the country before their visa expires
- They have ties in their home country that will make them return there after their trip
- They do not plan to seek employment lasting more than 14 days
- They have enough money to support themselves during their stay in Ireland.
To prove that you meet these criteria, you have to submit extensive evidence. The exact documents you need to provide vary depending on your individual circumstances but all applicants have to submit the following:
- Their passport
- Two passport-sized photographs
- An application letter in which they provide details of the purpose of their trip to Ireland
- Information about their accommodation in Ireland
- Letter of invitation from an Irish company confirming that they will be doing business together
- Proof of having enough money to cover their expenses during their stay
- Proof of having ties in their home country that will make them go back there after their visa expires.
If you hire one of our lawyers, they can help you gather all the necessary documents. Hiring an immigration lawyer is highly recommended as the failure to provide some of the required supporting documents can lead to your application being delayed or even rejected.
What is the application process for the Irish Business Visa?
You can submit your Business Visa Application online. In the online form you have to provide personal details and explain what the purpose of you traveling to Ireland is. After you submit the online visa application, you will see an application summary sheet that you have to print and include in your supporting documents file.
Once you submit the form, you have to pay the visa application fee of either €60 for a single entry visa or €100 for a multiple entry one. Keep in mind that as the Business Visa is a Short Stay ‘C’ Visa, you will only be granted the multiple entry permit in exceptional circumstances.
After paying the visa fee, you need to gather all the required documents that prove your eligibility for the Irish Business Visa. When you have the portfolio of evidence ready you have to send it over for processing. You can find out which visa application office to send it to by checking your application summary sheet.
Then, the Department of Justice and Equality will review your application and all the documents and determine whether you qualify for the Irish Business Visa. The processing usually takes around eight weeks but you might have to wait longer if, for example, you forget to provide some of the required documents or if you are applying during busy periods.
If your application is approved, you will receive a stamp in your passport and you will be able to start preparing for your journey to Ireland. If your application is unsuccessful, you will receive a letter explaining the reasons for the refusal.
What is the Immigrant Investor Programme?
If you have a large amount of money that you wish to invest in Ireland, you might also qualify for the Immigrant Investor Programme. It is a system intended for non-EEA citizens who want to make an investment in Ireland and stay in the country long there.
Depending on the type of investment you want to make, you might be eligible for one of the following routes that fall under the Immigrant Investor Programme:
- Enterprise Investment – if you want to invest at least €1 million in a new start-up or an existing business in Ireland. You have to retain the investment for at least three years.
- Investment Fund – if you want to invest at least €1 million in a small or medium-sized business in Ireland. You have to retain the investment for at least three years.
- Real Estate Investment Fund – if you want to invest at least €2 million in an Irish Real Estate Investment Fund. You are free to choose which one but you need to retain the investment for at least three years.
- Endowments – if you want to donate at least €500,000 as a philanthropic contribution without expecting any financial returns. Your endowment has to benefit a certain community in Ireland.
If you are accepted into the Immigrant Investor Programme, you will receive Stamp 4 in your passport and you will have the right to reside and work in Ireland.
How IAS Can Help
At IAS, we have a team of experienced lawyers who have helped many clients come to Ireland to do business. They can help you complete your Business Visa Application to the highest standard and gather all the documents that prove your eligibility for your chosen visa.
By hiring an immigration lawyer, you can make the visa application process stress-free and easy. Your lawyer will be around to answer all your questions and check whether your application has been completed correctly.
Similarly, if you are an investor, our lawyers can help you determine which of the four routes within the Immigrant Investor Programme you should venture down.
Call us today on +1 844 290 6312 to find out more about how our team can help.
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Frequently Asked Questions
When submitting the required supporting documents, you need to make sure that all of them are in their original form. If you submit photocopies, they will most likely be rejected. Also, all the documents have to be in English or Irish. If the documents you submit were issued in a language other than these two, you need to have them translated by an accredited translator.
Original documents such as your passport will be returned to you once a decision regarding your application has been made. If you need any other documents back, you can request the return of any evidence you included in your Business Visa application.
Unfortunately, it is not possible to extend the Irish Business Visa. If your application for it is successful, you will have the right to spend up to 90 days in Ireland. After this period, however, you must leave the country. Extensions are granted only in unforeseen circumstances.
If you would like to spend more than 90 days in Ireland, you have to obtain a Long Stay ‘D’ Visa. There are many Long Stay ‘D’ Visas you might be eligible for. Get in touch with our lawyers and they will assess your circumstances and help you choose the right permit.
If your Business Visa Application is accepted, you will have the right to travel to Ireland but, unfortunately, just obtaining the visa does not mean you are guaranteed entry into the country. When you arrive in Ireland, an immigration official will review your documents and will determine whether or not you can be allowed in.
Documents that you need to show them include:
- Your passport with your Irish visa in it
- A photocopy of your application summary sheet
- A photocopy of your visa application letter
- Details of your accommodation in Ireland
- Proof of having enough funds to cover the expenses during your stay
- Proof of having ties in your home country that will make your return home after your trip.
If the immigration official is satisfied with the documents you provide, they will place a landing stamp in your passport and you will be able to enter Ireland.