Ireland Short Stay Family Visa
If you are a non-EU/EEA national who would like to visit a family member who lives in Ireland, you may need to apply for a Short Stay Family Visa. Find out more about the requirements and the visa application process.
For guidance and assistance with your Irish visa application, call us today on +1 844 290 6312.
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What is the Short Stay Family Visa?
The Short Stay Family Visa is intended for non-EEA citizens who want to come to Ireland to visit a family member residing in Ireland. This visa can also be used by those who want to visit a friend living in Ireland rather than a family member.
As it is a Short Stay ‘C’ Visa, its holders can spend a maximum of 90 days in Ireland. During their visit, they cannot work, whether it is paid or unpaid work, and cannot access state services.
As always, individuals who have obtained an Irish visa will only be granted the ability to travel to Ireland. Permission to enter Ireland will be decided by the immigration officer at Irish Border Control upon arrival.
Citizens of certain countries that belong to the Visa Waiver Programme can come to Ireland to visit a family member without having to obtain a visa. The countries include:
| Bahrain | Belarus | Bosnia and Herzegovina | Colombia | India |
| Indonesia | Kazakhstan | Kosovo | Kuwait | Montenegro |
| Oman | People’s Republic of China | Peru | Philippines | Qatar |
| Republic of North Macedonia | Russian Federation | Saudi Arabia | Serbia | Thailand |
| Turkey | Ukraine | Uzbekistan | Vietnam |
Who is eligible for the Short Stay Family Visa?
Non-EEA citizens who want to come to Ireland to visit a friend or a family member have to obtain a Short Stay Family Visa. To qualify for it, they need to meet a number of eligibility requirements, which include:
- Have a passport valid for at least 6 months past the planned stay in Ireland
- Be coming to Ireland to visit a friend or a family member
- Be able to provide details of their accommodation in Ireland
- Have enough money to cover their expenses during their stay in Ireland
- Be coming to Ireland for a short-term visit
- Have ties in their home country that will make them return there after their trip
- Be able to disclose information to any family members living in Ireland or other EU member states
- Be able to provide details of any previous visits to Ireland.
If you are unsure whether you are eligible for the Short Stay Family Visa, get in touch with our lawyers. They can assess your situation and help you determine whether you can apply for it.
EU/EEA citizens can come to Ireland to visit a friend or family member without a visa, which means they do not have to meet any specific requirements. They can spend up to 90 days in Ireland visa-free.
How to Apply for the Short Stay Family Visa?
Short Stay Visa applications can be completed and submitted online through the AVATS system. To apply for a visa, applicants will need to provide personal details and explain the purpose of their travel to Ireland.
After submitting the online application form, applicants will be shown a web page with their application summary sheet. It is important that all applicants make sure to print it and save it for later as it will need to be included in their portfolio of evidence. Information regarding where to submit the supporting documents will be written on their summary sheet.
The next step is to pay the appropriate visa application fee of either €60 for a single-entry permit or €100 for a multiple-entry visa. Keep in mind that multiple-entry Short Stay Visas are granted only in exceptional circumstances. All visa fees are non-refundable so you will not get your money back if your application is unsuccessful.
After you pay the visa fee, you have to start gathering documents that prove your eligibility for your chosen visa. If you hire one of our lawyers, they can help you make sure that you submit all the required evidence.
Once all of the supporting documents are ready, the visa applicant will then have to send them for processing to the immigration office mentioned on your application summary sheet. This can include one of the following addresses:
- The Dublin visa office
- An International visa office
- An Irish Embassy or Consulate in the applicant’s residing country
The processing time of applications for the Short Stay Family Visa can vary depending on the complexity of your case. Nevertheless, you should expect to hear the decision within 8 weeks from the application office receiving your complete application.
If your application is approved, you will receive a stamp on your passport and you will be able to start preparing for your journey to Ireland. If your application is unsuccessful, you will be issued a letter explaining the reasons for the visa refusal.
What Documents are Required for the Short Stay Family Visa?
As part of the application process, you have to provide a number of documents that confirm that you meet the eligibility requirements for the Short Stay Family Visa. The exact documents you have to submit vary depending on your individual circumstances. Nevertheless, evidence that all applicants have to prepare includes:
- Signed and dated application summary sheet
- Application letter in which you explain in detail what the purpose of your visit to Ireland is
- Details of the family member or friend you will be visiting in Ireland
- An invitation letter from the family member or friend you will be visiting
- A passport or travel document that is valid for at least 6 months past your planned stay in Ireland
- Photocopies of any previous passports
- Two passport-size photographs
- Information about your accommodation in Ireland (ex. printed reservation confirmations or a letter from a family member or friend who you are staying with)
- Proof that you have ties in your home country that will make you go back there after your visa expires
- Proof that you have enough finances to cover the expenses during your stay in Ireland
- Evidence confirming that you have private medical and travel insurance
- A statement in which you commit to obeying the conditions of your visa and will leave Ireland before your visa expires
- A statement in which you promise not to claim state funds
- Receipt of visa fee payment
All documents have to be originals and, if they were issued in a language that is not English or Irish, they need to be translated by a certified translator. Both the original documents and translations will need to be submitted.
How Long is the Short Stay Family Visa valid?
The Short Stay Family Visa belongs to the category of Short Stay ‘C’ Visas to Ireland. That means that its holders can spend up to 90 days in Ireland. Unfortunately, it is not possible to extend Short Stay ‘C’ Visas. That means that after your visa expires, you must leave the country.
If you would like to spend more than 90 days in Ireland, you have to obtain one of the Long Stay ‘D’ Visas to Ireland before your immigration permission expires.
How Can IAS help?
At IAS, we have a team of highly qualified immigration lawyers who have expert knowledge of Irish immigration law. They have helped many clients successfully apply for various visas to Ireland, including the Short Stay Family Visa.
If you hire one of our lawyers, they will determine whether you qualify to apply for the Short Stay Family Visa and, if you meet the requirements, they will guide you through each step of the application process.
Your immigration lawyer can answer all your questions and proofread your application to make sure that there are no mistakes and that it has been completed to the highest standard. This way you can maximize the chances of your application being successful.
Call us today on +1 844 290 6312 to find out more about how our lawyers can help with your application for a Short Stay Visa.
Last modified on June 23rd, 2023 at 10:37 am
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Frequently Asked Questions
If you are a visa-required national who would like to visit Ireland to see a family member or friend, you may come to Ireland on a Short Stay Family/Friend Visa provided that you will only stay a short time in the country.
Furthermore, you will not have the right to work. Seeking and engaging in employment would mean violating the conditions of your visa and could lead to you being deported from Ireland.
To be able to work in Ireland, you need to hold an employment permit and an Irish Work Visa. If you are thinking about coming to Ireland to work, talk to our lawyers and they will advise you what the best route to do is.
When applying for your visa to Ireland, you can specify whether you want to obtain a single-entry or a multiple-entry permit. To be able to get the multiple-entry visa, you have to meet the following requirements:
- You are residing in Ireland on a Long Term Irish Visa
- You often travel to Ireland for short visits
- You visited Ireland three times or more within one calendar year
- You intend to frequently travel in and out of Ireland.
When applying for the multiple entry permission, you have to provide evidence confirming that you have to travel in and out of Ireland for work reasons.
That said, multiple-entry visas are typically granted to non-EEA citizens coming to Ireland long-term on one of Long Stay ‘D’ Visas. If you are applying for one of the Short Stay ‘C’ Visas to Ireland, it is unlikely that you will receive a multiple-entry permit.
The Irish Short Stay Visa will only allow travel to Ireland. As a result, entry into the UK will require a separate UK visa unless the visa-required national has been approved for the British-Irish Visa Scheme which allows free travel between the two countries.
Since there is no set amount of money needed to apply for an Irish Short Stay Visa, the visa officer who is processing your visa application will decide on the correct amount of money that you will need.
For a better idea of how much money is needed to bring to Ireland for your stay, consult with an experienced immigration attorney.