Multiple and Single Entry Permission to Ireland
When applying for a visa to visit Ireland, you can choose whether you want to obtain a multiple entry or a single entry permission. Find out more about these types of permits.
Call our lawyers today at +1 844 290 6312 to receive assistance with applying for a visa to Ireland.
Page Contents:
- What are the multiple and single entry permissions to Ireland?
- What are the requirements for the multiple entry visa?
- How to apply for the multiple and single entry permissions?
- What is the processing time and cost?
- How long is the multiple entry permission valid for?
- How can IAS help?
- Frequently Asked Questions
What are the multiple and single entry permissions to Ireland?
If you are a citizen of a non-EEA country and you want to come to Ireland, you need to obtain an Irish visa. There are many visas you can choose from depending on the purpose of your trip and the planned duration of your stay in Ireland.
For short trips to Ireland, you should apply for a Short Stay ‘C’ Visa, allowing you to spend up to 90 days in the country. For longer stays, you need to get a Long Stay ‘D’ Visa.
Regardless of which type of visa you are applying for, during the application process, you need to specify whether you want to obtain a Re-Entry Visa or a Single Journey Entry Visa.
If you plan on traveling to Ireland and remaining there for as long as your visa is valid or shorter, the single entry permit is the right choice for you. If, however, you plan on traveling in and out of Ireland, you may need multiple-entry permission.
Multi-entry visas are best suited to applicants who are permanent residents in Ireland. However, they are difficult to obtain and are usually granted in certain circumstances.
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What are the requirements for the multi-entry visa?
The multi-entry visa to Ireland allows non-EEA citizens to come to Ireland on multiple occasions without having to apply for a new visa each time. To be able to obtain the multi-entry visa, you have to meet the following eligibility requirements:
- You are legally residing in Ireland on an Irish Visa
- You regularly travel to Ireland for short visits, for example, to attend business meetings or conferences
- You entered Ireland at least three times within one calendar year
- You plan on frequently traveling in and out of Ireland or you plan to travel to and from a foreign country via Ireland on multiple occasions
- You are married to an Irish citizen and in Ireland under a Spouse Visa
If you are applying for multiple entry permission because you need to travel in and out of Ireland for work reasons, you need to provide evidence that confirms it from your Irish employer or company.
If you are not sure whether you meet the requirements for the multi-entry visa to Ireland, get in touch with our lawyers. They will assess your circumstances and determine whether you qualify for the multiple entry permission.
How to apply for the multiple and single entry permissions?
Regardless of whether you want to obtain the multiple entry or single entry permission, you need to submit your application from abroad prior to arriving in Ireland. If you arrive in Ireland without a valid visa, you will not be allowed to enter the country.
Before you choose your desired type of permission, however, you need to decide which Irish visa is the right one for you. Then, when submitting the online form to apply for it, you have to specify if you need a multiple entry or single entry visa.
As part of the application process for Irish Visas, foreign citizens have to prepare a number of supporting documents that prove their eligibility for their chosen permit. If you are applying for the multi-entry visa to Ireland, make sure to include evidence showing why it is essential that you get it in your portfolio of evidence.
Moreover, to be able to obtain multiple entry permission, you have to send your passport so that a visa officer can assess your travel history.
Keep in mind that if you are applying for a Short Term ‘C’ Visa to Ireland, obtaining a multi-entry visa can be very difficult.
What is the processing time and cost?
The processing time varies depending on which Irish Visa you are applying for. For Short Stay ‘C’ Visas, most applications are processed within 8 weeks from an immigration office receiving your documents. Applications for Long Stay ‘D’ Visas are also normally processed within 8 weeks unless you are applying for a Family Visa. Then, the waiting time can take 6 months or even a year.
Regardless of which Irish Visa you are applying for, if you fail to provide some of the required documents, the processing will be delayed. You can avoid that by hiring an immigration lawyer who can go over your application before you submit it to make sure nothing is missing.
As for the cost, for the single entry visa to Ireland, you will have to pay a €60 visa fee. For multiple entry visas, the visa fee is €100. These fees are non-refundable so you will not get your money back even if your application is rejected or withdrawn.
How long is the multiple entry permission valid for?
The validity of your multiple entry permission depends on which Irish Visa you obtain. A valid multi-entry visa usually lasts up to one year. However, spouses of Irish nationals may be issued a multi-entry visa that is valid for up to three years.
Generally, multiple entry permissions are granted to foreign citizens who are coming to Ireland on a permit that belongs to the Long Stay ‘D’ Visas category. If that is the case, you have the right to remain in Ireland for longer than 3 months.
If, however, you are coming to Ireland on a Short Stay ‘C’ Visa, the length of your stay cannot exceed 90 days. That does not change even if you successfully obtain the multiple entry permission. Keep in mind that it is not possible to extend Short Stay ‘C’ Visas to Ireland so you have the obligation to return to your home country before or on the day that your visa expires.
How can IAS help?
Our highly-qualified immigration lawyers have helped many clients successfully apply for various Irish Visas. They can help you determine whether you should try to obtain the multi-entry or the single entry permission and will explain to you in detail how to apply.
Thanks to the help of our lawyers the application process will be stress-free and straightforward. Moreover, by hiring an experienced immigration lawyer you can make sure that your application has been completed to the highest standard and that you submitted all the documents that might be necessary.
If you have any questions or doubts, our lawyers can assist. Call us today on +1 844 290 6312 to find out more about how IAS can help.
Last modified on August 8th, 2023 at 6:24 am
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Frequently Asked Questions
Depending on the purpose of your trip to Ireland, you can apply for one of the following Short Stay ‘C’ Visas:
- Tourist Visa – for those who want to come to Ireland to take a holiday or to take part in a short-term language course
- Family/Friends Visa – for those who want to travel to Ireland to visit their friends or family who reside in Ireland
- Business Visa – for those who want to come to Ireland to engage in business activities such as negotiating a contract or signing an agreement with Irish business partners
- Conference/Event Visa – for those who want to attend a conference or event in Ireland
- Exam Visa – for those who want to sit an exam in Ireland. The exam has to be relevant to their course of study or employment
- Atypical Working Scheme Visa – for those who want to come to Ireland to engage in short-term employment not eligible for an employment permit
- Join Ship Visa – for those who want to come to Ireland to work as a seafarer on a ship
- Internship Visa – for those who want to complete an internship in Ireland
- Marriage Visa – for those who want to come to Ireland to get married
- Performance/Tournament Visa – for those coming to Ireland to participate in a tournament or stage performance
- Medical Treatment Visa – for those coming to Ireland to receive private medical treatment.
If your application for the multiple entry permit to Ireland is successful, you will have the right to leave and re-enter Ireland multiple times for as long as your Ireland visa remains valid. There is no limit as to how many times you can leave and come back to Ireland if you hold the multiple entry Irish visa.
Foreign citizens who plan on traveling to and from Ireland on numerous occasions should apply for multi-entry visas. Hence, this type of permit is best for those who reside and work in Ireland long-term. Those who plan to travel to Ireland and stay there throughout the validity of their visa should apply for the single entry permit instead.
Foreign nationals who are in Ireland longer than 90 days will need to register with the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) where they will be given an Irish Residence Permit (IRP). With a valid Irish Residence permit, foreign nationals can travel out and to Ireland and as they would like without needing to apply for a Multi-Entry Visa up until their period of permission expires.
Since Northern Ireland is a part of the United Kingdom, you will need to apply for a UK visa if you would like to visit Northern Ireland from Ireland. You can use your multi-entry visa to return to Ireland but can not be granted entry into the UK with an Irish visa.