Irish Conference or Event Visa Application
If you want to come to Ireland to take part in a conference or event, you may need to obtain an Irish Conference or Event Visa.
To receive assistance with your application, call our lawyers today at +1 844 290 6312.
Page Contents:
- What is the Conference or Event Visa?
- How to apply for the Conference or Event Visa?
- What supporting documents to submit?
- What is the waiting time for the Conference/Event Visa?
- How long is the Conference or Event Visa valid for?
- What information about the conference or event needs to be submitted?
- How can IAS help?
- Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Conference or Event Visa?
The Conference or Event Visa is intended for non-EEA citizens who want to travel to Ireland to attend a conference or an event for business or academic reasons. If your visa application for the Conference/Event Visa is successful, you will be able to spend up to 90 days in Ireland. Keep in mind that during this time you will not be allowed to work (either paid or unpaid), study, or use Irish public services.
Citizens of EU/EEA countries, as well as citizens of Switzerland, have the right to come to visit Ireland to take part in a conference or event without a visa. To be able to enter Ireland, they simply need to show their passport or national identity card confirming their identity.
If you are not sure whether you need a visa to attend a conference or an event in Ireland, talk to our immigration lawyers. They will assess your eligibility for the Conference/Event Visa and will help you submit your application.
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How to apply for the Conference or Event Visa?
The first step of the visa application process for the Conference/Event Visa is to submit your application online using the AVATS platform. There, you have to indicate that the reason for you applying for the visa is a Conference/Event. You also have to choose whether you want to obtain a single-entry or a multiple-entry permit. Keep in mind, however, that multiple entry Conference/Event visas are granted only in exceptional circumstances.
After you submit the online application form, you have to pay the visa application fee of €60 for a single-entry permit and €100 for a multiple-entry visa. This visa fee is non-refundable even if your application is rejected or withdrawn.
The next step is to start gathering documents that prove your eligibility for the visa. This will include the application summary sheet and visa application transaction number that is shown to the applicant after completion of the online form.
Finally, once you have a portfolio of evidence ready, you have to send it to an immigration office for processing. You have to send all the evidence within 30 days of submitting your online application to the designated visa application processing center. This could be the Dublin Visa Office, an international visa office, or an Irish Embassy or Consulate in the applicant’s country of residence.
If approved for an Irish visa, the applicant will be given a stamp on their passport/travel document and can then travel to Ireland. Once in Ireland, the applicant will then need to apply for permission to enter with Irish Border Control
What supporting documents to submit?
As part of the application for the Conference/Event Visa to Ireland, you have to submit a number of supporting documents. These include:
- Your valid passport
- Two passport size photographs in color
- Signed and dated application summary sheet displayed after submitting your online application
- An application letter explaining why and when you want to come to Ireland
- Details of the conference or event in Ireland
- Proof that you have registered for the conference or event in Ireland
- Receipt for visa fees and event fees (if applicable)
- Evidence of you having private medical and travel insurance
- Proof of ties in your home country that will make you return there after your trip
- Details of your accommodation in Ireland
- Proof of you having enough finances to support yourself during your stay in Ireland.
Depending on your individual circumstances, you might also have to provide additional evidence. Make sure that all the documents you submit are originals as photocopies will not be accepted. Moreover, if any of the documents were issued in a language that is not English, you need to have them translated by an official certified translator. After the immigration office finishes processing all the evidence, your documents will be returned to you.
What is the waiting time for the Conference/Event Visa?
After you submit the required documents, an immigration officer will review them and determine whether you are eligible for the visa. If you fail to include some of the evidence, they might request that you submit the missing documents.
How long you will have to wait to receive the decision regarding your application depends on the complexity of your case and on the workload of the immigration office that is processing your application. Nevertheless, most applications are processed within 8 weeks from the date of receipt of all of the necessary documents. If you forget to provide some of the documents, the waiting time will most likely be longer.
If your application is successful, 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 rejected, you will be issued a letter of refusal explaining the reason for the decision. You will have the right to appeal it within 2 months from receiving the letter. Make sure to consult an immigration lawyer before doing so, however to determine if that is the best option.
You have to be aware of the fact that even if your application is approved, it is not guaranteed that you will be allowed to enter Ireland. Obtaining the visa means you have the right to travel to Ireland but when you arrive at the border, a visa officer will take a look at your documents and decide whether your entry is approved or denied.
How long is the Conference or Event Visa valid for?
The Conference or Event Visa is a Short Stay ‘C’ Visa, which means that its holders can spend up to 90 days in Ireland. After this period, foreign citizens have the obligation to leave Ireland. If you fail to return to your home country before your visa expires, you can face deportation and have trouble applying for visas to Ireland in the future.
Unfortunately, it is not possible to extend the Conference or Event Visa. Extensions are granted only in emergencies and unforeseen circumstances.
If you would like to spend more than 90 days in Ireland, you have to obtain a Long Stay ‘D’ Visa to Ireland. Talk to our lawyers about why you want to travel to Ireland and they can help you find the best visa for your personal circumstances.
What information about the conference or event needs to be submitted?
To prove that the purpose of your journey to Ireland is to attend a conference or event, you have to submit a letter from the organizer of the conference or event. The letter has to include the following information:
- Description of the conference/event and details of the organizer
- Confirmation that the visa applicant has registered for the conference/event
- Confirmation that the visa applicant paid any relevant fees
- Statement from the organizer in which they explain if they will contribute to the cost of the foreign citizen’s visit to Ireland.
If you want to attend a few events or conferences in Ireland, you have to submit such letters from each of the organizers.
How can IAS help?
At IAS, we have a team of experienced immigration lawyers who can guide you through the process of applying for your chosen visa to Ireland. They can explain to you in detail what the requirements for the Conference or Event Visa are, and can help you gather documents that prove your eligibility for it.
Thanks to the help of our lawyers, many non-EEA citizens successfully obtained their visas to Ireland.
While hiring an immigration lawyer is not compulsory, it can help you maximize the chances of your application having a positive outcome. And, even if your application is unsuccessful, your lawyer can help you appeal the decision. It is not uncommon for applications to be approved after the appeal process.
Call us today at +1 844 290 6312 to find out more about how our lawyers can help.
Last modified on August 8th, 2023 at 9:59 am
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Frequently Asked Questions
One of the requirements for the Conference or Event Visa is that you can provide details of your accommodation in Ireland. As part of the application process, you have to submit a letter explaining where you will be staying in Ireland and you need to state the dates you will stay at each place. If you will be staying in hotels or guesthouses, you have to provide reservation confirmations for your accommodation. If you will be staying with a host, they need to write you a letter confirming that.
A UK Visa will allow the visa holder to travel to all parts of the United Kingdom, including Northern Ireland. However, if you are planning to travel to Ireland, you may need a separate Irish visa unless you are from a non-visa-required country or are eligible for the Short Stay Visa Waiver Program.
There is no specific amount of finance you have to have to be able to obtain the Conference or Event Visa but you need to show that you have enough to cover your expenses during your trip. An immigration officer will assess your circumstances and decide whether your funds are enough.
To prove your finances, during the application process, you have to submit up-to-date bank statements.
Yes but, if someone is helping you pay for your trip to Ireland, you have to provide details of who that is. The information you need to submit includes:
- Their full name and address
- Their telephone number, email address, and contact details
- Details of the relationship between you and the party paying for your trip
- Details of your own finances