Tips in applying an Irish Visa

Congratulations to my friend, whom I invited to visit me here in Ireland.  This is the second time I invited a friend or a family member to visit Ireland.  Their Irish Visa applications were approved without any hassle.  I would like to share to you, what are the things you need and you should know in applying for an Irish Visa.

What to do? What requirements to submit.


  • Secure a visa application form nearest to your place or you can apply online.  It is the easiest thing to do.
  • You needed a passport, valid for 6 months after your intended date of departure from the State.
  • A letter detailing in full, your reasons for your visit to your family, friends etc.  Please check the sample letter of applicant.  Note: You need to mention the "I will observe the conditions of my visa and that I will not become a burden on the State, and that I will leave the State on the expiration of my permission to remain."
  • If you intend staying in a hotel accommodation, you need to submit a confirmation of booking from the hotel.
  • You need a letter of invitation from your reference or from the sponsor in Ireland confirming  accommodation will be provided for the duration of your visit.  Note the important text you need to include in the letter of invitation.."I undertake to provide my sister her every need while she is here. I have 2 part-time job and even though levels of money on deposit fluctuates, I have sufficient to provide for her and ensure she returns before the expiry of her visa. I hereby declare that I will ensure all the rules and requirements of the visa are strictly adhered to."
  • A letter undertaking both from yourself and your sponsor/reference that you will observe the condition of your visa, that you will not become a burden on the State, and that you will leave the State on the expiration of your permission to remain.  
  • Details of how you are known to, or related to your reference, and supporting evidence of this, like pictures, the then and now pictures that you were together.
  • If your reference is not an Irish citizen, evidence of their permission to remain in Ireland.  A copy of their GNIB card and copy of their passport showing immigration stamps.
  • Evidence of how you intend to finance your trip and support yourself for the duration of your visit, allowing for any unforeseen events such as illness.  A bank statement, covering 6 month period and showing sufficient funds to cover all costs required. 
  • If your reference in Ireland is supporting you, they must supply a detailed 6 month bank statement, showing sufficient funds to support you for the duration of your stay. On this, I give my friend a scanned pay slip, letter from my employer, any bill as proof of my residence, my bank statement, my passport and my hubby's passport and bank statement.

Sample letter for Visa Officer from a visiting friend


February 4, 2013

THE VISA OFFICER
Immigration & Citizenship Division
Department of Justice Equality and Law Reform
72-76 St. Stephen’s Green
Dublin 2, Ireland

Dear Sir/Madam:

Greetings of Peace!

I would like to apply for a holiday/visit visa, I was invited by my friend, Mary Gavilan to visit her country.

Mary is my friend for almost 25 years.  We were together  in one school, the Igbaras National High School.  We were together in a Parish Choir since 1993 until she left the Philippines to join her spouse.  We  were together in school,  when I covered the school nurse who had on a vacation  leave from June to October 2007 in Colegio del Sagrado Corazon de Jesus, where Mary was working as HRD/RDC Secretary.

I will stay with Mary Gavilan for the duration of my stay in Mt. Talbot, Co. Roscommon.

I hereby promise that, I will observe the conditions of my visa and that I will not become a burden on the State, and that I will leave the State on the expiration of my permission to remain. I promise to return to Dubai  after my one week vacation from April 23 until 30, 2013 and to return to my work on May 2, 2013.

I am hoping for your generous and kind hearted assessment to my application.


Thanking you.


SARAH ESMALLA




Sample letter for the Irish Visa Officer from the sponsor


February 4, 2013


THE VISA OFFICER
Immigration & Citizenship Division
Department of Justice Equality and Law Reform
72-76 St. Stephen’s Green
Dublin 2, Ireland


Dear Sir/Madam:

Greetings!

I am inviting my friend, Sarah Esmalla for a short visit here in Ireland.  Sarah is my friend for almost 25 years.  We were together  in one school, the Igbaras National High School.  We were together in a Parish Choir since 1993 until I left the Philippines to join my spouse.  We  were together in school  when Sarah covered the school nurse who had a vacation  leave from June to October 2007 in Colegio del Sagrado Corazon de Jesus where I am also working as HRD/RDC Secretary.

Sarah will stay with us during her holiday, in Mt. Talbot, Co. Roscommon.

I undertake to provide Sarah, her every need while she is here. I have 2 part-time job and even though levels of money on deposit fluctuates, I have sufficient to provide for her and ensure she returns before the expiry of her visa. I hereby declare that I will ensure all the rules and requirements of the visa are strictly adhered to.

Hoping for your generous and kind hearted assessment.


Yours sincerely,


MARY GAVILAN


WILLIAM DOWD

Sample letter of applicant to the Irish Visa Officer

April 5, 2007


THE VISA OFFICER
Immigration and Citizenship Division
Department of Justice Equality and Law Reform
72-76 St. Stephen’s Green
Dublin 2, Ireland

Dear Sir,

Greetings of Peace!

I would like to apply for a holiday/visit visa, I was invited by my fiancee, Liam Smith to visit his country before we get married on June 30, 2007 to experience his country, its climate, culture, etc. I have been acquainted with Mr. Liam Smith since April 2005 through letters, long distance calls and text messages. Mr. Smith was introduce to me by a friend, Luisa Kenny.

Mr. Smith visited me in the (mention country) last September 21 to October 7, 2006 and stayed in my town for sometime. We have been together for two weeks and enjoy each company. Mr. Smith was able to experience my country, its culture, the people and the climate. While he was here, we were engaged and will get married on June 30, 2007.

I have been engaged in a business since July 8, 2006 to the present and all my savings was put into it. Thus the level of money on my bank fluctuates. I have enough and sufficient income from my business and from my salary to augment my finances. At the same time Mr. Smith will take care of all my finances during my stay in Ireland.

I hereby promise that, I will observe the conditions of my visa and that I will not become a burden on the State, and that I will leave the State on the expiration of my permission to remain. I promise to return to (mention your country) after my one month vacation from April 2, 2007 until May 1, 2007 and to return to my work on May 2, 2007 and to prepare for our wedding on June 30, 2007.

For additional information please find attached receipts of our engagement and wedding ring, air tickets, pictures and some letters he sent, etc.

May I refer you also to the following persons for your perusal and verification for the information I gave.

(Here you have to give at least 2 references.)

I am hoping for your generous and kind hearted assessment to my application.

Thank you.

Sincerely yours.

Mary Gavilan

Sample letter from the Irish sponsor


Mt. Talbot
Ballygar
Co. Roscommon
Republic of Ireland

March 11, 2010

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am inviting my sister Lolita Gavilan for a short visit here since we did not met each other since I joined my husband here and when I visited the Philippines last April 7, 2009 until May 26, 2009. I’ve been here in Ireland for 2 years since October 11, 2007.

I undertake to provide my sister her every need while she is here. I have 2 part-time job and even though levels of money on deposit fluctuates, I have sufficient to provide for her and ensure she returns before the expiry of her visa. I hereby declare that I will ensure all the rules and requirements of the visa are strictly adhered to.

Hoping for your generous and kind hearted assessment.

Yours sincerely,

Mary Gavilan

Sample letter for Visa Officer from Employer


11 March 2010

THE VISA OFFICER
Immigration & Citizenship Division
Department of Justice Equality and Law Reform
72-76 St. Stephen’s Green
Dublin 2, Ireland

Dear Sir,

Greetings of Peace!

I wish to recommend MISS MARY GAVILAN for a Non-Immigrant Visa to Ireland.

She is a bonafide and permanent employee of Colegio del Sagrado Corazon de Jesus, Iloilo City, Philippines.

Miss Gavilan was assigned as an Office Clerk from June 1994 to December 1994 in the Higher Education Department. She was appointed as Office Secretary and a floating teaching of the same Department from January 1995 to May 2000. She was appointed as bookkeeper of Sagrado Personnel Credit Cooperative from February 2004 to February 2006. She was a reliever of the Cashier form October 22, 2003 to December 2003. She was appointed as HRD and RDC Staff, from June 2001 to the present and doing a part-time teaching job in the Higher Education Department handling computer subject for the 2nd semester of Academic Year 2006-2007 with a monthly salary of Php15,428.72 including her part-time teaching. She has been employed in this institution for eleven (11) years.

Miss Gavilan has been granted a fifteen (15) days vacation leave and ten (10) days sick leave every year. As tenured personnel, she was granted permission by the institution for a study leave for one (1) year last June 1, 2000 until May 31, 2001. At present, Miss Gavilan is granted permission for a vacation for one (1) month to visit her fiancée Mr. Michael Smith whom I met when he visited Miss Gavilan in the Philippines last September 21 to October 7, 2006.

I wish to assure your good office that Miss Gavilan will return to the Philippines on or before the expiration of her visa to resume her duties as a member of the Non-Teaching Personnel of Colegio del Sagrado Corazon de Jesus, Iloilo City, Philippines. I hereby granted Miss Gavilan for a one (1) month vacation leave from April 2, 2007 until May 1, 2007. She is required to return to her work on May 2, 2007 and as a requirement, she will fill up a back to work form from the HRD Office to be signed by the Immediate Head, Miss Anna Maria Kelly, HRD Coordinator and Sr. Mary Grennan, D.C., Head, Non-Teaching and Maintenance Personnel.

Thank you for giving this matter your kind and priority attention.

Very sincerely yours,

NAME OF EMPLOYEER
Position
Email address
Telephone number

How to fill in the Irish Visa Application Form

  1. Obtain an application form and list of requirements. - The form is available at the Consulate and at the Department of Foreign Affairs of each country or you can apply online.
  2. Fill out the form - All questions in the form must be fill in, if it is not applicable, write N/A. PRINT IN BLOCK LETTERS and its in triplicate copy. Note: Incomplete forms will not be accepted.
  3. All applicants must submit three (3) sets of documents including the original.
  4. Call the Consulate for your appointment. - Call at least 3 weeks ahead of your expected appointment date.You will be given the soonest appointment available. If submitting via courier, call the office 4 days after your sent the package to confirm the receipt and ask for your reference number.
  5. On your appointment day submit your completed visa application form and supporting documents along with your passport and visa fee. You will be issued a receipt and be given a visa application     reference number. Use your reference number to check the status of your application.
  6. Visa decisions - Six weeks minimum processing of visa applications.

For more information go to www.inis.gov.ie  for those who wants to travel to Ireland.


Getting an Irish Visa

Documents required for all visa applicants.
  1. Completed visa application form - can be obtained from the Consulate of country you wish to travel.
  2. Three, identical, passport size photographs, taken with six months.
  3. Original passport, valid for six months
  4. Two sets of CLEAR Photocopies of all passport pages - containing stamps of any kind or visas; blank pages may be omitted.
  5. Certificate of Employment/Enrolment from current school  guaranteeing of the applicant return to the Philippines  or country of residence after the visit.
  6. Confirmation of Hotel Booking or Letter of Invitation and Support from Sponsor.
  7. Evidence of funds - recent bank account statements, updated passbook at least 3 months.
  8. Visa Fee  please contact the consulate of the country you wish to go.
Additional documents for Dependent/Sponsored Visa Applicants:
For Dependent Children:

  1. Original Marriage Certificate of Parents
  2. Original Birth Certificate of child
  3. Parental Travel Permit/consent from parents. Both parents should  provide consent regardless of who is travelling with the child.

From Sponsor in Ireland (other destination please check the consulate of the country you wish to travel)

  1. Copy Identity page of passport
  2. Invitation Letter and Affidavit of Support
  3. Evidence of Funds: Bank Statements, Payslips (3 months) & P60 form
  4. Certification of Employment
  5. Work Permit or An Board Registration (if applicable)
  6. Original Birth/Marriage certificate (to show relation to applicant)

All Documents must be submitted, the originals and additional two photocopies.