Business Visa Application

You will not need to apply for a visa to go to Ireland on business if you are a citizen of a country in the EU/EEA and Switzerland, or if you are from a non-visa required country.

However, individuals who do not fall into these categories will need to apply for the Business Visa to visit Ireland for business purposes.

The business visa is a short stay ‘C’ visa which will expire 90 days after you officially enter into Ireland. Bear in mind that the business visitor visa cannot be extended, and you must leave Ireland within 90 days of entering the country, unless there are very exceptional circumstances.

You can engage in general and business activities and engagements whilst you are in Ireland, including attending business meetings and negotiating agreements and contracts. You can also officially work for up to 14 days whilst you are in Ireland.

The 15th February 2023 is the final closing date for the Irish Immigrant Investor Programme, which will cease accepting new applications form this date onwards.

However, alternative routes such as the the Start up–up Entrepreneur Programme (STEP) similar to the Irish Immigrant Investor Programme are open to foreign nationals looking to immigrate to Ireland for business purposes. Alternatively, those who are seeking a non-business pathway into Ireland to retire may consider applying for Stamp 0.

If you are considering to come to the UK and applying for a business visa, you need to have a passport which is valid for a minimum of six months after your proposed leave date from Ireland. Your business visa application will be automatically rejected if you cannot meet this most fundamental requirement.

Also, the following information and documentation will need to be provided with any short stay ‘C’ visa application.

• Your passport
• Two passport-sized photographs with your signature and Visa Application Tracking Number on the back of each
• Your application summary sheet. (This can be printed out after you have completed the online application)

The Department of Justice & Equality will consider your full immigration history when you apply for a business visa. If you have a criminal record, this will also be taken into account.

The specific documents which need to be provided are particular to each business visa application.

Still, anyone who wishes to travel to Ireland on a business visa will definitely need to include the following documents/information in their application:

• An application letter which explains the reasons for travelling to Ireland and your commitment to the conditions of the business visa
• Confirmation of where you will be staying in Ireland. Full details of the accommodation will be required
• Letter of invitation from an Irish company, detailing what you will be doing during your visit to Ireland, and how long you will be staying for
• You must provide information confirming who will be responsible for your costs and expenses whilst you are in Ireland. You need to be able to show that you can support yourself financially during your stay in Ireland. If you are paying for your own trip, an up-to-date bank statement will be required
• Information which shows that you are obligated to return to your home country. For example, you could provide a letter from your employer which details the dates of your business trip and the date you are expected back in your home country to work

With any documents or information, it is important to keep the following points in mind:

• Documents must be provided in their original form
• Documents and information which are not written in Irish or English must be translated by an official, accredited translator
• Any letters or information from companies and educational establishments needs to be on headed paper

The Immigration Advice Service’s highly experienced immigration consultants can guide you through the entire business visa application. Our team can offer any business in the UK same advice as an immigration lawyer.

With our expertise, you can be sure that your application will have the greatest possible chance of being successful. Call us now on (+353) 061 518 025 for more information.

The application process for a business visa is as follows:

1. Create and complete the visa application online. The application summary sheet can be printed out once this has been completed. This summary sheet must be included in the visa application
2. Pay the business visa application fee
3. Gather all the required documents to support your application
4. Compile all documentation together with the application summary sheet and send it to the visa application office. (The application summary sheet will show where your visa application needs to be sent to)

 What is the fee for a business visa application?

The fees for a business visa application are:

• €60 for a single-journey visa
• €100 for a multiple-journey visa

Also, keep in mind that there might be other costs involved with business visa applications, such as the cost of the professional translation of your documents and information.

What is the process after a business visa application has been sent?

The Department of Justice & Equality will examine your application and determine whether you qualify for the business visa.

Immigration officials may contact government and international agencies and departments in relation to your case if they deem it to be necessary.

If your application is accepted, your passport will be stamped with the business visa. If your application is refused, a refusal letter will be sent to you detailing why your application was rejected.

Once a decision has been made, your passport and any birth/death certificates will be returned to you. It is also possible to request the return of other documents which were included in your business visa application.

If you prefer, you can request for your documents to be sent to an Irish embassy or consulate rather than to your home address.

Each and every application is unique, meaning that there isn’t a definitive answer to this question. Whilst some business visa applications might be relatively straightforward, others can be quite complex, requiring significant evidence and documentation. Also, visa processing times also vary among different visa application offices.

Keep in mind that during busy periods and holidays, it will take longer for your visa to be processed.

With that being said, the Department of Justice & Equality should process your business visa application within eight weeks of it being received.

What is the multi entry visa?

A multi entry visa enables you to travel to Ireland on a number of occasions during the dates which are shown on your visitor visa.

Multi entry visas are only approved in limited circumstances and if justified by an application. Whether you are granted the multi entry visa or not is solely at the discretion of the visa officer.

If you are given a single-journey visa rather than a multi entry visa, you will not be reimbursed for the difference in cost between the visa applications.

Can I extend my business visa when I am in Ireland?

Unless there are significant unforeseen circumstances, you won’t be able to extend your business visa once you are in Ireland. By law, you must leave Ireland within 90 days of entry UK business visa.

If you want to stay in the UK or Ireland longer, you will need to leave the country and then apply for a form of long stay ‘D’ visa. If your long stay D visa is accepted, you can travel to Ireland and, with permission of the immigration officer, you will be able to stay in Ireland for longer than 90 days.

You are not guaranteed entry into Ireland if your business visa application is accepted. A business visa application will grant you the permission to travel to Ireland, but not to actually pass through border control once you arrive.

When you land in Ireland, you will need to report to immigration officials and show a number of documents. It is imperative that you provide these documents. If you cannot provide them, the chances of being refused entry into Ireland are significantly increased.

The documents which you need to show to border control are:

• Your passport with your Irish visa
• A photocopy of your application summary sheet
• A photocopy of the application letter which was sent with the application
• A photocopy of your invitation letter from your host
• Accommodation plan confirmations. These confirmations must show the dates that you are staying
• Financial information. You will need to provide an original, up-to-date bank statement which covers the last six months if you are funding your trip to Ireland. If your trip is being funded by a business host or third party, you will need to provide confirmation, as well as your own bank statement
• Confirmation showing your obligation to return home. This includes photocopies of your last three payslips as well as a letter from your employer stating the purpose of your business trip to Ireland and your expected return date at work in your home country. Note that different rules apply if you are self-employed

Irish border control will consider your application and if they are satisfied, the officer will place a landing stamp in your passport, giving you official permission to enter.

Unfortunately, if immigration officials have any suspicions about your application, you could be refused entry into Ireland.

For detailed advice on what to expect when reporting to immigration officials, please do not hesitate to call us on (+353) 061 518 025.

If you would like to travel to Ireland solely to attend a conference or business event, you should apply for the Conference/Event visa.

The requirements which you will need to fulfil to be considered for the conference/event visa are similar to the business visa.

The one major difference between the conference/event visa and the business visa is that you will not be able to do any form of work if you enter Ireland under the conference/event visa, whether paid or unpaid.

If you are not sure which visa you should apply for, one of our immigration law specialists will be happy to help. Contact us now on (+353) 061 518 025.

The Short Stay Visa Waiver Programme is a scheme which permits those from certain countries entry into Ireland without needing to apply for a visa. You will need to have been granted a UK short-stay visa which expires after you propose to leave Ireland.

The Short Stay Visa Waiver programme applies to citizens of the following countries, who meet the requirement above:

• Belarus
• Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Montenegro
• Russian Federation
• Serbia
• Turkey
• Ukraine
• Bahrain
• Kuwait
• Oman
• Qatar
• Saudi Arabia
• India
• Kazakhstan
• People’s Republic of China
• Thailand
• Uzbekistan