Long Stay ‘D’ Visas Ireland

There are various routes that are encompassed under the Long Stay Visa umbrella, and you will have to apply separately for the visa that suits your circumstances and needs.

These are:

• The Study Visa
• The Family Member Visa – As Spouse/Civil Partner, Child or De facto Partner
• The Employment Visa – As General, Scientific Researcher or Van der Elst route
• The Minister of Religion Visa
• The Long-Stay Volunteer Visa

Each type of ‘D’ visa has its own unique series of rules and requirements that you must pass in order to successfully gain entry clearance into Ireland and to reside in the State legally.

Eligibility is assessed on a case by case basis, however, applying for one of the above visas usually entails submitting documented evidence of your sponsor or endorsement as well as meeting a minimum income or savings threshold.

This is to satisfy the Department of Justice and Equality’s immigration criteria. Without its pre-approval, you will not be allowed entry into Ireland.

Your IAS immigration lawyer will be able to inform you on which ‘D’ visa category best suits you and will guide you every step of the way throughout your journey to Ireland.

To study in Ireland on a course that lasts longer than 3 months, you must meet the requirements of the Study Visa.

Not only does this entail being able to prove that you are enrolled on a course of full-time education, but you also must submit:

• Your Letter of Acceptance
• Details of your chosen course
• Evidence of any past exam results and/or qualifications
• Proof of English (or Irish) speaking ability to suit your course needs
• Proof that you are able to financially support yourself in Ireland without relying on public funds or employment
• A consent document from both parents or two legal guardians
• Proof of where you plan on living during your course

There are also rigorous rules pertaining to your finances and medical insurance which depends on your course, your chosen educational body and any funding you may be in receipt of.

How long your Study Visa lasts depends on the length of your course and which stamp the Irish immigration officer grants you upon entry. Normally, you will granted a Stamp 2 which will cover you throughout the length of your chosen course. Others may receive a Stamp 2A which is only given in the event of taking up just one semester in Ireland.

Contact IAS today to assess which Study Visa route best applies to you and your chosen course.

At IAS, we understand the importance of joining your loved ones and watching your family grow – wherever in the world they may be. Fortunately, Ireland is especially family focussed and so it has a specific visa that you can apply for to join or settle with your existing family members in the State for a period of longer than 3 months.

Under the Family Member category, you can apply as:

• A Spouse or Civil Partner
• A De Facto Partner
• A Dependent Child

That being said, this isn’t an exhaustive list: there may be other routes that better apply to your unique circumstances that your IAS immigration lawyer will suggest for you instead.

Many applicants trip over the intricate and complex requirements which differ from visa to visa. Applying for an Irish Family Visa without guidance or professional help can therefore not only be administratively burdensome but can come with a heightened risk of a negative outcome. 

By entrusting the IAS with your case, you can rest assured that your application will be filled to the highest standard and will even come with a Letter of Representation which highlights your merits to ratify the Republic of Ireland Embassy’s stringent assessments.

Each and every visa category and sub-route within that category has its own costs. Many are further accompanied by additional, hidden fees such as registration for your compulsory Irish Residence Permit after 90 days (€300) and any private medical insurance you take out which must be included in your visa application.

Others such as students must have €7,000 in savings in order to qualify for a Study Visa whereas those seeking an Employment Permit can see costs rise to as high as €1,500. Fees are usually higher across the visa spectrum if you intend on bringing a dependent with you, including children or adult dependents too.

However, the general rules are as follows:

• A single journey visa costs €60 and will allow you to enter the State for a maximum of 90 days.
• A multi-journey visa costs €100 and will allow you to enter Ireland multiple time for a maximum of five years.
• A transit visa costs €25.

All applications submitted to the Embassy in Ireland are non-refundable. In certain circumstances, you may be able to receive your Employment Permit fee back from The Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation if your visa application is refused.

For the avoidance of doubt, it is best to rely on an immigration professional with your application as doing so will dilute the risk of receiving a rejection letter and the possibility of losing your money.

Ireland is a popular hub for practising faith and worship and has become home to many religious communities. The State is always ready to welcome you in its ranks if you can pass the criteria of the Minister of Religion Visa.

To achieve this and join a faith community or a religious body in the State, you must already be qualified, ordained or a professional religious person. You may be permitted to remain in Ireland under the Long Stay ‘D’ Category for as long as 3 years but no less than 3 months.  To work as a religious volunteer for 90 days or less, you may need a Volunteer Visa instead.

A Minister of Religion Visa allows you to:

• Conduct spatial worship and/or ceremonies
• Provide pastoral care via preaching
• Conduct religious classes and teachings, including supervising prayer meetings
• Provide spiritual leadership
• Conduct pastoral visitation
• Provide administrative support to a religious institution, order or church
• Be a member of a religious community whose members take public vows of poverty, chastity and obedience

To qualify, an eligible religious organisation or faith community must sponsor you to come and work in Ireland and you must also have had 3 years prior experience in the role.

There is an additional process under which you will be vetted by An Garda Síochána (the Republic of Ireland’s police force) in order to work with children and other vulnerable people.

Call us today on (+353) 061 518 025 to see how we can help you achieve your dream of becoming a Minister of Religion in the Republic of Ireland.

Having permission to volunteer in Ireland via the Long-Term route allows you to stay in the State for at least 3 months and up to 2 years with an eligible organisation.

Under a Volunteer Visa, you will be able to work in:

• Arts, heritage and culture
• Youth services
• Religious and faith services
• Health support services
• Sport and physical recreation
• Welfare and work for the community good

Your volunteer work can be sponsored by a non-governmental agency or a not-for-profit, charitable body that is listed on the Charities Regulator’s Public Register of Charities. You can also be invited by a sports organisation that is recognised by Sports Ireland.

However, there is a set of supporting documents that you must submit to accompany your visa application. This includes presenting proof of sponsorship, bank statements covering the past six months from yourself, bank statements in the same time frame from your sponsor as well as evidence of any qualifications and/or past work and volunteer experience.

Obtaining a Volunteer Visa to Ireland, although appears seemingly straightforward, often trips genuine applicants up.

People are often penalised for submitting too much supporting evidence as well as too little, leaving many with disappointing visa refusals and putting them out of pocket. To save yourself the stress, hassle and costs, it is vital you seek immigration advice on your application.

At the Immigration Advice Service, we can help you secure your Volunteer Visa by offering advice tailored to your circumstances. He or she is able to walk you through from start to finish and can even complete your application for you to increase your chances of obtaining a positive result.

Obtaining a work visa as a foreign national to come and work in Ireland can be quite a laborious and complex process. This is because, in order to qualify for a long-term Employment Visa, you must first obtain an employment permit from the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation (DJEI) – and there are nine to choose from.

These permits are:

• The General Employment Permit
• The Critical Skills Employment Permit
• The Dependent/Partner/Spouse Employment Permit
• Reactivation Employment Permit
• Contract for Services and Employment Permit
• Intra-Company Transfer Employment Permit
• Exchange Agreement Employment Permit
• Internship Employment Visa
• Sports and Cultural Employment Permit

In addition, there is also the Employment (Scientific Researcher) Visa, the Employment (Van der Elst) Visa, the Immigrant Investor Programme and the Start-up Entrepreneur Programme.

For those looking to find work for 3 months or less in Ireland, you may need a Short-Term C Visa which comes with its own permit types and requirements.

Obtaining a permit may be the hard part of seeking an Employment Visa, however, it is important to know the many intricate requirements and criteria.

For example, to gain an Employment Visa, you may need to earn €30,000 or more to qualify for a general permit. However, if you are looking into a job that requires critical skills, you will need to earn €60,000. In the event of your job being listed on the Critical Skills Occupation List, the income requirement will again drop to the €30,000 mark.

The general requirements to be successful for this visa means you will have to submit:

• Evidence of your employment contract
• A letter from your employer in Ireland confirming your job and your salary
• Evidence of any qualifications and past work experience
• A recent bank statement detailing the last six months

At IAS, our highly dedicated team of immigration consultant are able to guide you through every step of this convoluted process. You can seek an Advice Session to talk you through the requirements of your specific permit or a full Application Package in which your IAS immigration consultant in Ireland will fulfil your application on your behalf to the highest standard.