Performance or Tournament Visa Application

If you are due to take part in a competition or performance in Ireland, you may need to apply for a Performance or Tournament Visa.

If you are a citizen of a country from the European Economic Area (EEA), Switzerland and a select group of non-visa required countries, you will not need to apply for a visa to travel to Ireland for a period of up to 90 days.

However, if you are a citizen from outside of these areas, you will need to apply for a Performance or Tournament Visa.

What are the rules around payment and work with a Performance or Tournament Visa?

With the Performance or Tournament Visa, you will be able to take part in sport events, cultural performances and various competitions.

You can be paid for the events you participate in, which includes any prize money. However, you can only be paid if the event lasts for less than 14 days.

Key Performance or Tournament Visa points

• You cannot receive any money from an event or competition if it lasts longer than 14 days
• Cannot undertake any other work whilst you are in Ireland, whether it is paid or unpaid
• You must make a commitment to not rely on Irish public services
• The performance/competition must start and end within a single 14-day period
• You cannot perform or attend an event more than once during the 90-day period. (E.g. Cannot work for four days in Ireland, then leave the country for two weeks and later work another four days in Ireland)

If your Performance or Tournament Visa application is accepted, you will need to request official ‘permission to work’ when you arrive at Irish border control.

If your performance or competition lasts for longer than 14 days (or doesn’t fulfil the criteria above), you will need to apply for the Employment (Atypical Working Scheme) Visa. This visa permits employment for up to 90 days in Ireland.

What is the Performance or Tournament Visa application process?

There are four main stages in the application process:

1. Create visa application online
2. Pay visa application fee
3. Send passport & other documents for processing
4. Report to Irish border control upon entry for official permission to enter

Bear in mind that in certain circumstances, you may need to also provide biometric information.

What is the Online Performance or Tournament Visa Application?

To begin the Performance or Tournament Visa application, an online application must be completed through the AVATS system.

A summary page containing some key information will be displayed when you complete the online application.

This information includes:

• Visa Application Transaction Number. This number can be used to track the status of your application
• Application office. You need to send your application to the office address shown on the summary sheets. This could be the Dublin Visa Office or an Irish embassy or consulate
• Application summary sheets. It is vital that you keep hold of these sheets. They will form part of your portfolio of evidence to send to the visa application office

If the applicant is under 18-years-old, their parent or legal guardian can complete the application on the child’s behalf.

You will need to provide a number of documents with any Short Stay ‘C’ Visa application, including the Performance or Tournament Visa application.

It is imperative that you provide the required documents within 30 days of completing the online application.

The specific required documents depend on the applicant’s individual circumstances. However, the following documents will need to be included in all Performance or Tournament Visa applications:

• Application summary sheets
• Application letter. This must highlight the purpose of your visit and contain various information about the performance/tournament you plan to participate in
• Letter from the organiser
• Any sponsorship letters for group members
• Accommodation plan for your time in Ireland
• Proof of payment (in some cases)
• Passport
• Two passport-sized photographs with your signature and Visa Application Tracking Number on the back of each
• Information on how you will support yourself financially during your time in Ireland
• Proof that your will return to your home country through showing a strong obligation to return home. This could take the form of a letter from your employer indicating your return date to work
• If you have been refused a visa before in any country, you must include the original refusal letter in your bundle of documents

You must provide all the required documents in order for the Performance or Tournament Visa application process to proceed. If you provide any false or misleading documents, your application will be automatically rejected and you could face further consequences.

Also, any documents which are not in English or Irish must be translated by an accredited translator and need to be sent along with the original document.

Translated documents must include:

• Confirmation from the translator that the document is accurately translated
• Date of the translation
• Full name and signature of the translator
• Contact details of the translator

Here at the Immigration Advice Service, we can work with you to ascertain which documents you need to provide to form your portfolio of evidence. With our expertise, you will maximise your chances of receiving the Performance or Tournament Visa. Call us now on (+353) 061 518 025 for more information.

Once you have gathered all your documents together, you will need to send the full bundle of documents to the application office stated on your online application summary sheet.

Your application will be assessed by official at the application office, who will determine whether you have provided sufficient evidence to warrant a Performance or Tournament Visa.

Immigration officials may get in contact with the Irish police, other government departments and international agencies such as Interpol if they deem it necessary.

If immigration officials are satisfied with your application and documents, they will stamp your passport with an Irish visa.

Your passport, travel documents and other original documents will be returned to you after you have completed your application.

You can also request for other documents to be returned to you by notifying immigration officials in your application.

How long does it take to receive a decision?

Unfortunately, we cannot give a definitive answer on how long it will take for the Department of Justice & Equality to process your application.

Processing times differ among different application offices and during certain times of years such as holidays, processing times will take longer.

Also, if documents are missing or the authorities wish to carry out any further investigations, this will delay the process further.

With all that being said, you can generally expect to receive a decision on your application within eight weeks of the application office receiving your documents.

What do I need to do when I arrive in Ireland?

Even if your Performance or Tournament Visa application is accepted, you will still need to report to Irish border control when you arrive in Ireland. Ultimately, the visa gives you permission to travel to Ireland, but doesn’t permit entry.

At border control, you need to prove to immigration officials that you have a valid reason for entering Ireland. You ought to bring photocopies of your most important documents to present to immigration officials, along with your passport.

Border officials will determine whether you can enter into Ireland based on the information you provide.

If they are satisfied, you will be permitted entry into Ireland with official permission to enter. However, if there are any concerns surrounding your application, immigration officials can deny you entry.