In This Section
Introduction
If you would like to volunteer in Ireland you may do so with an eligible organisation for up to 2 years, with the possibility of a third year, subject to the conditions below.
This scheme applies to both visa required and non-visa required nationals. You must apply before you travel to Ireland. Do not apply under this scheme if your intended stay in Ireland is for less than 3 months.
The immigration permission and application system described on this page is based on the Immigration policy for Volunteering in Ireland published 30 April, 2018 (updated June 2023). The Department of Justice reserves the right to amend or suspend this policy at any time. The information below is intended as a guide only, the policy document Volunteering in Ireland outlines all of the relevant criteria for eligibility for this programme.
What does this Scheme allow me to do?
Permission to remain in Ireland as a volunteer allows you to work in Ireland in a volunteering role with an eligible organisation for up to 2 years (with an option to extend for a third year), subject to the conditions below:
Work in a volunteering role with an eligible organisation
Your role must match the criteria for volunteering described below
The organisation must match the criteria for eligibility described below
Stay in Ireland for 1 year initially, up to 2 years (with an option to apply for an extension for a third year)
Apply to change the organisation you volunteer for once in any 12 month period
Travel abroad for short periods (for example holidays and attending conferences) and return to Ireland.
The initial permitted period of residence under this Scheme is 1 year (12 months) and the maximum is 2 years (24 months). You may, for example, spend 24 consecutive months in the State or break the period into two separate lots of 12 months each, separated by time.
What does this Scheme not allow me to do?
With this permission you cannot:
Bring any family members with you to Ireland
Apply to change your immigration status while in the State
Change sponsors more than once in any 12-month permission period while in the State under this Scheme
Rely on public services or claim any state benefits, for example: health services, education
Spend more than two years on aggregate volunteering in the State.
Information on applying
To apply under this scheme, you must apply for a visa or preclearance before you travel to Ireland.
Check if you are visa required or not, using our travelpath.
You can apply for a long stay (D) visa or preclearance up to 3 months before your date of travel to Ireland. You must apply for a visa or preclearance from your home country or a country where you are a legal resident. Proof of residence outside the State may be requested, and the applicant must remain outside the State while their application is being processed.
A preclearance letter and visa allows you to travel to Ireland only for a specific purpose. They do not give you permission to enter the country or to stay here. An immigration officer at border control can refuse you entry even if you have a preclearance letter /long stay visa.
Non visa required nationals will apply for a preclearance letter of approval
Visa required nationals should apply for a long stay ‘D’ visa
Some visa required nationals will be required to provide biometrics as part of their application.
Important: You will not be permitted entry to the State for the purpose of being a volunteer by an immigration officer at the border, and you will not be registered in the State unless you can produce the appropriate preclearance approval letter or a long stay ‘D’ Volunteer Visa.
Your application steps
Part 2
Organise your documents and pay fee
Part 3
Submit your application form
Part 1: Application form
Fill in the online application form. This will create an application summary form and a declaration at the end which must be printed, signed and dated.
If you are a visa required national:
You will need to select visa/preclearance type as ‘Long Stay (D)’
Journey Type as ‘multiple’
And ‘Visa –Volunteer’ as your reason for travel at the link above.
If you are a non-visa required national:
You will need to select visa/preclearance type as ‘Long Stay (D)’
And ‘Preclearance –Volunteer’ as your reason for travel at the link above.
Important: Do not provide false or misleading information on the application form. Doing so can result in you being prevented from making further visa/preclearance applications for a period of up to 5 years.
Part 2: Organise your documents and pay fee
You must organise your supporting documents and pay the visa/preclearance application fee. Different offices accept fees in different ways. The summary application form will tell you to which office you need to pay your fee.
Part 3: Submit your application
To complete the process, you must submit your passport & supporting documents for processing. Where you submit your application depends on where you are living. The summary application form will direct you to the relevant office. It is very important that you submit your documents and fee to the correct office within 30 days of completing the online application form.
Guidance on supporting documents
Document requirements are outlined below, and documents submitted must follow these rules or the application may be refused. You should also read all information on the website of the Office where you will be sending your application.
The visa /preclearance officer may request additional/original documents where it is considered necessary. Supplying any or all of the documents or information requested does not guarantee the grant of a visa/preclearance.
It is your responsibility to satisfy us that any visa/preclearance should be granted. There is no right to a visa/preclearance. Where ‘evidence’ is stated, we require documentary evidence. Documents must be original unless otherwise stated.
Do not submit documentation on USB sticks, memory cards, CD ROMs as documents on these devices cannot be accessed. You should also not submit documentation on file sharing platforms such as Drop Box, Sharefile. Documents in hardcopy format only will be accepted.
All letters submitted from a business, company or other organisation must be on official headed paper so they can be verified, and show the organisation’s:
Telephone number (fixed line – not mobile/cell phone)
Email address (Yahoo and Hotmail email addresses are not accepted)
A contact person’s name and title/position
Written signature of an authorised representative (electronic signature is not accepted).
You should expect verification checks to be made in respect of the information and documents you supply.
Documents must be translated & certified. You must provide a full and certified translation into the English or Irish language of any documents not in English or Irish. Send us both the original documents and the certified translations.
Read a longer description about how to make a certified translation of a document.
“Any State issued official documents, such as Birth Certificates, Marriage Certificates, Death Certificates, Divorce Certificates that were issued by a State outside of the EEA or Switzerland, must be attested/apostilled as genuine by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the State that issued the document, in order that it can be accepted as evidence for Irish visa purposes. Such documents are required to be translated into English or Irish, if necessary. Translations done outside the EEA or Switzerland must also be attested/apostilled as genuine, by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the country in which the translation occurs. Send us both the original documents and the certified translations. Translations done in the EEA or Switzerland do not need to be attested by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Any State issued official documents, such as Birth Certificates, Marriage Certificates, Death Certificates, Divorce Certificates that were issued by a State within the EEA or Switzerland do not require to be attested as genuine from Member States. A translation of these documents is not required where a multilingual standard form (MSF) is also provided. Such MSF forms are available from Member States on request. If an MSF is not provided by you then those documents are required to be translated into English or Irish, if necessary in order that it can be accepted as evidence for Irish visa purposes. Translations done outside the EEA or Switzerland must also be attested/apostilled as genuine, by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the country in which the translation occurs. Translations done in the EEA or Switzerland do not need to be attested by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. We will also accept the Extract of a European marriage certificate, issued in accordance with the “Convention on the issue of multilingual extracts from civil status records“, as proof of a marriage within the EEA or Switzerland. Send us both the original documents and the certified translations.”
Documents required
2 x passport sized photos
Qualifications/ Work Experience
Information on your family
Other Requirements (if applicable)
Documents required from your sponsor
Travelling to and arriving in Ireland
If your application is approved please check that all details on the visa/preclearance letter are correct when you receive your visa/preclearance letter. If you have any questions in relation to the requirements and /or limitations of the visa sticker/preclearance letter please contact the visa/preclearance office which processed your application.
The dates of validity shown on the visa sticker/ preclearance letter indicate the dates between which you can travel to Ireland. The visa/preclearance letter must be presented to an immigration officer at a port of entry between those dates. After the end date the visa/preclearance letter is no longer valid and you will be required to apply for another visa/preclearance.
At the port of entry you should have, for example, your letter of invitation / accommodation booking / school letter of acceptance and / or other relevant documents, including medical insurance in your carry-on bag for presentation to an immigration officer.
Important: The visa/preclearance letter does not allow you to enter Ireland. It does not allow you to live in Ireland. When you arrive at a port in Ireland an immigration officer can grant or deny you permission to enter Ireland.
Visa appeal decisions
If your appeal is successful
We will send a notification to you stating that the original visa decision has been reversed. The notification will also explain what to do next to get your visa. Your documents will then be returned to you by post or arranged for collection, as explained in ‘How do I get my passport and documents back?‘ in the frequently asked questions below.
If your appeal is unsuccessful
We will send you another ‘letter of refusal’ stating that the original visa decision remains in place and that your appeal has been refused. Your documents will then be returned to you by post or arranged for collection, as explained in ‘How do I get my passport and documents back?‘ in the frequently asked questions below.
Preclearance appeal decisions
If your appeal is successful
If your appeal is successful, you will be issued with a Preclearance Letter of Approval. Your Preclearance letter is an important document and should be treated as such.
Border Control (Please note that all non EEA nationals are subject to the provisions of the Immigration Act 2004)
And, if you are granted entry into Ireland, for Immigration Registration (extending your permission to remain).
The Preclearance letter is valid for 6 months. If you do not use it within this validity period (to arrive at border control), you must restart the application process and submit a new application.
If your appeal is unsuccessful
Where the decision is upheld at appeal, you will receive a letter or email outlining the reasons for the refusal.
Please Note: You cannot appeal a visa/preclearance decision again. Only one appeal per application is permitted.
However, you may submit and pay (if appropriate) for a new visa/preclearance application if you wish.
Frequently asked questions
You are eligible to apply under this Scheme if you:
- Are aged 18 or older
- Are a non EU/EEA and non-Swiss citizen
- Have been offered volunteering work by an eligible organisation
- Can be fully supported financially for the entire duration of your stay by the organisation that is inviting you to Ireland
- Are qualified and able to do the activities expected of you
- Are of good character and good standing, for example provide a police clearance certificate or equivalent not more than 3 months old
- Are cleared to work with children and vulnerable adults (if necessary for your role), for example you can provide a child clearance certificate from An Garda Síochána (Irish Police). This can be obtained by your sponsor prior to your arrival in Ireland
- Have medical insurance from a company authorised by the Health Insurance Authority of Ireland to cover you for the duration of your stay.
The work you do as a volunteer must be a structured activity that is undertaken in an approved sector, including (but not limited to):
- Arts, heritage, culture
- Out of school education and youth services
- Religious and faith-based support activities
- Health support services
- Sport and physical recreation
- Welfare and work for the community good, for no financial gain by you, and for the benefit of society, while also bringing benefits to you as a volunteer.
You must be invited to Ireland by an eligible organisation. An eligible organisation may be either:
- A non-governmental, not-for-profit, voluntary or charitable body that is already established and active in the State and listed on the Charities Regulator’s Public Register of Charities or
- A sports organisation that is already established and active in the State and whose national governing body is recognised by Sport Ireland.
The eligible organisation that invites you to Ireland is your ‘sponsor’. Your sponsor has important obligations and is responsible for you in several ways. Sponsorship also means that the eligible organisation undertakes:
- To cooperate with the immigration authorities to ensure that the volunteer leaves the State on the expiry of his or her permission or
- By withdrawing the sponsorship if directed to do so by immigration authorities.
Failure to cooperate with immigration authorities in this regard will impact on future sponsorship by that eligible organisation. Before you apply, your sponsor must send you a sponsorship letter and supporting documents. You must submit these documents as part of your application.
Note: You will not be granted permission if you do not have sponsorship from an eligible organisation, or if you are sponsored by an organisation that does not match the criteria above.
After we receive your application and documents, we will check that you have:
- Selected the correct reason for travel on your application form
- Attached supporting documentation
- Paid the application fee.
Applications are generally processed in the order they are received. Please note that the responsibility is on the applicant to supply the relevant documentation to us and to satisfy the processing officer that the visa or preclearance applied for should be granted.
The current processing times for visas and preclearance are updated each Tuesday.
Non visa required nationals:
We will notify you if your application is approved, and we will send you a Preclearance letter of approval. It is important that you check your details on this letter for any errors. Your Preclearance letter is an important document. You will need it to present to an immigration officer at border control and, if granted entry, for Immigration Registration.
The Preclearance letter is valid for 6 months. If you do not use it to travel to Ireland within the validity period on the letter, you must restart the process and submit a new application. Do not travel to Ireland with an expired Preclearance letter of approval.
It is also recommended that you have clear evidence of your medical insurance cover with you when you arrive at the border.
Visa required nationals:
We will notify you if your application is approved, and a long stay D visa (Volunteer) will be placed in your passport by the relevant office. You will need this to travel to Ireland. You will need it to show it to an immigration officer at border control and, if granted entry, for immigration registration.
It is important that you check your visa for any errors. Your visa will be valid for 6 months. If you do not use your visa during the validity period, you must submit a new application from the beginning. You will not be permitted to travel to Ireland unless your visa is valid.
It is also recommended that you have clear evidence of your medical insurance cover with you when you arrive at the border.
If you are granted a long stay visa or you are granted a preclearance letter of approval, and are staying in Ireland for longer than 90 days you will be required to register with the immigration authorities. The immigration officer will give you a date by which you will have to register. If you do not register by that date, you will be required to leave Ireland.
A person who wishes to undertake a different activity in Ireland other than that for which his/her visa/preclearance letter was granted must leave the State and apply for a new visa/ preclearance. For example, if you come to Ireland for a holiday you cannot then take up employment in Ireland. To do so you must first leave the State.
An applicant may not return to Ireland while awaiting a decision on his/her new application and any previous visa/preclearance letter issued will be cancelled while the new application is being considered. A person who remains in the State longer than the permitted period as granted by the immigration officer at the airport or other port of entry may become liable for prosecution and/or subject to deportation.
We will notify you by letter if your application is refused. The letter will outline the reasons why your application was refused. The refusal letter will also tell you if you are permitted to appeal the decision. In some cases you may not be permitted to appeal (for example if you provide false or misleading information in your application).
You may also be prevented from making another Irish visa/preclearance application for up to five years. If you receive a refusal letter, it will state clearly in your letter if you have a right of appeal or not. The appeal process is free of charge.
You can request an appeal of this decision by responding to the refusal reasons with extra supporting documents if required. This appeal must be received by us within 8 weeks of the date of the refusal letter. An appeal must be submitted in writing, fully addressing all of the reasons for the refusal. Appeals received by email or fax will not be processed.
Type or write a ‘letter of appeal’ that states that you wish to appeal a visa/preclearance decision. The letter must include your:
- Full name
- Postal address
- Personal email address
- Visa/Preclearance Application Transaction Number.
In the letter explain in detail why you believe the decision should be changed.
You should refer to the reasons the application was refused (as stated in the letter of refusal). Add any new information you believe is important.
Sign and date the letter and include it with your appeal.
Other necessary documents
Include any other documents you believe are important for your appeal. Any documents you submit must follow the rules outlined below, otherwise they cannot be considered.
If you cannot submit a document requested below, you should provide an explanation as to why you cannot provide it, and any other documents for consideration by the visa/preclearance officer.
Passport
Your letter of refusal will tell you if you need to include your original passport with your appeal. Do not include your passport unless instructed to do so in the letter of refusal.
Follow these steps to appeal a decision for your child or if you have been authorised to appeal on behalf of someone else. There are no restrictions on the number of visa/preclearance applicants you can appeal for.
If you are appealing for 2 or more people, you must include a separate ‘letter of authorisation’ and ‘letter of appeal’ for each person (as described below).
Visa/Preclearance applications directed to the visa office in Dublin
If your application was sent directly to the visa/preclearance office in Dublin you must:
- Provide an Irish or UK postal address – this can be a friend or relative (please note that passports are sent by registered post to addresses in the Ireland or the UK only); or
- Arrange for a courier company to collect (at your expense) from:
Visa/Preclearance Office
6-7 Hanover Street
Dublin 2 D02 W320
Ireland
A courier company may request a contact phone number for the Irish Immigration Service. The number to be used is +353 1 616 7700. The courier company must provide your full name and visa/preclearance transaction number when they come to our office to collect documents on your behalf.
You may be eligible for a 1 year extension of your volunteer permission. Your request for an extension must be to continue with your current sponsor and will be considered only if your sponsor can demonstrate a genuine need for your continued service.
Ask your sponsor to write you a new sponsorship letter explaining why they want you to stay, and include the proof of application fee payment of €50. This can only be paid by Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT). See details of how to make this payment on the below document.
Renewal application payment instruction – Volunteers
Send the new sponsorship letter plus full copy of passport, proof of address, evidence of finances and private health insurance by post to:
Volunteers Section
Unit C – Domestic Residence and Permissions Division
Immigration Service Delivery
Department of Justice
13-14 Burgh Quay
Dublin 2, DO2 XK70
Ireland
To change to another volunteer position in a different organisation, you must:
- Ask your new sponsor to write you a new sponsorship letter explaining why they require your services
- Include the proof of application fee payment of €50. This can only be paid by Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT). See details of how to make this payment on the below document.
Renewal application payment instruction – Volunteers
Send the new sponsorship letter plus full copy of passport, proof of address, evidence of finances and private health insurance by post to:
Volunteers Section
Unit C – Domestic Residence and Permissions Division
Immigration Service Delivery
Department of Justice
13-14 Burgh Quay
Dublin 2, D02 XK70
Ireland
You will not gain any longer permission by changing sponsor or reapplying as a volunteer.
