In This Section
Introduction
A short stay exam visa allows you to travel to Ireland for up to 90 days to sit an exam that is necessary for your current employment or course of study, subject to conditions below. All short stay visas are also called ‘C’ visas.
About this visa
A short stay ‘C’ exam visa allows you to travel to Ireland for up to 90 days to sit an exam that is necessary for your current employment or course of study, for example:
Doctors will be permitted to enter the State to sit the PRES examination. However, all doctors who are granted permission to do so must leave the State on completion of the examination.
If successful in this examination doctors may only re-enter the State with an Employment Permit issued by the Department of Enterprise and Innovation and the appropriate visa where applicable.
An Employment Permit will not be granted to persons remaining in the State without the correct landing permission and, where applicable, the correct entry visa. This is in line with current practice in respect of all areas of employment. Doctors who fail the exam and wish to repeat it must apply to do so from outside the State.
Doctors who do not comply with the requirement to leave the State and who remain illegally in the State will not be eligible to apply for an Employment Permit or make an application under the Atypical Working Scheme.
- Professional accreditation, for example for accountants
- Some distance learning courses.
This visa does not allow you to:
Sit an exam that is not necessary for your current employment or course of study
Work in any way (paid or unpaid), including acting in an observer capacity (In line with current policy, immigration permission will not be granted to a person where the purpose of coming to Ireland is to act in an observer capacity in either private or public hospital or health facilities unless the observership carries specific written approved endorsement from the Director, National Doctors Training and Planning, HSE.)
Rely on Irish public services, for example, public hospitals.
Important: A visa allows you to travel to Ireland only. It does 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 visa.
Who needs to apply
You need a visa to come to Ireland if you travel using a passport issued by a country that is visa required or using a convention travel document issued by certain countries. Each traveller must apply for a separate visa.
A visa application for a young person (aged under 18) should be made by their parent or legal guardian. Extra conditions for young people also apply. You should not purchase travel tickets before you receive a decision on your visa application.
How to apply
You must apply for a visa from your home country, or a country where you are a legal resident. Prepare your application 3 months before you travel.
Your application has 3 parts:
Create a visa application online
Pay the visa application fee
Send your passport & other documents for processing.
Note: In some cases, you may also need to provide biometric information.
You will be given information about where to send your documents after you create your visa application.
If your application is successful, an Irish visa will be placed into your passport or travel document and returned to you. In general, you can expect a decision about 8 weeks after we receive your documents.
Important: Do not include false or misleading information or documents in your application. If you do, your application may be refused. In some circumstances, you may not be allowed to appeal the visa decision and may be blocked from getting an Irish visa for 5 years.
Create your visa application online
Answer all questions in AVATS fully and honestly. For a Short stay Exam visa to travel to Ireland for business for up to 90 days, select the following options in AVATS:
Visa type: ‘Short Stay (C)’
Reason for travel: ‘Exam’
Purpose of travel: Enter the name of your exam, for example: ‘PRES exam’
Journey type: ‘single’ or ‘multiple’ (as appropriate for you)
Note: Multiple entry visas are approved in limited circumstances only.
Application summary
When finished, you will be shown a web page with important summary information, including your:
Visa Application Transaction Number: Keep a note of this number. You will need it to check progress on your application or when contacting us
Application summary sheets: Print, sign and date these sheets and send them to your application office (as below), along with your passport and other documents
Application office: Send your application to the office address shown on your summary sheet. Your application office may be the
Dublin visa office, an
international visa office or an
Irish Embassy or Consulate worldwide, depending on where you apply from. (In some cases, your application office may send your application to a different office for a visa decision.)
Visa application Fee
Payment methods and currency options may differ between offices. Contact your application office to find out how to pay. Some applicants are exempt and do not pay visa fees.
€60: Single entry – Short stay ‘C’ visa
€100: Multiple entry – Short stay ‘C’ visa
Extra charges may apply for some applications, for example consular fees.
The visa fee covers the administrative cost of processing your application. It will not be refunded if your application is withdrawn or refused.
Documents required
Application summary sheets
Proof of exam and registration
Medical or Travel Insurance
Obligations to return home
Print, sign and date the Application summary sheets (from AVATS) and include them with your application documents, listed below.
- Your full name and postal address
- Reason you want to come to Ireland
- Dates you plan to arrive and leave
- Names and addresses of any members of your family who currently live in Ireland or any other EU/EEA country or Switzerland
- Sign and date your letter.
Your letter must include a commitment from you that you will:
- Obey the conditions of your visa in full
- Not apply to any hospital (public or private) to gain experience in any capacity, for example, acting as an observer
- Not rely on public services (for example public hospitals) or become a burden on the State
- Leave Ireland before your immigration permission expires
- Your letter must contain an estimate of the total cost of your visit to Ireland (in Euro), including separate estimates for:
- All costs and expenses you personally will pay for (if any)
- All costs and expenses paid for by a third-party (if any), eg your employer.
Include a description of the exam you wish to take in Ireland and include it with your application. The description must contain information about:
- Why the exam is necessary for your current employment or course of studies, for example:
- PRES (Pre-Registration Examination System) exams for a doctor
- Professional accreditation, for example an accountant
- Distance learning course.
- Why you need to sit the exam in Ireland
Note: For a distance learning course you must prove that there is no testing centre in the country where you live and that Ireland is your nearest testing centre.
You must also include proof that you have registered and paid for your exam, include the following (original) documents from the institution that is organising your exam:
- Confirmation of registration, confirming that you will attend the exam in Ireland
- Receipt of payment that confirms your exam fees (if any) have been paid in full.
If you wish to sit more than one exam, you must include a separate description and proof of registration (and payment) for each exam.
In your application letter include a description of everywhere you will stay in Ireland (for example, hotel, hostel), including the dates you will stay at each place.
Include printed reservation confirmations (emails or letters) of your accommodation, from:
- Hotels, guesthouses, hostels, B&Bs, AirBnBs, campsites
- Shared or free accommodation, for example couchsurfing
- Any other type of accommodation.
Reservation confirmations must show the dates you intend to stay at each place.
If you are staying with a host in their home, ask each host to send you a letter with the information listed below.
- The host’s full name
- The host’s home address in Ireland
- Confirmation by the host that you have been invited
- The dates you will stay with the host
- A statement by your host about what they will contribute to the cost of your visit:
- The statement must indicate if they will pay for ‘all’, ‘some’ or ‘none’ of the costs of your visit
- If ‘all’ or ‘some’, the letter must include an estimate of everything they will pay for, for example airline tickets, accommodation, living expenses (see Finance plan).
You must include proof of your host’s address, this should be an original utility bill, from within the last 6 months, for example:
- Electricity or gas
- Fixed line telephone, TV or broadband
- A printout of a bill from the internet can only be accepted where it is high quality colour and clearly shows the address of the host and the contact details of the utility.
If your application for a visa is approved, you must get travel or medical insurance before you travel. You will not be allowed to enter Ireland without it. In some cases, you may be asked to submit proof that you have travel or medical insurance before a visa is granted.
You may have to include proof that you have paid the visa application fee – contact your application office to find out if you need to provide proof and what to include.
If you are exempt from the visa fee, you may have to include proof that you are exempt. Contact your application office about proof of exemption. Proof of payment/exemption may differ between offices. Extra charges may also apply for some applications, for example consular fees.
- Your current passport
- A photocopy of each page from all previous passports you have (where available).
Your current passport must be valid for at least 6 months after the date you plan to leave Ireland. Your application will be delayed if you do not provide copies of all previous passports you have.
Include a letter that describes your travel plan to-or-from Ireland if you intend to:
- Travel to Ireland directly from a country that is not your home country, or a country where you are a legal resident
- Or travel from Ireland directly to a different country
- The letter must state if you need visas for those countries (or not).
If relevant, apply for those countries’ visas before you apply for an Irish visa. Your application for an Irish visa may be refused if your passport does not contain the expected visas.
If you do not get the expected visas before you apply for an Irish visa, explain why in your letter. The visa officer will include those reasons when reviewing your application.
Submit proof you have permission to be in the country you are applying from, if you are not a citizen for example: a photocopy of your residence card. You must also show you have at least 3 months’ permission to remain in that country after the date you plan to leave Ireland.
Include 2 passport-sized colour photographs of the visa applicant.
On the back of each photo:
- Sign your name (in your native script and language)
- Write your Visa Application Transaction Number from AVATS.
Each photograph must meet all the following rules for visa photographs.
You must show that you have enough money to support yourself fully in Ireland. There is no minimum amount of finance for approving or refusing a visa application. The visa officer will decide if you have enough based on your own circumstances.
If you are paying for your own business trip you must include an original, up-to-date bank statement on headed bank paper. You may use a printed internet statement but it must be officially certified by your bank. We will not accept uncertified internet statements. The bank statement must show:
- Your name and address
- The bank account number and account type, for example checking/current account, savings and deposit account
- Any money paid in and out of the account over the last 6 months.
If you submit a bank statement from a savings and deposit account, you must include an original letter from your bank (on headed paper) that confirms you can withdraw money from it. Do not submit your employer’s bank statements unless requested to do so. You must also include a written explanation of any large movements of money in or out of your account, if appropriate.
If your host is helping to pay for your visit:
- Include the letter from your host that lists everything they will pay for, for example, cost of airline tickets in Euro (as above).
If someone else (a third party) is helping to pay for your visit, include an explanation of how and why your business trip is being paid for by a third party. You must include the third party’s:
- Full name and address
- Telephone number
- Email address (if available)
- Website (if appropriate)
- Proof of the relationship between you and the third party, for example copies of letters, emails, photographs together
- Your own personal bank statement, following the same rules as described above.
You must include proof that you will leave Ireland when your business trip ends. You must show that you have a strong obligation to return home (to your country of residence) for economic, social or family reasons.
Work
If you are employed at home, you must show that you have an obligation to return to it. You should provide:
- Your 3 most recent original payslips
- A letter from your employer that states:
- How long they have employed you
- A description of the conference and why you are attending
- The dates you will be at the conference
- The date you will be returning to work
- A statement about what they will contribute to the cost of your visit
- The statement must indicate if your employer will pay for ‘all’, ‘some’ or ‘none’ of the costs of your visit
- If ‘all’ or ‘some’, the letter must include an estimate of everything your employer will pay for example: airline tickets, accommodation, living expenses.
Self-employed
You must show that you have an obligation to continue it. You should provide:
- A description of your business and the products or services you provide
- Proof that your business is trading, for example:
- Your most recent financial accounts
- Recent tax return (original)
- Confirmations of payments from customers from within last 6 months (printed emails or letters).
- Proof of a business reason to come to Ireland, for example:
- Communication by you with companies or organisations in Ireland (printed emails or letters)
- The date you will return to your business at home.
Education or study
If you are a student at home, you must show that you have an obligation to return to continue your studies. You should provide a letter from your school or college that states:
- The course you are studying
- How many years you have been a student there
- How many years/semesters you have left there
- That your school or college expects you return to your studies after your visit to Ireland
- A statement about what your school or college will contribute to the cost of your visit (if relevant):
- The statement must indicate if your school or college will pay for ‘all’, ‘some’ or ‘none’ of the costs of your visit
- If ‘all’ or ‘some’, the letter must include an estimate of everything your school or college will pay for example: airline tickets, accommodation, living expenses.
Family
If you have a family at home, you must prove that you will return to them. Include a description of your family that describes:
- Your family status (married, co-habiting, separated, divorced, widowed)
- If you have children or dependents, such as elderly parents.
If you are married and your spouse is not coming to Ireland with you, you should include your original Marriage Certificate with your application. If you have children aged under 18 and they are not coming to Ireland with you, you should include their original Birth Certificates with your application.
Property
If you own or rent property in your country of residence, include a description of it with your application. You should also include other documents as proof, for example your original tenancy or rental agreement or a photocopy of your property title deed.
If you were ever refused a visa by any country, type or write a description about it. You must also include the original letter sent to you by the authorities that refused your application.
Note: Your application for an Irish visa will be refused if you do not include information about past visa refusals.
Guidance on documentation
You must send the documents listed below to your application office within 30 days of creating an application via AVATS. Your application will not be processed until everything is received.
Prepare your documents carefully. They contain information we need to make a decision about you. It is your responsibility to satisfy us that a visa should be granted.
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.
Documents must be original
We do not accept photocopies (except where stated).
Letters must be original
Letters from companies, universities, schools, colleges and so on, 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).
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.”
Return of documents
We will return marriage, birth and death certificates to you after your application is processed. If there are other documents you want returned, type or write a list of the documents you want and then you should:
Include the list with your visa application
Include the original documents from the list (we will return these after processing)
Include a photocopy of each document (we will keep these).
Note: You must include the original documents. Do not send photocopies only.
Your application may be refused if you do not submit all documents. Even if you submit everything required, there is no guarantee that a visa will be granted.
Send your documents
When you are satisfied that you have prepared your application documents, put them into a strong padded envelope and send them to your application office. Be sure to pay the correct postage for large packages.
After you apply
When we receive your application, we will check that you have included:
Signed and dated application summary sheets
Proof of payment of the visa application fee (if applicable)
All other documents listed above.
When reviewing your application we may contact you to ask for more information or documents. We may also:
Send your passport or travel document for official authentication
Contact An Garda Síochána (Irish police) for information about you
Contact government Departments or other agencies for information about you. For example: INTERPOL.
Biometric Information
In some cases, you may need to provide biometric information as part of your application. Contact your application office (as listed on your application summary sheet) to find out if you need to provide biometric information and how to do so.
Visa decisions
Visa applications are processed in the order they are received. Processing times differ between application offices and application types and may also vary during the year, for example, at holiday periods. In general, you can expect a decision for a short stay ‘C’ exam visa about 8 weeks after your documents are received.
Note: Your application may take longer if documents are missing, need to be verified or because of personal circumstances, for example if you have a criminal conviction.
Where to check your Visa decision
Dublin visa office
If your application was sent to the Dublin visa office, new visa decisions and waiting times are published every Tuesday.
All other offices
If you send your application to an international visa office, Irish embassy or consulate, contact that office for an update on your application.
If your visa is approved
An Irish visa will be placed into a blank page of your passport or travel document. Your passport or travel document and certain original documents (for example, marriage, birth or death certificates and other documents listed by you) will be returned to you by post or arranged for collection at an international visa office, Irish embassy or consulate.
If your visa is refused
You will be sent a ‘letter of refusal’ that explains why your application was not approved. Your passport or travel document and certain original documents (for example, marriage, birth or death certificates and other documents listed by you) will be returned to you by post or arranged for collection at an international visa office, Irish embassy or consulate.
Appeal a visa decision
You can appeal a negative visa decision at no cost. To do so, you must submit an appeal within 2 months of the date on your letter of refusal.
When you travel
An Irish visa allows you to travel to Ireland. It does not give you permission to enter the country. You can be refused entry even if you have a visa.
Border control
When you arrive at border control, you must prove that you have a valid reason for entering Ireland to the immigration officer. You will need your passport, visa and other documents. For example, you should bring copies of documents from your application with you when you travel. Find out more on suggested documents to present at border control.
Read a longer description about what to expect at border control.
If you cannot satisfy the immigration officer, you will not be allowed into Ireland. If you are given permission to enter, the officer will place a ‘landing stamp’ in your passport. The landing stamp shows the reason for your visit (for example, business, work) and how long you can stay, up to a maximum of 90 days.
Leaving Ireland and returning home
The time period you are permitted to stay in Ireland is shown on the landing stamp in your passport. You must leave the country before your permission expires. It is against the law to remain here without permission.
Extend a stay for unforeseen circumstances
In exceptional circumstances, you may apply to extend your permission to stay in Ireland. To apply for an extension, the circumstances of your visit must change in an unexpected way after you arrive in Ireland.
An extension will not be granted to attend a meeting/event or any non-emergency or probable reason. You must be in Ireland to apply and submit an application before your existing permission expires.
Visas for people aged under 18
An exam visa application for a young person (aged under 18) should be made by their parent or legal guardian. The process follows the same steps described above with some extra conditions (as below) to protect the young person’s safety.
