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:
This visa does not allow you to:
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:
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.
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:
Application summary
When finished, you will be shown a web page with important summary information, including your:
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.
Current fees are:
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 It will not be refunded if your application is withdrawn or refused.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
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.
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:
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:
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:
When reviewing your application we may contact you to ask for more information or documents. We may also:
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.