In This Section
Introduction
Ministers of Religion may be given permission to enter and remain in Ireland under certain conditions. It is necessary to apply for preclearance if you are a non-visa required national, or for a visa if you are a visa required national. EU/EEA/UK & Swiss nationals do not need to make any application. Please read the conditions carefully.
Minister of Religion
The immigration permission and application system described on this page is based on the revised Immigration policy for Ministers of Religion published 29 November, 2022 (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 outlines all of the relevant criteria for eligibility for this programme.
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 is for less than 3 months.
What does this Scheme allow me to do?
Permission to remain in Ireland as a Minister of Religion, allows qualifying religious personnel to remain in the State for up to three years, where there is a demonstrated need for their services and subject to compliance with all other immigration requirements that apply in individual cases. Permission to work as a Minister of Religion allows you to work as a Minister of Religion with an eligible religious body or faith community subject to the following conditions:
* This can be extended to a maximum age of 23 where the child is in full time education and remains dependent on the parent.
What does this Scheme not allow me to do?
With this permission you cannot:
Do any other paid work except the Minister of Religion role
Bring other family members with you for example elderly dependents, children over 18*
Change to a different immigration permission during your stay
Change the religious body or faith community you work for while you are in Ireland
Apply for permission to remain as a volunteer after your permission to work as a Minister of Religion expires
Rely on public services or claim any state benefits for you (or your family if applicable) for example health services.
* This can be extended to a maximum age of 23 where the child is in full time education and remains dependent on the parent.
Information on applying
You can check if you are visa required or non-visa required (preclearance required), using our travelpath. To apply under this scheme, you must, before you travel to Ireland, apply for a visa or preclearance.
You can apply for a long stay (D) visa or preclearance up to 3 months before your date of travel to Ireland. Please note that where a person is applying under a dependent/ join family category, applications may take longer to process.
You must apply 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 (and permitted family members under the Scheme) must remain outside the State while their application is being processed.
Important: You will not be permitted entry to the State for the purpose of being a Minister of Religion by an immigration officer at the border, nor will you be registered in the State unless you can produce the appropriate preclearance approval letter or a long stay ‘D’ Minister of Religion visa.
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 will apply for a long stay ‘D’ 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 generate an application summary form and declaration at the end which must be printed, signed and dated. When you are filling in your information on the online application form:
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 –Minister of Religion’ 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 –Minister of Religion’ 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.
Visa Fee
First you must read the information on visa fees/preclearance fees. Some applicants do not have to pay the application fee. Please include, with your application, proof that the application fee has been paid – for example a copy of the transfer receipt from your bank.
The fees for visas are:
The visa fee is a non-refundable administration fee which covers the cost of processing your application. This fee cannot be refunded even if your application is refused or withdrawn.
You may be required to pay additional charges for example relating to the submission of your documents. The website of the Office to which you must submit your documents will have details about additional charges and any local payment options. Details of the relevant office will be available to you once you complete the online application.
Preclearance Fee
A non-refundable fee of €60 applies to preclearance and must be paid in full at the time of the Preclearance application. The Preclearance fee is a non-refundable administration fee which covers the cost of processing your application. This fee cannot be refunded even if your application is refused or withdrawn.
You may be required to pay additional charges for example relating to the submission of your documents. The website of the Office to which you must submit your documents will have details about additional charges and any local payment options. Details of the relevant office will be available to you once you complete the online application.
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.
Applying for spouse/civil partner and children to join
PART 2
Organise your documents and pay fee
PART 3
Submit your application form
Your spouse/civil partner and children apply in a similar way to you. You must fill in your application form first, and take note of the application number. Your family members must then fill in their application forms using the instructions below:
Part 1: Application form
Fill in the online application form. This will generate an application summary form and declaration at the end which must be printed, signed and dated. When they are filling in their information on the online application form:
If you are a visa required national:
They will need to select visa/preclearance type as ‘long stay (D)’
Journey Type as ‘single’ or ‘multiple’
And, if a spouse/civil partner, ‘join family (Non EEA Nat.) (spouse)’ as their reason for travel at the link above, or if a child, ‘join family (Non EEA Nat.) (Other)’ as their reason for travel on the link above
In the text box ‘Purpose of Travel’ it is advisable that they include your application number here.
If you are a non-visa required national:
They will need to select visa/preclearance type as ‘long stay (D)’
And, if the spouse/civil partner or child of a Minister of Religion, they must select ‘Preclearance – Dependents’ as their reason for travel at the link above
In the text box ‘Purpose of Travel’ it is advisable that they include your application number here.
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 all then organise your supporting documents and pay the visa/preclearance application fee for each person. 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 all submit your passports and 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 all submit your documents and fee to the correct office within 30 days of completing the online application form.
Please note: If you are applying for dependents, and you have visa required and non-visa required applicants in your family group, please contact the preclearance unit at [email protected] with your details (including all transaction numbers, and nationalities) before you pay the application fee and submit your documents.
If you are asked to submit your documents by post to an office (recorded delivery only), put them into a strong padded envelope and make sure to pay the correct postage. You may send all your applications together if you are applying for family members. To send together:
Place each person’s application documents into separate envelopes
Write the name and Application Transaction Number of each applicant on each envelope
Place each envelope into a larger envelope and send it to the application office.
Do not use any clips, staples or files to attach sheets together in your application.
Guidance on supporting documents
Before you gather your supporting documents you must read the important information on documents available below. This will give you guidelines on supporting documents, including information on translations and rules.
If you find that 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 officer.
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.
Important information on supporting documents for all visa/ preclearance applications
You should also read all information on the website of the Office where you will be sending your application
Do not include false or misleading information or documents on the application form or in your application submission. If you do so, your application will be refused. In some circumstances, you may not be allowed to appeal the decision and may be prevented from applying for an Irish visa/preclearance for 5 years
Documents must be original unless otherwise stated, and the visa/preclearance officer reserves the right to request additional/original documents where it is deemed 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
Document rules are outlined below and documents submitted must adhere to these rules or the application may be refused
You should expect verification checks to be made in respect of the information and documents you supply.
“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 from the applicant
2 x passport sized photographs
Up to date 6 months bank statements
Qualifications/ Work Experience
Information on your family
Other Requirements (if applicable)
This is the summary application form which you must print. It contains a declaration that must be signed and dated by the applicant. If the person applying for a visa/preclearance is under the age of 18 years, their parent or legal guardian must sign the form.
You are required to submit your current passport with a visa/preclearance application.
- For short stay visas (up to 90 days), your current passport must be valid for 6 months after the date you plan to leave Ireland
- For long stay visas (over 90 days) it must be valid for at least 12 months from your proposed date of entry
- For Preclearance (over 90 days) it must be valid for at least 12 months from your proposed date of entry
- If you have held previous passports, you must also submit a good quality colour copy of all pages of these passports (All pages includes blank pages)
- If you are unable to provide copies of your previous passports, a written explanation must be provided along with any relevant police reports for consideration
- If you have changed your name in the past, for example by marriage or for any other reason, you must provide full details to us.
You must provide evidence of medical insurance with your preclearance or visa application that satisfies the criteria outlined below:
You must be covered by private medical insurance, from a company authorised by the Health Insurance Authority for the duration of your time in the State. Your sponsor may include you in their group insurance scheme. Travel insurance may suffice but only during the first year of your stay provided it covers you
- For the full period before you arrange private medical insurance
- At a minimum of €25,000 for accident and €25,000 for illness and disease and
- For any period of hospitalisation
- In addition, it is advisable that applicants have insurance to cover repatriation in the event of serious illness or unforeseen events.
Bank statements must be on headed bank paper (You may use a printed internet statement but it must be officially certified by your bank. This means that every page must be notarised by the bank and the statement must be accompanied by a letter from the bank. We will not accept uncertified internet statements).
They must show:
- The full name of the owner of the account
- Address
- The bank account number and account type
- Money paid in and out of the account over the last six (6) months immediately prior to the application. (i.e. income and expenditure), and
- If you are also sending a bank statement from a deposit/savings account, you must include a letter from your bank confirming that you can take money from that account.
Details on requirements for letters from a business, company or other organisation:
All letters from a business, company or other organisation should be on official headed paper and give full contact details so that they can be checked. The contact details must include a full postal address, name of contact, position in the organisation, telephone number (landline), website, and email address (email addresses such as Gmail, Yahoo or Hotmail are not accepted). Please note that handwritten entries or details on a bank statement are not accepted.
Your letter of application must include the following:
- Your full name, postal address, application number and the date
- If applicable, include details of all accompanying family members including their application transaction numbers
- Your reason for travelling to Ireland, and how long you plan to stay
- The date you were ordained as a Minister of Religion or became a qualified member of the religious community. A qualified member is a person that has at least two years of relevant structured training evidenced by relevant documentation. If the church/order into which you were ordained differs from the organisation sponsoring you, you must tell us why
- Details of where you will perform your duties (if more than one location, you must outline what you will do in each location)
- Details of your qualifications and previous work history and how you are qualified to do this work
- The date you started living at your current address, and any previous addresses you have resided at in the previous 5 years, including the amount of time in each location
- You must provide details of any passports you hold issued by any other country outside the nationality you are applying under
- Details of your family members residing in Ireland or in any other EU/EEA State (including the United Kingdom). (Name, nationality, date of birth, relationship to you, and registration number in Ireland if applicable)
- That you will obey the conditions of any permission which may be granted to you, and not rely on State funds or resources while you are in Ireland.
You must provide evidence of where you will stay in Ireland, the cost of the accommodation and who will pay. If your accommodation is being provided by your sponsor, your sponsor must provide full details of the type of accommodation you will stay in.
If you are sourcing accommodation yourself, you must tell us how you will do this, how you will pay for it and where you will stay while searching for accommodation.
You must provide evidence
- That shows that you satisfy Section 4 of the Policy Document, in relation to ordination or structured two year training period for qualification
- Verifiable evidence of at least one year’s experience as a Minister of Religion, post qualification period/ordination.
If you are married/in a civil partnership or have children, you must provide:
- Evidence of their current location
- If they intend on travelling to Ireland; and
- Birth/Marriage/Civil partnership certificates.
You must submit a police clearance certificate (not more than 6 months old, to also include a criminal records check) from your country of current residence and any country you have resided in, in the last 5 years prior to your application.
This must be issued by the police force of that country and must include a full check of that country’s national and local records. Criminal record checks conducted by private companies will not be accepted.
- Biometrics (visa required nationals)
- If you are resident in a country outside of the country which issued your passport or travel document you must submit a full colour copy of your residence permission (If you have a residence card you must photocopy both sides)
- Documentation on previous visa refusals, other immigration issues (including deportation, overstaying) and criminal convictions.
For all visa/preclearance applications, if you have been refused a visa/preclearance in the past for any country, you must provide details to us. The original letter issued to you by the authorities of that country must be provided with your application.
In addition if you have;
- Been deported from any country
- Been refused entry to any country; or
- Been otherwise required to leave any country (including overstaying in any country).
You must provide original documentation issued by the authorities of that country with your application and a full explanation for consideration. You must also provide official documentation of any criminal convictions or pending criminal charges. Failure to do so will result in your application being refused. Failure to disclose this information, where applicable, will result in your application being refused.
Documents required from your sponsor
Your sponsor will have to provide confirmation that they have obtained Garda Síochána vetting for you if you will be working in a role involving children and/or vulnerable adults. A Garda Vetting certificate will need to be submitted as part of your application.
If Garda vetting is not submitted, then there must be a clear written undertaking from the sponsoring organisation, in the sponsorship letter accompanying the application, that you will have no involvement with children or vulnerable adults during the course of your work in Ireland. If your spouse/civil partner is applying to travel with you to Ireland, Garda vetting must also be provided for your spouse/civil partner.
Documents required from spouse/civil partner or children
If your spouse and children have applied to travel with you to Ireland, they must provide:
2 x passport sized photographs
First they must read the information on visa fees/ preclearance fees. Some applicants do not pay the application fee. Please include proof that the application fee has been paid for all dependents where applicable (for example a copy of the transfer receipt from your bank).
Medical insurance
They must provide evidence of medical insurance that satisfies the criteria outlined below:
They must be covered by private medical insurance, from a company authorised by the Health Insurance Authority for the duration of their time in the State. Your sponsor may include them in their group insurance scheme.
Travel insurance may suffice but only during the first year of their stay provided it covers them:
For the full period before you arrange private medical insurance
At a minimum of €25,000 for accident and €25,000 for illness and disease and
For any period of hospitalisation
In addition, it is advisable that applicants have insurance to cover repatriation in the event of serious illness or unforeseen events.
Police clearance – spouse/civil partner
Your spouse/civil partner must submit a Police Clearance Certificate (not more than 6 months old, to also include a criminal records check) from their country of current residence and any country they have resided in, in the 5 years prior to the application.
This must be issued by the police force of that country and must include a full check of that country’s national and local records. Criminal record checks conducted by private companies will not be accepted.
Marriage/Civil partnership certificates
Where you are applying as the spouse/civil partner of a Minister of Religion, you must provide your marriage/civil partnership certificate.
Other requirements (if applicable)
If you are resident in a country outside of the country which issued your passport or travel document you must submit a full colour copy of your residence permission. (If you have a residence card you must photocopy both sides)
Documentation on previous visa refusals, other immigration issues (including deportation, overstaying) and criminal convictions.
Children
Children under 18 years*, living with their parents are assumed to be automatically dependent. If making an application for a child under 18 years, you are also required to provide:
The child’s original birth certificate/adoption certificate with their application documents
Evidence of the child’s current location (for example, school attendance record).
If you are applying for a child where a parent is deceased:
You must include the original Death Certificate of the deceased parent
If you are applying for more than one child, include the original death certificate in one application and a photocopy in each other application
You must provide evidence of where the child is residing.
If you are applying for a child where one parent has sole custody:
You must include the original court order that granted sole custody to the parent concerned
If you are applying for more than one child, include a separate court order for each individual child (as appropriate).
If there are any other custody (shared/joint) arrangements in place:
The original court order must be submitted
Evidence that the child is permitted to travel outside of country of origin/residence to reside in the State
The consent of the other parent is required, which should also show that they understand if the child’s application is granted, the child’s presence in the State gives no rights to visit or reside in the State to them
A clear colour copy of the parent’s biodata page of their passport or, in the absence of a passport, national ID which displays their photo and signature.
* This can be extended up to a maximum age of 23 where the child is in full time education and remains dependent on the parent.
Travelling to and arriving in Ireland
If your application is approved, once you receive your visa/preclearance letter, please check that all details on the visa/preclearance letter are correct. 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.
You should carry (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 at the port of entry.
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 and you can find out more information about what happens at the port of entry.
If you were granted a long stay visa or you were 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 wishing to undertake any 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.
My application has been refused. Can I appeal?
We will notify you by letter if your application is refused. This 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.
How to appeal your visa/preclearance decision?
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
Personal email address, and
Visa/Preclearance Application Transaction Number.
In the letter explain in detail why you believe the decision should be changed. When doing so 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. You should expect verification checks to be made in respect of the information and documents you supply.
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. Appeal a visa/preclearance decision for someone else, for example your child, another applicant.
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).
Letter of authorisation (from the original visa/preclearance applicant)
To appeal a visa/preclearance decision on behalf of someone else, ask them to type or write a ‘letter of authorisation’ that contains the information below (You do not need a letter of authorisation to appeal for your child if they are aged under 18).
The letter must state that the original visa/preclearance applicant is authorising you to act on their behalf for all matters and correspondence relating to the appeal of their visa/preclearance decision. The letter must include the original visa/preclearance applicant’s:
Visa/Preclearance Application Transaction Number, i.e. from the visa/preclearance application in their name.
The letter must also include your (i.e. the authorised person’s):
Date of birth (you must be aged 18 or older).
The visa/preclearance applicant must sign and date the letter. You must include the original letter of authorisation with the visa appeal.
Letter of appeal
Type or write a ‘letter of appeal’ that states that you (i.e. the authorised person or parent) wish to appeal a visa/preclearance decision on behalf of another applicant. The letter must include the original visa/preclearance applicant’s:
Personal email address, if available (do not include this for a child aged under 18)
Visa/Preclearance Application Transaction Number, i.e. for the application you wish to appeal.
The letter must also include your:
Relationship to the original visa/preclearance applicant, for example parent, visa sponsor, family, friend, solicitor or legal representative, etc.
In the letter explain in detail why you believe the decision should be changed. When doing so 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 the appeal.
Other necessary documents
Include any other documents you believe are important for the appeal. Any documents you submit must follow the rules for documents for all visa/Preclearance applications, otherwise they cannot be considered.
Passport
You (i.e. the authorised person or parent) must include a colour photocopy of the photograph page of your passport or national identity card with the appeal. In some cases you may need to include the visa/preclearance applicant’s original passport with the appeal. The letter of refusal will tell you if you need to include the passport. Do not include the passport unless instructed to do so in the letter of refusal.
Submit the appeal
When you are satisfied you have prepared the appeal, put everything into a strong padded envelope and send it to the ‘Visa Appeals Officer’ or the ‘Preclearance Appeals Officer’ at the office address stated in the letter of refusal. If you are sending appeals for more than 1 person to the same address, you may send them together. To send together:
Place each person’s application documents into separate envelopes
Write the name and Visa/Preclearance Application Transaction Number of each person on each envelope, and
Place each envelope into a larger envelope and send it to the office address.
You must submit appeals by post only. We cannot accept faxes or emails. Be sure to pay the correct postage for large packages.
After you appeal
We process visa/preclearance appeals in the order we receive them. We make every effort to process appeals as soon as possible and we advise the applicant of the outcome when the decision is made. Processing times can differ between offices and may also vary during the year, for example during peak periods.
We may take more time processing the appeal if we need to do a detailed assessment of family rights under the Constitution of Ireland or the European Convention on Human Rights.
Appeals Directed to the Dublin visa/preclearance office
If your appeal is being processed in the Dublin Visa/Preclearance Office, the following page, which we update each Tuesday, can be visited to keep up to date for current processing times for appeals. Check current appeal waiting times.
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 to refuse 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 appeal decision again. Only 1 appeal per application is permitted. However, you may submit and pay for (if appropriate) a new visa/preclearance application if you wish.
Frequently asked questions
You are eligible to apply under this Scheme if you:
- Are a non-EU/EEA and non-Swiss citizen
- Are a qualified, ordained or professed member of a religious body or faith community that matches the criteria below
- Have been offered a role as a Minister of Religion by the same body or community of which you are a qualified or ordained member. A qualified member is a person that has at least two years of relevant structured training evidenced by relevant documentation
- You, and your family (if applicable), will be fully supported financially by your sponsoring religious body or faith community for the entire duration of your stay in Ireland
- Have 1 years verifiable experience as a Minister of Religion (evidence will have to be submitted) post ordination/qualification
- You can provide a police clearance certificate from your country of residence (not more than 3 months old)
- Have been vetted by An Garda Síochána to work with children and vulnerable adults in Ireland (evidence must be submitted)
- Have medical insurance from a company authorised by the Health Insurance Authority of Ireland to cover you and your family (if applicable) in place on your arrival in the State for the entire duration of your stay in Ireland. Travel insurance may suffice but only during the first year of the applicant’s stay and the insurance must provide coverage as set out in Section 13.2 of the policy document.
If you wish your family (spouse/partner and children under 18 only) to join you here, your sponsor must be able to financially support your entire family for the full duration of your stay.
* This can be extended up to a maximum age of 23 where the child is in full time education and remains dependent on the parent.
The work you do as a Minister of Religion must include one or more of the following for an established congregation in Ireland:
- Conduct religious ceremonies, providing pastoral career spiritual leadership, or conduct classes based on a religious ethos to an established congregation in Ireland
- Provide senior administration support of a substantially full-time nature to a religious institution, order, church, or congregation established in Ireland where the work would not qualify for an employment permit issued by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment
- Engaging in an established course of religious studies of one years’ duration administered by an established religious institution in Ireland
- Being a member of a religious community established in Ireland that takes public vows of poverty, chastity and obedience.
You must be invited to Ireland by an eligible religious body or faith community.
To be eligible, the religious body or faith community must:
- Be already established in Ireland
- Have an active membership or congregation in Ireland, including full time serving Ministers of Religion
- Have dedicated premises in Ireland serving the religious body or faith community.
An eligible religious body or faith community that invites you to Ireland is called your ‘sponsor’. A sponsor must be a body, it cannot be an individual. Your sponsor has important obligations and is responsible for you in several ways. Before you apply for a visa or preclearance, your sponsor must send you a sponsorship letter and supporting documents for your application.
Sponsorship also means that the sponsor cooperates with State authorities to ensure that the Minister of Religion leaves the State on the expiry of his or her permission, or if directed to do so by those authorities. Failure to cooperate with State authorities in this regard will impact on future sponsorship by that religious body or faith community.
You will not be granted permission if you do not have sponsorship from an eligible religious body or faith community 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; and
- Paid the application fee.
Applications are generally processed in the order they are received. Please note that the onus is on the applicant to supply the relevant documentation to us and to satisfy the processing officer that the Visa or Preclearance sought 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 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.
Dependents (spouse/civil partner/children) if applicable: Your spouse/civil partner/children (if non visa required) will appear on your letter of approval as their permission, if granted, will be dependent on yours. If they do not appear on your letter, they will receive a separate decision letter from the division. They should not travel if they do not appear on your letter of approval.
Visa required nationals:
We will notify you if your application is approved and a long stay D visa (Minister of Religion) 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.
Family Members (spouse/civil partner/children) if applicable:
Your spouse/civil partner/children (if visa required) will receive their own visa in order to travel to Ireland. If they do not receive a visa, they will receive a separate decision letter from the division. They should not travel if they do not have the appropriate visa in their passport.
We will notify you by letter if your application is refused. This 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, and
- Visa/Preclearance Application Transaction Number.
In the letter explain in detail why you believe the decision should be changed. When doing so 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.
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.
In the normal course, as a Minister of Religion you may be eligible for three further one year extensions of this permission. Applications for an extension must be made before your current permission expires. It can only be for service with your then current sponsor and will be considered only if your sponsor can demonstrate a genuine need.
A non-refundable fee of €50 applies to an application for an extension.
To apply for a renewal of your permission:
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. 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 – Ministers of Religion
Send the new sponsorship letter plus the same documents you would normally use to renew your permission/registration by post to:
Minister of Religion Scheme Section
Unit C – Domestic Residence and Permissions Division
Immigration Service Delivery
Department of Justice
13-14 Burgh Quay
Dublin 2, DO2 XK70
Ireland
If your application is successful, we will send you an approval letter with information about the decision, including what to do next. You must apply for a renewal before your existing permission and registration expires.
To change to another Minister of Religion position in a different organisation:
You must leave Ireland and apply again for either preclearance or a visa from outside the State. Accompanying dependents must also leave the State. You must apply within the first 3 years of your arrival.
A non-refundable fee of €50 applies to an application for change of sponsor. Payment is by Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) and the bank details are set out on the application form above
You will not gain extra time to stay in Ireland if you re-apply. You can only work as a Minister of Religion in Ireland for a normal maximum of 3 years total, no matter how many times you apply.
If you choose you can break the normal 3 year period of permission/registration into separate periods for example 3 periods of 1 year each or 2 separate periods of 1 year and 2 years.
