Visas for people visiting Ireland on business

Information

Travelling to Ireland on business

Citizens of certain countries must apply for a visa to enter Ireland before they travel here on business trips. Information on those who do not need an entry visa is available in our document: Visa requirements for entering Ireland.

Citizens of EU/EEA member states do not require a visa to travel to Ireland on business. (The members of the EEA are the 27 countries of the European Union (EU), together with Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein).

Visa applicants must apply online for their visa. (See 'How to apply'.)

If you are coming to Ireland for a business meeting and you require a visa, you must present the following with your visa application.

• A letter of invitation from the Irish company in question, outlining what you will be doing on your proposed stay in Ireland and how long you will be staying
• confirmation of where you will be staying during your proposed stay in Ireland
• confirmation of who will be responsible for your expenses during your stay in Ireland. (Irrespective of whether it is you or your company, evidence may be required)

There is more information on the documentation required for a business visa on the website of the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service of the Department of Justice and Equality.

If you are coming to Ireland for a conference and you require a visa, you must present the following with your visa application:

• A letter from the conference host outlining the nature and duration of your proposed stay in Ireland
• Confirmation of where you will be staying during your proposed stay in Ireland
• Confirmation of who will be responsible for your expenses during your stay in Ireland. If it is you or your company, evidence may be required

The Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service has more information on the documentation required for a conference visa.

Permission to land

Even if you do not require a visa to enter Ireland, all non-EEA nationals, including those with visas, must obtain permission to enter the State by reporting to an Immigration Officer at the port of entry. You should have supporting documentation relating to the pupose of your visit on your person when coming through immigration. You can read more in our document on permission to land in Ireland.

What do I do if I want to leave for a short while?

The visa issued to you allows you to enter the State once. If you have wish to leave for a short while and then return you must apply for a re-entry visa. (See 'How to apply' below for information on how to apply for a re-entry visa.)

It is your responsibility to ensure you have the correct visa (if required) for the country you intend travelling to. Please note that you must obtain a visa from the UK authorities before travelling to Northern Ireland (Counties Antrim, Armagh, Derry, Down, Fermanagh and Tyrone).