3 SIMPLE STEPS

From 16 January, all passengers arriving in Ireland from all countries will be required to show a negative result of a pre-departure PCR test taken within 72 hours of arrival in the State. Children aged six and under will be exempt from this requirement.

New application process for Preclearance applicants

As of 21 November 2020, preclearance procedures are changing for the following existing schemes:

Volunteer in Ireland

Minister of Religion

De Facto Partner of a CSEP/ HA Holder

De Facto Partner of an Irish National

All preclearance application forms will move to the online application system AVATS. Instructions on how to apply and use the application system, will be provided on the relevant webpage for each scheme below.

Volunteer in Ireland

Minister of Religion

De Facto Partner of a CSEP/ HA Holder

De Facto Partner of an Irish National

Applications for both visa required and non-visa required nationals will continued to be assessed under the relevant policies. All applications must be made from outside of Ireland and applicants must remain outside the State while their application is being processed.

Visa required nationals

The requirement for you to apply through two procedures (preclearance and visa) will be changed. You will no longer apply for a letter of preclearance. You will only have to make a visa application under the relevant scheme. Your visa, if your application is successful, will outline your reason for travel to Ireland.

Non Visa required Nationals

You will continue to apply for preclearance, and if your application is successful, you will receive an approval letter from the preclearance unit which must be presented to an Immigration Officer at the port of entry.

Transition Period

We will continue to accept applications submitted under the previous application procedures up to 31 December 2020, in order to ensure that those applications which may have been submitted on or near the commencement date of the new application procedures, are processed.

Priority/ Emergency applications: These visa applications will continue to be processed as normal by the Embassy of Ireland. It remains in the position that we are not accepting any short stay visa applications. Please note the list of exemptions has been expanded to include specific categories of travellers.

Healthcare professionals, health researchers, and elderly care professionals

Immediate family members of Irish citizens* (who are returning to their ordinary place of residence in Ireland)

Persons legally resident in the State

Persons entitled to avail of the provision of the EU Free Movement Directive

Transport personnel engaged in haulage of goods and other transport staff to the extent necessary

Frontier workers

Seasonal workers in agriculture

Diplomats, staff of international organisations and people invited by international organisations whose physical presence is required for the well-functioning of these organisations, military personnel and humanitarian aid workers and civil protection personnel in the exercise of their functions

Passengers in transit

Passengers travelling for critical family reasons

Seafarers

Persons in need of international protection or for other humanitarian reasons

Third-country nationals travelling for the purpose of study

Highly qualified third-country workers if their employment is necessary from an economic perspective and the work cannot be postponed or performed abroad

If your application falls under one of these categories, please contact us or the Embassy of Ireland so that we can advise you on the application process.