The Immigration Service Delivery released an updated notice regarding the processing of Irish visa applications on the 25th of September 2020.

The notice provides further clarity regarding the categories of visa applications which the visa office will now accept for processing.

With respect to Long Stay D Visa applications, the following categories of applications will be accepted for processing:

  • All Employment visas.
  • Third Level study visas including primary degree and postgraduate level.
  • Join Family – family members of Irish citizens.

Applications for English language student visas may be submitted however they will not actually be processed by the visa office at present.

Applications for Short Stay C Visas will not be accepted unless they fall within one of the categories listed below. Tourist and visit visas will not be accepted for processing at this time.

The full category of visa applications which are currently accepted for processing are as follows:

  • 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 3rd level study (English language students may apply but the applications are being put on hold at present);
  • Highly qualified third-country workers if their employment is necessary from an economic perspective and the work cannot be postponed or performed abroad.

In circumstances where not all Irish Embassies and Consulates have reopened, the notice directs applicants to contact the local Irish Embassy or Consulate in their location for further information.

The full notice is available to read here.

Should you have any queries on an Irish visa application or any other Irish immigration matter, do not hesitate to contact our Immigration Department today on 0035314062862, or info@sinnott.ie.