Hello and welcome. This is a simple guide on Ireland visa application in Nigeria. It is focused on Ireland visit visa and how to apply for it. More articles will be written about the other Ireland visa types and their application process so keep tabs on this platform.
What is Ireland Visit Visa?
Supposing you want to visit your family or friends in Ireland from Nigeria and you have your international travelling passport, Ireland visit visa is what you need to get on it to fulfill this yearning.
Ireland visit visa is a type of Ireland short-stay visas. Other types are: Business or Conference visa; Study, research or exam visa; Employment or training visa; and Medical treatment visa.
These visas are issued for temporary stay in Ireland – not more than a quarter of a year (three months).
How to Apply for Ireland Visit Visa
To apply for Ireland visit visa, you have to follow these short steps:
Step 1:
Click HERE to fill an online application form.
Step 2:
Click HERE to download, print and fill the mandatory questionnaire.
Step 3:
Pay your visa application fee, service charge fee and bank charges at the bank counter section of the Visa Application Centre (VAC) between 8am and 3pm, Monday to Friday. The VAC is handled by VFS Global.
The addresses of VFS Global (Ireland VAC) are:
Abuja: 38, Lobito Crescent, Wuse-2.
Lagos: VFS Global, Manor House, plot 110, Admiral Ayinla Way, (Opposite Treasure Garden Estate, 3rd Roundabout, Lekki-Epe Expressway) Lekki Phase I, Lagos.
Step 4:
Visit the VAC to submit your application form with the original and photocopies of your supporting documents and have your biometric taken.
Checklist of Supporting Documents
- Original and photocopy of a completed, signed and printed online visa application form.
- Original passport that is valid for six months with one set of photocopies of all the pages of passport.
- One set of original documents with another set of photocopies of the following documents:
Signed letter of application including applicant’s full contact details and reasons why s/he intends to travel to Ireland and how long s/he intends to stay.
Details of applicant’s accommodation such as hotel booking confirmation or contact details of host’s accommodation. In the case where you have no one to invite you, you will need a valid hotel booking as proof of accommodation arrangement. Your hotel booking should be valid and should be verifiable if the embassy calls the hotel. Many hotels will cancel your booking once payment is not received within 24 hours after booking, this could lead to visa refusal. Also, we would not encourage spending lots of money to book hotel when you have not received your visa. We have a solution for the hotel booking which you should see in order not to fall victim. Read our Hotel Reservation + Flight Reservation for visa application post
An up-to-date bank statement, printed on bank letterhead paper, bearing the account type and account name.
Evidence that applicant will return to Nigeria: such as three most recent pay slips, employment letter, letter of introduction from employer bearing applicant’s details and the date that s/he is return to work, marriage certificate and birth certificate of children and documents of properties (owned or rented) or a letter from applicant’s school or college showing course of study and how many semesters or terms left (if applicant is a student).
Documents from Contact/Host:
Letter of invitation bearing how the host knows the applicant, how long the applicant intends to stay in Ireland, applicant’s reasons for travelling and an undertaking that applicant will abide by rules and regulations and will leave Ireland upon the expiration of his/her visa.
Documented evidence which links applicant to host.
Documents which proofs host’s address such as utility bills.
An up-to-date bank statement of host (if host is bearing the cost of visit)
- Medical/Travel Insurance: You can buy your travel insurance from us at a discounted rates. As a partner with mutual benefits assurance plc, you can order your travel insurance from us and receive it within 10 minutes. After placing an order, you can either print the insurance from your email or pick up a printed copy at any mutual benefits assurance plc offices or Naijagoingabroad offices nationwide. Click here to order your insurance now!
- Flight Booking: Read our Hotel Reservation + Flight Reservation for visa application
- Previous visa refusals – original letters received from authorities of countries where applicant had been refused visa.
If applicant is a minor, he must provide:
Birth certificate
Letter of school confirming current enrolment and sanctioning leave of absence
Consent letter from both parents regarding child’s travel
Copy of parent’s passports
Death certificate (If one parent is deceased)
Two recently taken photograph.
A3 prepaid envelope (size of Nigerian newspaper) by any major courier service to return passport and original documents.
Please take note:
- Visa fee is N13,700. The VAC service charge is N9, 500 + 5 % VAT and bank charges is N400.
- Visa fee is not fixed
- As from October 1, 2014, only UPS prepaid courier envelope is available at VAC for N4500 and it will be submitted with the application to ensure safe delivery of the passports and documents.
- Letters such as invitation letter, introduction letter etc should be addressed to Ireland Embassy in Nigeria.
For Ireland Embassy Address, Please click here.
P.S: You can leave your comments if you have questions or remarks. And don’t forget to help us share this post through the social network. Thank you and God bless!
If you have not taken our free visa eligibility test, we advise you take the test now in order to properly plan your application.