How to Get an Ireland Tourist Visa? | 2026 Updated Application Guide

With its natural beauty showing a thousand shades of green, historic castles, Dublin's vibrant city life, and stunning views along the Atlantic coast, Ireland is among the popular routes for those seeking a different holiday experience in Europe.

Turkish citizens wishing to travel to Ireland for tourism purposes must obtain an Ireland tourist visa before their trip. Turkish citizens are generally subject to the Ireland visa requirement, whether they hold ordinary passports or special/green passports. Different rules apply for diplomatic passport holders.

So, how is an Ireland tourist visa obtained, what documents are required, how much is the visa fee, where should the application be submitted, and how many days does it take for an Ireland visa to be issued?

In this guide, we explain the Ireland tourist visa application process step by step.

What is an Ireland Tourist Visa?

The visa used for short-term tourist visits to Ireland is evaluated under the Short Stay "C" Visa category.

When applying for a holiday, "Visit Tourist" is selected as the purpose of travel in the online application system. The Short Stay C visa can be used for short visits of up to 90 days in Ireland, depending on the circumstances.

With this visa, visits such as;

• Tourism sightseeing,
• Holiday,
• Visiting family or friends,
• Participation in certain events and conferences,
• Certain short-term educational activities

can be carried out.

However, living long-term in Ireland or working in a regular job is not possible with a tourist visa.

Is Ireland a Schengen Country?

One of the most confusing points regarding the Ireland tourist visa is whether Ireland is part of the Schengen Area.

No. Ireland is not a Schengen country.

Therefore, holding a Schengen visa does not grant you the right to enter Ireland on its own. Similarly, an Ireland visa does not allow you to travel to Schengen countries.

For example, you cannot travel directly to Ireland with a Schengen visa obtained for France, Italy, or Greece.

Therefore, when planning a European tour, Schengen visas and Ireland visas must be considered separately.

How to Get an Ireland Tourist Visa?

The Ireland tourist visa application generally consists of the following steps:

1. Determine your purpose of travel.
2. Fill out the online visa application form.
3. Create the application summary form.
4. Prepare the required documents.
5. Pay the application fee.
6. Schedule your appointment at the visa application center.
7. Complete biometrics and necessary procedures.
8. Submit your documents and passport.
9. Wait for the evaluation of your application.

The Embassy of Ireland in Turkey uses VFS Global visa application centers to accept applications. Applications from Turkey are accepted through application centers in Ankara, Istanbul, Izmir, Antalya, and Gaziantep. Applications are evaluated by the Embassy of Ireland in Ankara.

1. Submit an Online Application for an Ireland Tourist Visa

The first step in Ireland visa applications is filling out the online application form.

When applying for tourism;

Short Stay (C) → Visit Tourist

option must be selected.

In the online form, generally;

• Personal information,
• Passport details,
• Travel dates,
• Address where you will stay in Ireland,
• Purpose of travel,
• Employment and education information,
• Family information,
• Previous travels,
• Visas previously obtained,
• Previous visa rejections

information may be requested.

It is important that the information in the form is completely consistent with the documents in your application file.

2. Fill Out the Ireland Visa Application Form Carefully

One of the most important aspects when filling out the form for an Ireland tourist visa application is providing correct and complete information.

For example;

• Your workplace,
• Your salary,
• Your travel dates,
• Visas you have previously obtained,
• Previous visa rejections,
• Accommodation details in Ireland

must be consistent with your documents.

Irish authorities require you to declare if you have previously been rejected for a visa from another country and to submit the relevant rejection decision. Hiding previous visa rejections can lead to the rejection of your Ireland application as well.

3. Prepare Required Documents for an Ireland Tourist Visa

The documents required for an Ireland tourist visa may vary depending on the applicant's personal situation.

However, generally the following documents are prepared:

• Valid passport,
• Online application form and application summary,
• Passport photos,
• Documents showing the purpose of travel,
• Accommodation details,
• Travel itinerary,
• Financial documents,
• Documents showing employment status,
• Documents showing previous travels and visas,
• Sponsorship documents if necessary,
• Documents showing family ties if necessary.

The Embassy of Ireland requires the submission of original and verifiable documents in applications. Photocopies are not accepted, except for specified exceptions.

Must Documents for an Ireland Tourist Visa Be in English?

This issue is very important in Ireland visa applications.

Documents not in English or Irish must be submitted with full and certified English or Irish translations. The Embassy of Ireland in Turkey also states that supporting documents must be in English or submitted with notarized translation.

Therefore;

Turkish document → appropriate translation → original document + certified translation

preparation should be made accordingly.

How Much Money Should Be in the Bank for an Ireland Tourist Visa?

There is no single minimum bank balance applicable to everyone for an Ireland tourist visa.

What is important in the application is that you have the financial capacity to cover your travel expenses and that this can be explained with documents.

For example, the cost of a 5-day trip to Dublin will not be the same as a 20-day tour of Ireland.

When evaluating financial status;

• Bank account statements,
• Regular income,
• Salary,
• Duration of travel,
• Accommodation costs,
• Transportation expenses,
• Who will cover travel expenses

factors may be important.

The Irish Immigration Service expects the applicant and any sponsor to show that they have sufficient funds to cover the trip to Ireland.

Important: Depositing Money at the Last Minute

Depositing a large amount of money into a bank account immediately before the visa application does not constitute financial sufficiency on its own.

What is important is that the source of the money and the overall financial situation are explainable and documentable.

Therefore, instead of just trying to show a high balance in the application, it is a more correct approach to reveal your actual income and financial situation.

Documents for Employees Applying for an Ireland Visa

For individuals employed by a company, the following documents appropriate to their situation can be added to the application file;

• Letter from employer,
• Job title and salary information,
• Date of joining the job,
• Leave dates,
• Date of return to work after the Ireland trip,
• Recent salary slips,
• Bank account statements

can be included.

The official Ireland visa guide states that employees may be asked for the last 3 salary slips and a letter issued by the employer showing the duration of employment, leave dates, return date, and annual salary.

Ireland Tourist Visa for Business Owners

For business owners or company managers, it is important that the application file reflects the person's actual commercial status.

Depending on the situation;

• Company registration documents,
• Activity certificate,
• Tax documents,
• Trade registry records,
• Company bank accounts,
• Personal bank accounts,
• Income documents,
• Documents showing the company is actively operating

may be submitted.

Especially for business owners, documents showing that commercial activities in Turkey continue during and after the Ireland trip can support the application.

Ireland Tourist Visa for Students

For students, the following can be added to the application file;

• Student certificate,
• Leave letter from school,
• Travel plan,
• Accommodation details,
• Documents of the sponsor covering travel expenses,
• Bank and income documents of the sponsor

can be included.

Irish authorities also place importance on school documents that show students' ties to their home country.

Why Is Returning to Turkey Important in an Ireland Tourist Visa?

In the Ireland short-term visit visa, the applicant must show that they will leave Ireland after the trip.

When evaluating the application, Irish authorities may consider factors such as;

• Employment,
• Education,
• Family,
• Property or rental relationships,
• Economic and social ties

etc.

For example, for an employed person;

Duration of work at the workplace + leave dates + date of return to work after the trip

showing such information with documents can support the overall structure of the application.

How Much is the Ireland Tourist Visa Fee?

Ireland visa fees vary according to the number of entries.

Current official fees:

The visa application fee is generally non-refundable even if the application is rejected or withdrawn. In Turkey, a VFS Global application center service fee may also be charged.

The conditions for obtaining a multiple-entry visa are evaluated based on the applicant's situation. Therefore, one should not assume that every applicant will automatically receive a multiple-entry visa.

How to Get an Appointment for an Ireland Tourist Visa?

After completing the online application, the application summary and required documents are prepared.

Applications in Turkey are submitted through VFS Global Ireland Visa Application Centers.

Currently in Turkey;

• Istanbul,
• Ankara,
• Izmir,
• Antalya,
• Gaziantep

application centers are available.

The applicant may need to complete necessary personal procedures and biometric procedures during the application process.

How Many Days Does an Ireland Tourist Visa Take?

In Ireland tourist visas, there is no single fixed processing time.

The processing time;

• Depends on the visa office where the application was made,
• Seasonal workload,
• Content of the application,
• Request for additional documents,
• Detailed examination of the file

may vary.

The Irish Immigration Service states that different visa offices may have different processing times and that current waiting times should be checked with the office handling the application.

Therefore, instead of applying shortly before your travel date, it is recommended to start the process as early as possible.

When Should You Apply for an Ireland Tourist Visa?

You can apply for a Short Stay C visa up to 3 months before your travel date.

For example, if you plan to travel to Ireland in September, you can start your application three months before your travel date.

However, since visa processing times and appointment availability can change, it is safer not to leave the application until the last few weeks.

Is It Necessary to Buy a Flight Ticket for an Ireland Visa?

The Embassy of Ireland advises not to purchase non-refundable travel tickets before a visa decision is made.

While it is possible to make flight or accommodation reservations before the application, it is specifically stated that doing so before the visa result comes out is at the applicant's own risk.

Therefore, be careful with high-value and non-refundable purchases before your visa application is resolved.

Is Hotel Reservation Required for an Ireland Tourist Visa?

In the Ireland visa application, documents showing where you will stay in Ireland are an important part of the application file.

Hotel reservations must be;

• Consistent with travel dates,
• Consistent with your length of stay in Ireland,
• Consistent with your city plan,
• Consistent with your transport plan

.

The Embassy of Ireland states that the provided accommodation information must contain correct contact details and that the documents must be verifiable.

Why Is an Ireland Tourist Visa Rejected?

An Ireland tourist visa application can be rejected for various reasons.

Among the most frequently important points to consider;

• Purpose of travel not being clear enough,
• Inability to demonstrate financial sufficiency,
• Inadequate documentation of ties to return to Turkey,
• Missing documents,
• Inconsistencies in documents,
• Hiding previous visa rejections,
• Submission of fake or misleading documents,
• Unrealistic travel plan,
• Inability to explain the length of stay in Ireland

may be present.

Especially hiding previously obtained visa rejections is a serious mistake. Irish authorities explicitly require that previous visa rejections be declared in the application.

Also, it is stated that providing incorrect or misleading information and documents can lead to the rejection of the application and, in some cases, result in a ban on making Ireland visa applications for up to 5 years.

Top 10 Mistakes Made in Ireland Tourist Visa Applications

1. Thinking Ireland is a Schengen country

Ireland is not part of the Schengen Area.

2. Selecting the wrong visa type

For tourist trips, Short Stay C – Visit Tourist must be selected in the online application.

3. Providing incomplete information in the application form

All questions must be answered truthfully.

4. Hiding previous visa rejections

Previous rejections must be declared in the application.

5. Submitting documents in Turkish

Documents not in English or Irish must be translated appropriately.

6. Depositing a large amount of money at the last minute

It is important that the financial situation is natural and explainable.

7. Preparing an unrealistic travel plan

Flights, hotels, and itineraries must support each other.

8. Using fake reservations

Submitted documents must be real and verifiable.

9. Buying non-refundable tickets before the visa is issued

Since the visa result is not guaranteed, caution should be exercised with high-value prepayments.

10. Leaving the application until the last minute

Since processing times can vary, early planning is necessary.

Ireland Tourist Visa Application Checklist

You can check the following list before completing your application:

☐ Passport validity date checked.

☐ Online AVATS application completed.

☐ Application summary obtained and signed.

☐ Passport photos prepared.

☐ Purpose of travel determined.

☐ Travel plan prepared.

☐ Hotel/accommodation documents prepared.

☐ Financial documents prepared.

☐ Bank account statements prepared.

☐ Employment or education documents prepared.

☐ Documents showing ties to return to Turkey prepared.

☐ Previous visa rejections checked.

☐ English/Irish translations of required documents prepared.

☐ Visa fee prepared.

☐ VFS appointment created.

☐ Checked that documents are original and verifiable.

Is It Hard to Get an Ireland Tourist Visa?

There is no single answer to the question "Is it hard to get an Ireland tourist visa?"

In the Ireland short-term visitor visa, each application is evaluated based on the individual's own circumstances.

In the application, especially;

purpose of travel + financial status + ties to Turkey + travel plan + accuracy of documents

are evaluated as a whole. Irish authorities expect the applicant to show that they have a valid reason for travel, sufficient financial resources, and that they will leave Ireland after the visit.

Therefore, it is not correct to evaluate another person's visa result as a definitive indicator for your own application.

Can You Go to Northern Ireland with an Ireland Tourist Visa?

This is an important detail that should be noted especially by those planning a trip to Dublin.

Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom.

Therefore, a Republic of Ireland visa is not automatically valid for entry to Northern Ireland. Turkish citizens wishing to travel to Northern Ireland must additionally check the entry and visa rules of the United Kingdom. According to official statements from Ireland, an Irish visa does not grant the right of entry to the United Kingdom.

Therefore:

Dublin → Belfast → Dublin

If you are planning a route like this, you must check the entry requirements for both Ireland and the United Kingdom before your trip.

Can Turkish Citizens with a UK Visa Go to Ireland?

For some Turkish citizens, special arrangements may exist under the British-Irish Visa Scheme / Short Stay Visa Waiver Programme.

According to official information from Ireland, Turkey is among the countries covered by the Short Stay Visa Waiver Programme under certain conditions. However, this does not mean that every UK visa holder can automatically enter Ireland.

There are conditions such as meeting all the requirements of the program and having legally entered the United Kingdom.

Therefore, if you have a UK visa, you must definitely check before your trip whether you need an Ireland visa as well.

Plan Your Ireland Tourist Visa Application Correctly

In the Ireland tourist visa application, simply having a certain amount of money in your bank account is not enough.

The entire application must be consistent and realistic.

Correct visa type + complete documents + realistic travel plan + sufficient financial resources + strong ties to Turkey + accurate information are the basic elements of the application.

It is important to consider the visa process together with your travel program before starting to plan your Ireland trip.

Start Planning Your Ireland Holiday

From the historic streets of Dublin to the Atlantic coasts of Galway, from the stunning views of the Cliffs of Moher to the small towns of Ireland, there are many routes to explore.

Determine your travel date → Create your Ireland route → Prepare your visa application → Plan your accommodation and transport options → Get ready for your Ireland trip.

Do not leave your Ireland trip until the last minute. Start your visa process on time and plan your holiday in a more controlled manner.

Get Support for Your Ireland Tourist Visa Application

If you are applying for an Ireland tourist visa for the first time or want to prepare a comprehensive application file suitable for your financial and personal situation, you can benefit from professional visa consulting support.

Plan your Ireland trip, start your visa application on time, and take the first step for a different holiday experience in Europe.