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Please be advised that the Consulate General of Ireland, San Francisco website has moved and this page is no longer being updated. The Consulate website is now available at Ireland.ie/sanfrancisco.

Visa Information

Visa Notice:

The Consulate General of Ireland in San Francisco is now processing Visa applications. Visit irishimmigration.ie to ensure you have all the necessary documents and paperwork to send in with your application.

Visa FAQs:

Have questions about visa applications? See our FAQ page here.

Visa Fees:

Please note a single-entry visa costs $102 USD. A multiple journey visa costs $157 USD. Fees must be made payable by money order or cashiers cheque to: Consulate General of Ireland.

Processing times:

We aim to process all complete visa applications within four weeks of receipt. Please note, processing cannot commence until all required documents are submitted.  Visit irishimmigration.ie for a full list of the documents required for each type of visa. The Consulate cannot provide updates on visa application processing times.

Whether you need a visa to travel to Ireland depends on what country you're from. Visit the Irish Immigration Service Travel Path for more information regarding your personal requirements for travelling to Ireland.

Information on visa requirements for transiting through Ireland is available here

Please note that Ireland is not party to the Schengen Agreement, and a Schengen visa or residence permit does not entitle you to travel to Ireland without a visa.

Unless you qualify for the Short Stay Visa Waiver Programme or the British Irish Visa Scheme a valid UK visa does not entitle you to travel to Ireland without a visa. Further information on these schemes is available on the website of the Irish Immigration Service.

Note: A visa allows you to travel to Ireland only. It does not give you permission to enter the country or to stay here. An immigration officer at border control can refuse entry even if you have a visa.

 

Remember…

If you're a citizen of a non-EEA country, whether you need a visa or not, you will be subject to immigration control when you enter Ireland.

Full information on the different types of visas, required documentation, and how to apply can be found on the website of the Irish Immigration Service

Information on applying for a short-stay (less than 90 days) tourist visa is available here.

Information on coming to work in Ireland is available here.

Information on coming to study in Ireland is available here.

Information on coming to join family in Ireland is available here.

If your visa application is refused, you will receive a letter from the visa office telling you why it has been refused and if you can appeal the decision.

Further information on appealing visa decisions is available on the website of the Irish Immigration Service

All appeals are handled directly by the Irish Immigration Service

You need to:

  1. Complete the online application form 

This will generate an application summary form and declaration at the end, which you must print, sign and date.

  1. Gather your supporting documentation, passport photograph and fee.
  2. Submit your application

To complete the process, you must submit your passport and supporting documents for processing. Where you submit your application depends on where you are living. The summary application form will direct you to the relevant Embassy, Consulate or Visa Application Centre.

Check the website of the relevant Embassy or Consulate for further information on how to submit your application for processing

If you applied at an Embassy or Consulate, they will contact you once a decision on the visa application has been made.

If you applied directly to an Irish Immigration Service Visa Office or if your application was referred to the Irish Immigration Service for a decision, you can check the Irish Immigration Service Visa Decision Weekly Listing using your reference number.

Further information on what to expect on arrival in Ireland can be found on the website of the Irish Immigration Service.

Information on entry for EU/EEA and Swiss nationals is available here

Information on entry for non-EU, non-EEA and non-Swiss nationals is available here.

Information on travelling with children is available here.

Information on transiting through Ireland is available here.

Check the website of the Irish Immigration Servicefor information on preclearance and entry visa fees, including information on visa fee exemptions.

You can also contact your local Embassy or Consulate for more details on fees and payment methods

Payment Details

We accept the following forms of payment:

Payment is accepted by cashier's check or money order made payable to:

Department of Foreign Affairs - Ireland

Debit cards, credit cards, personal checks and cash are not accepted.