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Last updated: 13 December 2023
CHRISTMAS 2023 - NEW YEAR 2024 CLOSURE
The Visa Office will be closed from Wednesday 20 December to Monday 8 January 2024. Application can continue to be sent to us by registered post but will not be processed during this time.
Immigration Service Delivery (ISD) at the Department of Justice is responsible for immigration and visa policy.
The Embassy of Ireland in Brussels accepts applications from visa required nationals resident in Belgium only.
Please note that Ireland is not in the Schengen Area and a Schengen visa or Belgian residence card (titre de sejour/ verblijfstitel / aufenthaltstitel) cannot be used to travel to Ireland.
If you want to travel to Ireland, you may need to apply for a visa or preclearance. Further information is available on the website of Immigration Service Delivery.
A list of visa required / non-visa required countries is available on the Irish Immigration Service website.
Please note that Ireland is not in the Schengen Area, and a Schengen visa or residence permit (including the Belgian residence card / permit) does not entitle you to travel to Ireland without a visa.
You cannot travel to Northern Ireland on an Irish visa. Northern Ireland consists of Counties Antrim [including Belfast], Armagh, Derry, Down, Fermanagh and Tyrone.
Short Stay Visa Waiver Programme
The Short Stay Visa Waiver Programme allows nationals of 22 countries, who have entered the UK on foot of certain UK short stay visas, to travel to Ireland without the requirement to obtain a separate Irish visa. Details of the conditions of the Programme and eligible nationalities are available from Immigration Service Delivery.
Convention Travel Documents
In certain circumstances, holders of Convention Travel Documents may not need a visa for Ireland.
Holders of the 1951 Convention Travel Document issued by Belgium (“blue passport”) require a visa for Ireland (see example).
Holders of the 1954 Convention Travel Document issued by Belgium (“grey passport”) need a visa for Ireland (see example).
Holders of the Travel Document issued by Belgium to Stateless persons (“red passport”) need a visa for Ireland (see example).
Useful information on documents to bring with you, whether or not you require a visa, is available from the Irish Immigration Service.
Transit Visas
Information on visa requirements for transiting through Ireland is available from 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.
Please note that this information relates to visa-required nationals who reside in Belgium. This Embassy does not accept applications from visa-required nationals who are not resident in Belgium.
You need to:
1. Complete the online application form
2. Print the Summary Sheet (this appears at the end of the online application), then sign and date it
3. Check you have all the required supporting documentation (see the Types of Visa and Supporting Documents below)
4. Check your passport photos meet the Photo Requirements (2 photos with a white background are required)
5. Pay the visa fee, if necessary (see the Fees and Payment Information tab below)
6. Post your application and supporting documents to:
Visa Office,
Embassy of Ireland,
Rue Froissart - Froissartstraat 50
1040 Brussels
Visa applications must be sent to the Embassy by registered post or courier. We recommend that you keep your postal tracking number and use this to confirm receipt of delivery on the B Post Tracker or your courier’s website. The Embassy does not contact applicants to provide confirmation we have received individual applications.
Visa applications can involve providing of a lot of supporting documentation. Please ensure you package your supporting documents appropriately (i.e. use an appropriate sized envelope). The Embassy is not responsible for documentation that is lost in the post or which arrives in a damaged condition.
It is not possible to submit your application in person at the Embassy. Please note the Embassy building does not have an external post box.
Information on the different types of visas, required documentation and how to apply can be found on the website of the Irish Immigration Service.
For ease of reference, separate links for some of the most common short stay visas are set out below.
A long stay is any trip to Ireland that is more than 90 days.
Find out more about the different types of long stay visas on the Irish Immigration Service website.
The onus is on the applicant to ensure their application is complete. Any missing supporting documentation may result in longer processing times or your application may be refused.
The Embassy has noted an increase in visa applicants supplying bank statements from Belgian banks in formats that are not sufficient in order to meet the requirements as set out by the Irish Immigration Service.
If we need to request new bank statements, this can cause delays in processing your application.
Bank statements must:
Detailed bank statements obtained online may be submitted but must be stamped by the bank.
Screen captures or pictures from banking apps or websites are not acceptable.
B Post bank statements
Due to the small size of B Post bank statements, we request that if you are submitting these bank statements that you make A4 size copies of these with 3 pages of the bank statement per A4 page in chronological order. Originals will only be returned if copies are provided.
The visa application processing fees are:
Single Journey Visa: €60*
Multiple Journey Visa: €100**
Transit Visa: €25*
*Applicants must also pay a €15 postage charge to cover the cost of returning your passport and original documents by registered post.
**Multiple entry visas are usually only issued to those who have previously been issued at least 2 single entry visas. Read more on the policy considerations for multiple entry visas here. The granting of a multi entry visa is at the discretion of the Visa Officer. If you apply for a multiple journey visa but are granted a single journey visa the difference in the visa fee will not be refunded.
The visa fee is an administration fee that covers the cost of processing your application. This fee will not be refunded if your application is refused, withdrawn, abandoned, or if your planned dates of travel pass.
We do not accept payments in cash, cheque or credit card.
The fee must be paid by bank transfer to the following account:
Account Name: Embassy of Ireland
Bank: BNP Paribas Fortis
IBAN: BE34 0017 5539 8690
BIC: GEBABEBB
Please include your name and your visa application number (available on the Summary Sheet) in the details section of the online payment.
Please include proof of payment with your supporting documents.
No fee required
Some applicants are not required to pay the visa processing fee. These include visa-required spouses and qualifying family members of EEA citizens (including Irish nationals). You must provide proof of this relationship with the application.
In addition, applicants from the certain countries do not have to pay a visa fee.
Information on fee exemptions is available from the Irish Immigration Service.
Please note all applicants, even if you are exempt from the processing fee, must pay the €15 postage fee.
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.
If you are a visa required national, as well as your visa, an Immigration Officer may ask to see additional information.
Suggested documents to present at border control:
Further information on what to expect on arrival in Ireland can be found on the Immigration Service Delivery website.
Information on entry for non-EU, non-EEA and non-Swiss nationals is available here.
Information on transiting through Ireland is available here.
What are the Embassy Visa Office opening times?
It is no longer possible to submit visa applications in person at the Embassy. Our visa service operates by post only.
Can I track my visa application online?
There is no online tracking facility for visa applications.
You will be informed of the result of your application as soon as a decision is available.
To ensure that resources are used to the best effect, we ask that you do not contact the Embassy to seek updates on your visa application. We will contact you by email if we are seeking clarifications in relation to your application.
I hold a long-stay residence permit for Belgium. Do I still need to apply for an Irish visa?
Yes. You should also note that your residence permit for Belgium must be valid for at least 3 months after you leave Ireland.
My passport expires in less than 6 months. Can I still apply for an Irish visa?
No. Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months after you plan to leave Ireland. You will need to renew your passport. The Embassy cannot issue a visa if your passport expires in less than 6 months.
Does an Irish visa allow me to travel to Northern Ireland?
No. If you wish to travel to Northern Ireland, you will require a UK visa.
Northern Ireland consists of the counties of Antrim [including Belfast], Armagh, Derry, Down, Fermanagh and Tyrone.
There are limited exemptions to this, please consult the Irish Immigration Service website for more information.
My name is not on my rent contract (one of the required supporting documents). Is there an alternative document I can submit?
If you do not have a rent contract in your own name, you will need a ‘certificate of residence’ (or Composition de Menage/Gezinssamenstelling) issued by your local town hall to demonstrate that you are registered at your address.
I hold a valid Schengen visa. Can I travel to Ireland?
No, Ireland is not part of the Schengen area. A separate visa is needed to travel to Ireland.
I will be travelling to Belgium (or I am already in Belgium) on a short visit before travelling to Ireland. Can I apply for my Irish visa at the Embassy in Brussels?
No. Visa applications should be made in your country of residence.
However, if there are valid reasons or extenuating circumstances which prevented you from applying for a visa prior to your departure, you should email us.
I am visiting Belgium but there is no Irish Embassy in my country of residence. Can I apply for my Irish visa in Brussels?
No. Visa applications should be made in your country of residence.
If there is no Irish Embassy or Consulate in your country, visa services may be provided by an Irish Embassy or Consulate in a neighbouring country or you may need to send your application directly to Immigration Service Delivery in Ireland. The address to submit your application to will appear on the Summary Sheet after completing your online application form.
You will find a list of Irish Embassies and Consulates on the Department of Foreign Affairs website.
Can my application be processed more quickly?
No fast-track procedure is available for visa applications.
In order to ensure that all visa applicants receive fair and equal treatment, we process applications in the order that they are received.
More frequently asked questions on visas is available on the Irish Immigration Service website.
L’Irlande ne faisant pas partie de la zone de voyage Schengen, un « Titre de séjour » belge ou une « Carte de résident » ne vous autorise pas automatiquement à y voyager sans visa.
Des exemptions de visa sont applicables pour un nombre des pays tiers situés en dehors de l’Europe. Consultez la liste des nationalités pour lesquelles un visa est requis en haut de cette page en cliquant sur « List of Visa Required Countries ».
Dans le cas où vous avez besoin d’un visa, vous trouverez ci-dessous un bref résumé de la procédure de demande, destiné aux demandeurs de visas francophones qui résident en Belgique.
Veuillez noter que le formulaire électronique et les listes de documents supplémentaires sont uniquement disponibles en anglais.
Vous devez:
1. Remplissez le formulaire de demande en ligne (disponible uniquement en anglais).
2. Après avoir rempli le formulaire de demande en ligne, une feuille de résumé de 3 pages vous sera présentée. Imprimez la feuille de résumé de 3 pages à la fin de la demande en ligne, puis signez-la et datez-la.
3. Assurez-vous de disposer de tous les documents justificatifs requis (voir l'onglet «Types of Visa and Supporting Documents» et sélectionnez le type de visa pour lequel vous postulez - disponible en anglais uniquement). TOUTES LES TYPES DE DEMANDES INCLUENT DES DOCUMENTS SUPPLÉMENTAIRES, pas seulement le formulaire en ligne.
4. Vérifiez que vos photos de passeport respectent les exigences en matière de photo (2 photos en format de passeport sont requises)
5. Si nécessaire, payer les frais de visa (voir l'onglet «Fees and Payment Information»)
6. Le formulaire de demande imprimé ainsi que les documents supplémentaires doivent être envoyés par poste recommandé / courrier à l'adresse suivante:
Visa Office,
Embassy of Ireland,
Rue Froissart 50
1040 Bruxelles
Veuillez noter qu'il n'est pas possible de prendre un rendez-vous pour déposer votre dossier à l'Ambassade en personne.
Le temps de traitement
Les délais de traitement des visas de court séjour sont en moyenne d’entre 4 – 8 semaines si tous les documents sont en règle. Ceci est seulement un temps de traitement indicatif.
Il n’existe pas de «procédure rapide» et il vous incombe d’introduire votre demande avec assez de temps en avance.
Plus de questions?
Si vous avez des questions sur la demande de visa irlandaise et que ces informations ne sont pas disponibles sur notre site web, veuillez nous contacter par e-mail uniquement. Nous ne pouvons pas répondre aux demandes de visa par téléphone.
Ierland maakt geen deel uit de Schengen-zone en dus een Belgische verblijfskaart of vreemdelingenkaart volstaat niet om er te reizen zonder visum.
Een aantal niet-Europese landen genieten van uitzonderingen om toch zonder visum te kunnen reizen voor een kort verblijf. Check de “List of Visa Required Countries” om na te gaan of u een visum nodig hebt. Zoja, lees hieronder een kort overzicht van de aanvraagprocedure, bestemd voor nederlandstalige visumaanvragers in België.
Neem er aub er nota van dat het online visumaanvragformulier en de lijsten met de nodige bewijsstukken enkel verkrijgbaar zijn in het Engels.
U moet:
Visa Office
Embassy of Ireland
Froissartstraat 50
1040 Brussel
Verwerkingstermijnen
De verwerking van een visum voor kort verblijf duurt gemiddeld 4-8 weken, vanaf ontvangst van een complete aanvraagsdossier. Dit is enkel een indicatief, gemiddeld verwerkingstijd.
Er bestaat géén ‘spoedprocedure’ voor visumaanvragen. Het is uw eigen verantwoordelijkheid om op tijd uw aanvraag in te dienen.
