Ireland Immigration

Various study and job opportunities, low unemployment rates, high-quality education at a comparatively lower cost, low crime rates, welcoming citizens, rich culture and history, and an abundance of natural beauty are some of the major factors behind attracting immigrants to Ireland.

Apart from work or study, many foreign nationals immigrate to Ireland for other reasons also, such as to visit or join family members, to set up a business, and so on.

EEA (includes EU countries, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein) and Swiss nationals can travel to Ireland and remain in the country for up to 90 days (or six months if looking for a job) without a visa. They are eligible to even work and study in Ireland without a permit.

As of 10 July 2024, South African nationals must obtain a visa to travel to Ireland. If you are seeking to enter the country to work, study, join family or invest in business, you will need to apply for a visa.

The type of visa you need to apply for will depend on your reason for travel as well as the length of your visit.

Page Contents

• Immigrating to Ireland from South Africa
• Short Term Irish Work Visas
• Long Term Irish Work Visas
• Study Visa
• Join Family in Ireland
• Investor Visa
• Retirement Visa
• Eligibility and Documentation Requirements for Ireland Immigration
• How to Apply for Ireland Immigration
• Processing Time
• Fees
• Registering Your Ireland Immigration Permission
• How Can IAS Help?
• Frequently Asked Questions

South African nationals immigrating to Ireland to work must have a valid employment permit or immigration permission. There are various permissions available depending on (a) the duration of your employment and (b) your employment type.

If you are coming to work in Ireland for a short term, i.e. for less than 90 days, you have the below options to choose from depending on your eligibility and requirements. All short stay visas are called ‘C’ visas, and are subject to the fulfilment of additional conditions specified by the Department of Justice.

• Atypical Working Scheme (AWS) – The AWS allows non-EEA and non-Swiss foreign nationals to work in Ireland in positions that are not covered by other employment rules. The Department of Justice and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (DETE) developed this scheme to facilitate specialised, highly-skilled employment of a short-term nature not supported by current Employment Permit legislation
• Company transfer within EEA or Switzerland – If you are already lawfully residing and working in any of the EEA countries or Switzerland, you may be allowed to work on a temporary basis in Ireland for your current employer. In such cases, you need an employment visa called a Van der Elst visa, and do not need to obtain a work permit
• Short stay business visa – You can travel to Ireland for up to 90 days for business purposes or for work that lasts up to 14 consecutive days on a short stay business visa
• Unpaid internship – If your college or university studies require you to complete an internship in Ireland, you may apply for an unpaid internship visa, which is valid for less than 90 days
• Performance or Tournament visa – You can come to Ireland for up to 90 days to stage a performance or to take part in a competitive tournament on a short stay performance or tournament visa
• Join ship visa – A join ship visa allows a non-EEA and non-Swiss foreign national to come to the country as a seafarer to join a ship that is departing from Ireland
• Training visa – To attend a training course in Ireland for work or for professional development for up to 90 days, you will need to apply for a short stay training visa
• Conference or Event visa – A short stay conference/event visa allows non-EEA and non-Swiss foreign nationals to travel to Ireland for up to 90 days to attend a conference, symposium or any other events
• Exam visa – A short stay exam visa allows non-EEA and non-Swiss foreign nationals to travel to the country for up to 90 days to sit an exam necessary for their current employment or course of study.

If South African nationals intend to come to work in Ireland for a longer term, they must have a contract of employment and must apply for the relevant work permission to the Department of Justice, the DETE, or the Department of Foreign Affairs.

Once the permission is granted, they need to apply for a long stay ‘D’ visa before travelling to Ireland.

Below are the long-term work visa options to choose from depending on your eligibility and requirements. All visas are subject to the fulfilment of additional conditions specified by the Department of Justice.

• Critical Skill – If you have any of the critical skills mentioned on the DETE’s Critical Skills Occupations List, then you or your Irish employer can apply for a critical skills employment permit. Once your permit has been granted by the DETE, you must apply for a work visa
• General Work – If you are a general worker your Irish employer can apply for an employment permit to the DETE. Once your permit has been granted, you must apply for a work visa
• Intra Company Transfer – If your employer is transferring your work temporarily to Ireland, you may be allowed to come to the country and work
• Internship – You will need to obtain an Internship employment permit issued by the DETE to do a paid internship in Ireland for more than 90 days. Once your permit has been granted, you must apply for an internship visa
• Scientific Researcher on a Hosting Agreement – An Employment (Scientific Researcher) visa allows a non-EEA and non-Swiss foreign national to travel to Ireland as a Scientific Researcher on a Hosting Agreement for a period of between three months to five years, to carry out a research project with an accredited research institution
• Atypical Working Scheme (AWS) – Work for a duration of greater than 90 days is permitted under the AWS only for non-EEA crew members in the Irish fishing fleet, doctors providing locum services in the hospital, and nurses seeking Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland registration on the basis of overseas qualification
• Visiting Academic – The Department of Justice may permit a visiting academic or researcher to work in the country for no longer than 12 months. Such individuals must be paid from outside Ireland
• Volunteer – If you intend to travel to Ireland to work in a volunteering role with an eligible organisation for up to two years (with an option to extend for a third year), you will need preclearance approval before travel
• Minister of Religion – If you intend to travel to Ireland to work as a Minister of Religion with an eligible religious body or faith community for up to three years (with a possible three-year extension), you will need preclearance approval before you travel.

If you are a South African national who wishes to come to Ireland to reside for more than three months with a family member in the country, you will need to apply for the relevant permission based on your personal circumstances. Please see the available options below.

• If your family member residing in Ireland is an Irish citizen, you can apply for a long stay (join family) visa
• If your family member residing in Ireland is a UK national, you will need to apply through a preclearance scheme
• If your family member residing in Ireland is an EU citizen, you can apply for a ‘Residence Card of a Family Member of a Union Citizen’ (also referred to as an EU Treaty Rights application)
• If your family member residing in Ireland is a non-EEA or non-Swiss national who is lawfully resident in Ireland, you can apply for a long stay (join family) visa
• Certain family members of an international protection beneficiary residing in Ireland can obtain an immigration permission under the International Protection Act 2015

South African nationals who are interested in starting their own businesses in Ireland, can take the investor visa route to immigrate to Ireland.

In 2012, the Irish Government launched two programmes – the Immigrant Investor Programme (IIP) and the Start-up Entrepreneur Programme (STEP) – to encourage high net worth investors and business professionals from outside the EEA and Switzerland to invest in the country, and in return acquire a secure residency status in Ireland.

The Irish government has closed the IIP with effect from close of business on 15 February 2023. The STEP is, however, still available for non-EEA and non-Swiss nationals (except for Russian or Belarusian citizens) if they would like to set up a business in Ireland and to work in the said business on a full-time basis.

The STEP permit holders are not permitted to be employed in any other capacity, and they must not become a financial burden on the Irish State. Once the permission is granted, the applicant must apply for a ‘D’ visa.

Financially independent, high net worth individuals may be able to retire to Ireland provided they meet all specified conditions. Such individuals will not be entitled to any government benefits otherwise provided to Irish citizens and permanent residents.

To retire in Ireland, you should have an individual income of €50,000 per year, and access to a considerable sum of money to cover any sudden major expenses. This amount should be equal to the price of a residential house in Ireland.

Such proof of funds must be certified by an Irish accountancy firm having required expertise to understand the format of overseas banking/accountancy documentation.

The eligibility criteria for immigrating to Ireland will depend on your reason to travel to the country, and your chosen visa option thereof. Similarly, the requirement for supporting documents will vary based on your chosen immigration route.

We’ve provided below a list of documents that are generally required for Irish immigration. However, please note that the immigration officer may ask for other relevant documents depending on your specific immigration circumstances.

• Application summary form (from AVATS online application facility) and declaration, which you must print, sign and date
• Application Letter (signed and dated) with your full contact details, visa application number, all details of your family members in Ireland/in the UK/in any EEA member state, the reason for your proposed trip to Ireland, and a commitment from you that you will obey the conditions of your visa in full, not rely on public services while in Ireland and leave the country before your immigration permission expires
• Proof of fee payment/fee exemption
• A current and valid passport with an expiry date that is at least six months after the intended date of the applicant’s departure from Ireland
• Previous passports, if any
• Previous visas, if any, including rejected visas
• Proof that the applicant intends to leave Ireland at the end of their valid visa or to make arrangements to apply for a new visa before the expiration of their current document
• Proof of sufficient funds/ financial stability to support self and any dependent family members (e.g. spouse, children)
• Biometrics (where required)
• Two standard size passport photographs in Irish immigration authorities’ prescribed format
• Other information that supports your reason for travel, such as work permits, acceptance letters, marriage certificate, etc.
• Proof of travel/medical insurance
• Travel itinerary
• Proof of accommodation

Once you have confirmed your eligibility for your chosen immigration route, please start the visa application with filling up the online form. Please ensure you have all your supporting documentation ready for submission prior to giving your details online.

To apply for an Irish visa, you need to:

• Complete the online application form online
• Generate the application summary form and declaration at the end of the online application. You need to print, sign and date this application summary form and declaration
• Arrange your supporting documentation
• Submit your application, passport and supporting documents for processing to the Irish embassy in Pretoria
• Check the website of the Embassy of Ireland, South Africa for further information on how to submit your application for processing

Irish visa processing time may vary from country to country. It may also vary depending on the type of visa you are applying for.

The embassy will contact you once a decision regarding your visa application has been made. If you have applied directly to an Irish Immigration Service visa office, or if your application has been referred to the Irish Immigration Service for a decision, you can check the Irish Immigration Service Visa Decision Weekly Listing using your case reference number.

If the embassy or the Irish Immigration Service gets back to you requesting more details or additional/missing documents, please reply as soon as you can to avoid further delay in your visa processing or a possible rejection.

Visa fees and costs will vary depending on your chosen immigration route. If you’ve chosen the STEP route, it will cost you a different fee, for example.

You may have to pay the following types of fees to immigrate to Ireland:

• Non-refundable visa processing fee (€60 for single entry, €100 for multi-entry, and €25 for transit)
• €300 Residence permit fee
• Fee for biometric information
• Fees for certified translated copies made of original required documents

If you are travelling to Ireland on a ‘D’ visa, you need to apply for an immigration permission, and then register it, once it is granted, within 90 days to apply for your Irish Residence Permit (IRP) card.

Registration is the process for the Irish immigration authorities to record how you have been given permission to stay in Ireland. Once you have successfully registered, you will receive your IRP card by post which will contain the information on the type of permission you have received.