Visa FAQs for Belgian residents

The need for an Irish visa is based on your nationality.

Please see a list of visa required / non-visa required nationalities.

More information on what to expect on arrival in Ireland, whether or not you need a visa, can be found on the Immigration Service Delivery website.

Ireland is not part of the Schengen Area and a Belgian residence card (titre de sejour/ verblijfstitel / aufenthaltstitel) or Schengen visa does not entitle you to travel to Ireland without a visa.

Yes. Holders of the Belgian 1951 Convention Travel Document (see example) require a visa to enter Ireland.

The Embassy of Ireland in Brussels only accepts visa applications from those legally resident in Belgium.

A list of Irish Embassies and Consulates abroad is available in the Embassy Index.

The Short Stay Visa Waiver Programme allows certain nationals, who have entered the United Kingdom 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 waiver programme and eligible nationalities are available from Immigration Service Delivery (ISD). Please note the Embassy cannot validate your UK visa for you.

If your nationality is not listed on the ISD website, you cannot use the waiver programme.

No. If you wish to travel to Northern Ireland, you will require a UK visa. Information on the requirements to travel to Northern Ireland are available from UK authorities.

Northern Ireland consists of counties Antrim (including Belfast), Armagh, Derry, Down, Fermanagh and Tyrone.

How do I apply for an Irish visa?

To apply for a visa for Ireland, please follow these steps:

1. Complete your 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 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) and the postage fee.
6. Send your application and supporting documents by registered post (post recommandé / aangetekende zending) or courier to:

Embassy of Ireland,
Visa Office,
Rue Froissart - Froissartstraat 50,
1040 Brussels.

How do I pay for my visa?

The Embassy in Brussels accepts payment for visa applications by bank transfer only.

The fee must be paid to the following account:

Account Name: AMBASSADE D'IRLANDE
IBAN: BE34 0017 5539 8690
BIC: GEBABEBB

Please include your name and your visa application number (available on the Summary Sheet) in the details / communication section of the online payment.

Please also include printed proof of payment when posting your documents to the Embassy.

The visa fee and postage fee can be made as a single payment.

Information on the visa fee and postage fee is available on our Visas for Ireland page.

Please do not send cash in the post.

Some applicants do not need to pay the visa processing fee. Please see the Immigration Service Delivery website for further information. Applicants who are exempt from paying the visa processing fee are required to pay the postage fee.

What are the supporting documents I must submit with my visa application?

Information on the different types of visas and required documentation can be found on the website of Immigration Service Delivery.

For ease of reference, separate links for some of the most common Short Stay C Visas (less than 90 days) are set out below:

• Tourist visa (Assistance Document: English | en français)
• Visit Family or Friend Visa (Assistance Document: English | en français)
• Business visa (Assistance Document: English | en français)
• Conference or event visa (Assistance Document: English | en français)
• EU Spouse visa

Find out more about the different types of Long Stay D Visas (more than 90 days) on the Immigration Service Delivery website.

• Employment visa
• Employment/Researcher
• Long Stay Study

If you need to keep your passport for travel while your application is being processed, please provide a copy of all the pages of your passport (including blank pages) and an explanation in your Application Letter.

The Visa Office needs to see your original passport before making a final decision on your application. We will contact you via email requesting you submit the original, when required.

How long will my visa application take?

The current estimated processing time for applications processed in Brussels is 6-8 weeks from receipt of a correctly completed online application with all the required supporting documents.

You can apply for an Irish visa up to 3 months before your intended travel date.

Certain categories of visa are forwarded to Dublin for processing. The processing of these applications may take longer. Information on processing times for applications sent to the Dublin Office is available here.

Is there an express visa service? Can I pay an additional fee for my application to be processed faster?

There is no express visa service.

It is not possible to pay an additional fee to have your application processed faster.

In order to ensure that all visa applicants receive fair and equal treatment, we process applications in the order that they are received.

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.

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.

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.

If you are a non-EU/EEA school student resident in Belgium and wish to travel to Ireland as part of a group school excursion, you may be exempt from the requirement to be in possession of a visa, arising from the implementation of a European Council decision.

This exemption applies to primary and secondary / high school students. It does not apply to university students.

Your school principal/director must complete and stamp the List of Travellers Form and the trip must then be authorised by Belgian Immigration. This authorisation can then be presented to the Irish Immigration Officer on arrival in Ireland.

Information on submitting the List of Travellers Form is available from Belgian Immigration. Any queries should be directed to Belgian Immigration.

Please note these forms should not be sent to the Embassy of Ireland, which has no role in authorising such trips.

Can I apply for a multiple entry visa?

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 on the Immigration Service Delivery website.

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.

Can I deliver my application in person?

Visa applications must be submitted by registered post (post recommandé / aangetekende zending) or private courier. We recommend that you keep your postal tracking number and use this to confirm receipt of documentation. The B Post Tracker can be used to track packages sent by registered post.

The Embassy does not provide delivery confirmations.

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 and ensure it is properly sealed).

Applications cannot be submitted via email.

My visa application was refused. How do I appeal this decision?

Information on appealing a negative decision is available from Immigration Service Delivery. Do not include your passport with your appeal unless instructed to do so in the letter of refusal.

Appeals are not processed at the Embassy in Brussels and must be sent directly to Dublin by post. It is not possible to lodge an appeal via email.

Other Questions?

If your question is not covered above, in the visa section or on the Immigration Service Delivery website, please email us at brusselsvisa@dfa.ie

We endeavour to reply to emails within three working days.