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Please be advised that the Embassy of Ireland, United Arab Emirates website has moved and this page is no longer being updated. The Embassy website is now available at Ireland.ie/abudhabi.

Visa Information

Visa applications are only accepted by this office from visa required persons resident in the below countries. Persons on temporary visas are not permitted to submit an application and should submit an application in their country of residence.

Information in relation to applying for, submitting, and the processing of visa applications is available through a number of resources:

Contacting The Visa Office

This Visa Office does not operate a phoneline. Queries can be submitted to abudhabivisastaff@dfa.ie, or through the online visa query form, Visa Queries - Department of Foreign Affairs (dfa.ie).

The links provided should be used before submitting a query. The answer to most queries received by this Visa Office is generally available through these links. We do not respond to queries that are answered by the provided links/online content. We do not respond to queries seeking a status update.

Important Notes

  • This office is not in a position to expedite visa applications or respond to status update queries due to the volume of applications on hand. To ensure fairness to all applicants applications are dealt with in strict chronological order. Once a decision on your application has been made it will be communicated to you by the Visa Office, VFS, Honorary Consulate or Embassy depending on where you submitted your application.
  • We do not communicate with third parties, only with applicants and certain representatives where a signed letter of authority has been submitted with the query. This applies to all applications. 
  • The Visa Office does not have a public office, attendance at the Visa Office is strictly by appointment only. If you attend the Visa Office seeking to speak to the Visa team without an appointment this will not be facilitated. The arrangement of appointments is not standard practice and will only be considered in exceptional circumstances.

Countries for which we process visa applications: United Arab Emirates, Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Sudan, Syria and Tunisia. The Visa Office also processes certain categories of visa application submitted to the Irish Embassies in Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia.

Visa applications from Qatar are currently being processed by the Visa Office in Ankara, Türkiye. There are certain restrictions on consideration of Irish visa applications from Libyan nationals - See further information

Embassy Visa Office Opening Hours: Our working week is Monday – Friday. Please note Abu Dhabi is +4 hours GMT from November to March and +3 hours GMT the rest of the year.

Visa Fee Payment: Fees should be paid to the Embassy bank account only for courier applications (Afghanistan, Algeria, Libya). See the 'Payment details' section for further information regarding how you should pay your fees, depending on where you are applying from.

Current single entry visa fee: 240 AED

Current multiple entry visa fee: 400 AED

Current transit visa fee: 100 AED

Complete the online visa application form. You will then need to print and sign the summary sheet.

Next:

At the end of the online application, we will tell you where to submit your application along with the following documents;

  • Visa application form
  • Supporting documentation
  • Current passport (validity of passport at least 6 months after the date of departure from Ireland or 12 months if applying for a stay long stay visa). Previous passports (copies of previous passports if originals unavailable)
  • 2 x photographs (ensure they meet the specified requirements)
  • Fee

The completed visa application should be then be submitted to the relevant visa processing office. Keep your 8 digit AVATS visa reference number (located on the first page of the summary sheet).

All documents must be:

  • original
  • legible
  • verifiable
  • in English or Irish, or translated with a certified translation
  • not in envelopes or folders

You must also submit photocopies of all documents including every page of your passport. Ensure you separate original documents from photocopied documents. Application decisions and original documentation will be returned to you.

We can refuse applications if:

  • your documents are not complete
  • your documents are not translated into English or accompanied by a notarised translation
  • we cannot verify the information you supplied

Visit Immigration Service Delivery for information on types of visas available and documentation you are required to submit in support of a visa application.

Check if you are exempt from visa fees

  • You can pay fees in your local currency at the relevant AED exchange rates.
  • Visa fees are non-refundable.

Applications via VFS from UAE and Kuwait

Applicants applying through VFS will be required to pay the applicable visa fee and VFS service charge to VFS. All visa applications handled by VFS will be subject to the VFS service fee. Details are available on the VFS UAE and Kuwait websites.

Applications via an Honorary Consulate

Pay the visa fee in your local currency at the relevant AED exchange rates directly to the Consulate. See contact details for Honorary Consulates.

Applications via courier

Applicants applying by courier in Afghanistan, Algeria and Libya must lodge the relevant visa fee to the Embassy of Ireland, Abu Dhabi, UAE bank account. We do not accept cash, cheques, postal orders, or bank drafts at the Visa Office. The office is not in a position to return cash, drafts, cheques or postal orders to applicants who have sent these to the Visa Office.

Bank account

Name of holder: Embassy of Ireland, Abu Dhabi, UAE.
Account number: 1411003342999027
Bank: First Abu Dhabi Bank PJSC , H.O. Sheikh Kalifa Street, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Swiftcode: NBADAEAAXXX
IBAN No: AE620351411 0033 42999027

The appropriate fee should be paid in AED by bank transfer. Additional bank charges may apply, both in your location and the UAE, which are exclusive of the application fee. In our experience UAE bank charges vary but can be up to 40 AED per transaction. It is your responsibility to ensure that the correct fee is transferred in full. Receipt of payment is required which clearly demonstrates full payment in AED. Any short-fall in payment as a result of the deduction of bank charges will result in your application not being processed with no refund of fees paid. Over-payments of the visa fee will not be refunded.

Applications received without a receipt of payment will be delayed until the Visa Office has evidence of your visa fee payment to the Embassy bank account. When submitting your application you must enclose a confirmation of payment. When making the payment to the bank you should also indicate your name and your 8 digit AVATS reference number on the lodgment slip. This is to ensure we are easily able to track your application to the fees lodged to the Embassy bank account.

I understand that any false or misleading information, or false supporting documentation may result in the refusal of my application and I may be prevented from making further visa applications for a period of up to 5 years. An appeal, against the decision to refuse to grant the visa sought, may not be permitted.

The Embassy applies a zero tolerance policy with respect to fraudulent applications. An application containing a deception such as a forged document, a document containing false information or information withheld from an application (such as a previous visa refusal) may result in your application being refused without the prospect of appeal. If the application was submitted as part of a group, all applications in that group maybe refused without appeal. Where applications are rejected on the grounds of a deception, a 5-year ban may also be applied.

If your visa application is refused, you will receive a letter from the visa office telling you why it has been refused and whether or not you can appeal the decision. There is no fee for an appeal.

Your appeal must arrive with us within 2 months of the date on the letter of refusal. If your appeal is late, the original visa decision cannot be changed. However, you may submit and pay for a new visa application if you wish.

In some circumstances, you cannot appeal a visa decision and may be blocked from applying for a visa for up to 5 years. This may happen if you submitted false or misleading information with your original application. The letter of refusal will state if this applies to you.

Appeals must be sent by courier to the Abu Dhabi Visa Office and not to the Consulate or Embassy in your country. It should be marked for the attention of the Visa Appeals Officer. The onus is on you to arrange delivery and collection of the appeal and accompanying documents.

Appeals are not accepted by email.

You will be contacted when a decision is made. Further information can be found here – Appealing a negative decision.

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

Find your nearest visa office

Once you have completed the online process, prepared the appropriate documentation and paid the visa processing fee, your visa application can be submitted.

United Arab Emirates

You must submit your application to the Visa Facilitation Services Global (VFS) Office VFS Abu Dhabi or Dubai. VFS will send your application to the Embassy of Ireland Abu Dhabi for processing.

Afghanistan

There is no Irish Visa Facilitation Services Global (VFS) office in Afghanistan. You must send your application by courier to the Embassy of Ireland Abu Dhabi. If you are granted a visa you will contacted by this Visa Office to make arrangements for the provision of the visa to you. 

Algeria

There is no Irish Visa Facilitation Services Global (VFS) office in Algeria. You must send your application by courier to the Embassy of Ireland Abu Dhabi. If you are granted a visa you will contacted by this Visa Office to make arrangements for the provision of the visa to you. 

Bahrain

There is no Irish Visa Facilitation Services Global (VFS) office in Bahrain. You must submit your application to the Honorary Consulate of Ireland in Bahrain. The Honorary Consul will send your application to the Embassy of Ireland Abu Dhabi for processing.

Kuwait

You must submit your application to Visa Facilitation Services Global (VFS) Office VFS Kuwait. VFS will send your application to the Embassy of Ireland Abu Dhabi for processing.

Lebanon

There is no Irish Visa Facilitation Services Global (VFS) office in Lebanon. You must submit your application to the Honorary Consulate of Ireland in Lebanon. The Honorary Consul will send your application to the Embassy of Ireland Abu Dhabi for processing.

Libya

There is no Irish Visa Facilitation Services Global (VFS) office in Libya. You must send your application by courier to the Embassy of Ireland Abu Dhabi. If you are granted a visa you will contacted by this Visa Office to make arrangements for the provision of the visa to you. 

Morocco

There is no Irish Visa Facilitation Services Global (VFS) office in Morocco. You must send your application to the Honorary Consulate of Ireland in Morocco. The Honorary Consul will send your application to the Embassy of Ireland Abu Dhabi for processing.

Oman

There is no Irish Visa Facilitation Services Global (VFS) office in Oman. You must submit your application to the Honorary Consulate of Ireland in Oman. The Honorary Consul will send your application to the Embassy of Ireland Abu Dhabi for processing.

Sudan

There is no Irish Visa Facilitation Services Global (VFS) office in Sudan. You must submit your application to the Honorary Consulate of Ireland in Sudan. The Honorary Consul will send your application to the Embassy of Ireland Abu Dhabi for processing.

Syria

There is no Irish Visa Facilitation Services Global (VFS) office in Syria. You must submit your application to the Honorary Consulate of Ireland in Syria. The Honorary Consul will send your application to the Embassy of Ireland Abu Dhabi for processing.

Tunisia

There is no Irish Visa Facilitation Services Global (VFS) office in Tunisia. You must submit your application to the Honorary Consulate of Ireland in Tunisia. The Honorary Consul will send your application to the Embassy of Ireland Abu Dhabi for processing.