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Quick answer

Yes, Indian passport holders need an Irish short-stay 'C' visit visa, which allows a stay of up to 90 days. The fee is EUR 60 single-entry or EUR 100 multiple-entry (charged in India as INR 5,300 or INR 9,000), plus the VFS service fee. Apply online on AVATS, then give biometrics at a VFS centre such as Cochin; visit visas usually take 6–8 weeks. Indians living in India who hold a UK visitor visa endorsed 'BIVS' can visit Ireland without a separate Irish visa.

Ireland visa for Indians at a glance

Visa needed for tourism?Yes — Irish short-stay 'C' visit visa (unless travelling under BIVS)1
Maximum stayUp to 90 days, or the date set by Irish border control if sooner1
Visa feeEUR 60 single entry / EUR 100 multiple entry2
Fee in IndiaINR 5,300 single entry / INR 9,000 multiple entry1
VFS service fee (Cochin)INR 3,5183
Processing timeVisit visas: usually 6–8 weeks (not guaranteed)4
When to applyUp to 3 months (90 days) before travel4
BiometricsRequired at VFS for India residents aged 5 or over1

Visa options for Indian passport holders

Short-stay 'C' visit visa (tourism / visiting family or friends)21453

Who can use it
Indian passport holders living in India
Stay
Up to 90 days, or until the date permitted by border control, whichever is sooner
Validity
The From–Until dates printed on the visa
Entries
Single or multiple, as printed on the visa
Fee
EUR 60 single entry / EUR 100 multiple entry (INR 5,300 / INR 9,000 in India), paid to VFS when booking. VFS service fee is extra (INR 3,518 at Cochin). Fees are not refunded if refused.
Processing time
Visit: usually 6–8 weeks, counted in working days from receipt at the Embassy in New Delhi. VFS transit time is extra.
Where to apply
AVATS online form (https://www.visas.inis.gov.ie/AVATS/OnlineHome.aspx), then an appointment at a VFS Global Ireland Visa Application Centre in India
Good to know
Decided by the Embassy of Ireland, New Delhi. Your passport stays with the Embassy until a decision. Ireland does not issue e-visas.

British Irish Visa Scheme (BIVS) — using a UK visitor visa61

Who can use it
Indian nationals living in India at the time of applying, whose UK standard visitor visa is endorsed 'BIVS'
Stay
Up to 90 days in Ireland, or until the end of the UK permission, whichever is shorter
Validity
Within the UK permission period
Entries
A single-entry BIVS visa means one entry to the Common Travel Area; you may move between the UK and Ireland on that trip
Fee
No separate Irish visa fee
Processing time
Not applicable (endorsement decided by the visa officer when the UK visa is issued)
Where to apply
Endorsement is decided by the issuing visa officer; there is no appeal if not endorsed
Good to know
You must enter the UK first (the country that issued the visa). The scheme is not open to Indians who live in the UK. It works the other way too: an Irish BIVS visa lets you visit the UK after entering Ireland first. An Irish immigration officer decides your stay.

Short Stay Visa Waiver Programme (SSVWP)71

Who can use it
Indian nationals who entered the UK on a valid UK short-stay visa
Stay
Up to 90 days, or the time left on the UK permission, whichever is less
Validity
Within the UK permission period
Fee
No Irish visa fee
Processing time
Not applicable
Where to apply
No application — you must first land in the UK and be granted leave
Good to know
Not available with a UK ETA or for UK residents.

Documents to prepare

  • Signed AVATS application form.51
  • Passport with 2 empty visa pages, valid at least 6 months after you plan to leave Ireland, plus copies of all previous passports.5
  • Recent photo on a white background, not older than 3 months.5
  • Bank statements for the last 6 months, and an employment letter and salary certificate dated within 4 weeks of applying.5
  • Tourism: hotel booking, travel itinerary, application letter and proof of ties to return home. Visiting family: invitation letter and the host's passport and IRP card copy.5
  • Flight bookings are not required. Travel and medical insurance is only required if the visa is approved.58
  • All documents must be original, in English (or officially translated) and verifiable. Declare all previous visa refusals for any country.85
  • Under-18s: child's passport and birth certificate, both parents' passport copies, and consent letters if not travelling with both parents.5

Before you fly and on arrival

  • An Irish immigration officer decides how long you may stay and stamps it in your passport. A visa does not guarantee entry.61
  • Carry the physical passport that contains the visa. A copy is not accepted. A visa in an old passport stays valid if you travel with both passports.1

Applying from Kerala

  • Kerala residents can give biometrics at the VFS Global Ireland Visa Application Centre, First Floor, Coastal Chambers, MG Road, Ravipuram, Cochin 682015 (Monday–Friday, 08:00–15:00). VFS also lists a premium centre in Calicut.39
  • India residents must attend VFS in person for biometrics. A visa obtained through an agent without visiting VFS is a forgery.1
  • Applications lodged outside Delhi reach the Embassy in New Delhi in two working days. Decisions are published daily around 11:00 IST on the Embassy website.4

Extending your stay

  • C visa holders must leave Ireland after 90 days or by the date permitted by border control. Staying more than 90 days in 180 days may be treated as residing, and entry can be refused.1

What changed recently

  • 1 June 2026: Appeals against refusal of a short-stay visa are no longer possible (except EU Free Movement cases). Refused applicants must submit a new application.4
  • 26 March 2026: Embassy of Ireland New Delhi issued an updated VFS document checklist.5

How Albah Holidays can help

  • We handle Ireland visa applications from our office in Kozhikode — we check your case, give you the exact document checklist, fill in the application and book any appointment.
  • Where fingerprints or an interview are needed, you attend in person — we prepare you for it and follow up until the decision.
  • Flights from Calicut, Kannur or Kochi, hotels and travel insurance — booked together with us.
  • Send your passport copy and travel dates on WhatsApp, or visit our office in Eranhipalam, Kozhikode.
  • Flights to Ireland from Calicut, Kannur or Kochi, booked with your visa so the dates line up and the name on the ticket matches the passport.

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Frequently asked questions

Do Indians need a visa for Ireland?

Yes. You need an Irish short-stay 'C' visit visa, unless you hold a UK visitor visa endorsed 'BIVS' or qualify under the Short Stay Visa Waiver Programme.16

How much is the Ireland visit visa fee from India?

INR 5,300 for single entry or INR 9,000 for multiple entry (EUR 60 / EUR 100), plus the VFS service fee.21

Can I use my UK visa to visit Ireland?

Yes, if you live in India and your UK visitor visa is endorsed 'BIVS'. You must enter the UK first. You can stay up to 90 days or until your UK permission ends, whichever is shorter.6

How long does an Irish visit visa take?

Usually 6–8 weeks from when the Embassy receives it. It is not guaranteed, so apply up to 90 days before travel.4

Where do I apply in Kerala?

Complete the AVATS form online, then book biometrics at the VFS Ireland centre in Cochin.13

Can I appeal if my visit visa is refused?

No. Since 1 June 2026, short-stay visa refusals cannot be appealed. You can submit a new application.4

Official sources

  1. Visas For Ireland — Embassy of Ireland, India (ireland.ie). Page updated 2025-07-01; checked 24 September 2026.
  2. Preclearance and entry visas fees — Immigration Service Delivery, Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration (Ireland). Page updated 2025-02-25; checked 24 September 2026.
  3. Cochin – Ireland Visa Application Centre — VFS Global (service provider linked from the Embassy of Ireland, India). checked 24 September 2026.
  4. Visa Information, times and decisions — Embassy of Ireland, India (ireland.ie). Page updated 2026-09-23; checked 24 September 2026.
  5. Ireland Visa Document Checklist (NDVO VAC Checklist, version 26.03.2026) — Embassy of Ireland, New Delhi. Page updated 2026-03-26; checked 24 September 2026.
  6. British Irish Visa Scheme — Immigration Service Delivery, Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration (Ireland). Page updated 2024-06-27; checked 24 September 2026.
  7. Short stay visa waiver programme — Immigration Service Delivery, Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration (Ireland). Page updated 2025-05-09; checked 24 September 2026.
  8. Visa Types and Documentation — Embassy of Ireland, India (ireland.ie). Page updated 2026-04-17; checked 24 September 2026.
  9. Attend a centre – Ireland visa, India — VFS Global (service provider linked from the Embassy of Ireland, India). checked 24 September 2026.

Rules, fees and processing times can change without notice. Every fact on this page was checked against the official sources above on 24 September 2026. Confirm before you travel — we recheck the current rules for every application we handle.

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