Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service Exam Visa

2/26/15, 8:00 PM

Exam Visa
1. When you can apply
You can apply for an exam visa if you wish to undertake an exam appropriate to your current employment/or course of study.
You can apply for an exam visa up to 3 months before your date of travel to Ireland.
If you are visiting another state prior to travelling to Ireland, you must have the relevant visa for that state in your passport before applying for an Irish visa.

2. How to apply
You must apply online for a visa.
When you have completed the online application process, you must follow the instructions on the summary application form that is created by the online system.
The summary form will contain information on where you are to submit your supporting documentation. The summary form which you must print, sign and date
must be submitted with your supporting documentation.
You may be required to provide your Biometric Information as part of the application process.

A guide to supporting documentation is set out below.

If you submit any false or misleading information, or false supporting documentation as part of your application, it may result in the refusal of your application
without the right of appeal. It may also result in you being prevented from making further Irish visa applications for a period of 5 years.

3. Fees
Please refer to the table of visa fees for information on the fee that you are required to pay.
Some applicants are exempt from the requirement to pay the visa fee. Read more here.
You may be required to pay additional charges e.g. relating to the submission of your documents.
You may be able to pay the fee in local currency.
The website of the Visa Office/Embassy/ Consulate will have details about additional charges and local payment options.

4. How long it will take

Applications are processed in date order.
You are advised not to purchase travel tickets before you know the outcome of your visa application.
Processing times can vary between countries. They can also vary during high volume periods during the year. However, you can generally expect a decision within
8 weeks from the date on which your application is lodged at the Visa Office/Embassy/Consulate.
Your application may take longer if e.g. you have not submitted the necessary supporting documentation, your supporting documentation needs to be verified or
because of your personal circumstances (e.g. if you have a criminal conviction).
You can check the processing times for the Visa Office/Embassy/Consulate that is handling your application on their website.
If your application is being processed by the Visa Office, Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service, Department of Justice and Equality, 13-14 Burgh Quay, ,
Dublin you can check the date of the applications currently being processed on our Following your Application page.

5. Activities not permitted with this Visa

You are not permitted to:
take up any form of employment, paid or otherwise inclusive of observerships,
access any public funds

6. Supporting documentation
The documents below are important because they provide information about your personal circumstances in the country from which you are applying.
The onus is on you to satisfy the Visa Officer that a visa should be granted for the purpose sought.
The submission of any or all of these documents does not guarantee that your application will be successful.
Original documents must be provided.

http://www.inis.gov.ie/en/INIS/Pages/Exam%20Visa

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If you submit a document that is not in English, it must be accompanied by a full translation. Each translated document must contain:
confirmation from the translator that it is an accurate translation of the original document,
the date of the translation,
the translators full name and signature, and
the translators contact details.

All letters submitted from a business, company or other organisation should be on official headed paper and give full contact details so that they can be verified.
These must include a full postal address, name of contact, position in the organisation, telephone number (landline), website, and email address (email addresses
such as Yahoo or Hotmail are not accepted.
The Visa Officer considers each application on its merits and may request additional information or documentation.

GUIDE TO SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION

Your signed and dated summary application form and the appropriate fee (where applicable) must be accompanied by the supporting documentation set out
below.
If you do not submit the required documentation your application may be refused on the basis of insufficient documentation.

Two colour passport sized photographs not more than 6 months old
Your name and visa application reference number must be printed clearly on the back. More information on photograph requirements here.

Your current passport and a full copy of any previous passports

Your current passport must be valid for at least 6 months after your intended date of departure from Ireland.
If you are not a national of the country where you are applying from, you must submit evidence of your permission to be in that country e.g. a residence card.
You must also have at least 3 months permission to be in that country after your intended date of departure from Ireland.

A signed letter of application including your full contact details

outlining your reason for wanting to come to Ireland,
stating how long you intend to stay,
giving details of any members of your family who are currently in Ireland, or any other EU Member State,
providing details of where you intend to stay while you are in Ireland,
stating that the cost of trip is being borne by yourself, or where that is not the case, details of the third party funding the costs of your trip, and
undertaking that you will observe the conditions of your visa, that you will not become a burden on the State, and that you will leave the State on the expiry
of your permission to remain.

Accommodation details
Details of your accommodation and travel details, for example:
hotel/guesthouse/hostel booking confirmation (may be by email), or if staying with a host, a supporting letter from the occupant confirming the
accommodation details and that you are able to stay with them,
travel booking confirmation (may be by e-mail),
travel agent confirmation (may be by e-mail).

http://www.inis.gov.ie/en/INIS/Pages/Exam%20Visa

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Finances
You must provide an up-to-date bank statement, showing what money has been paid into and out of the account over the last six months. You must submit
this whether or not you are covering the costs of the visit yourself.
Bank statements must be on headed paper - internet printouts will not be accepted.
Your name, address, account number and account type must be visible on the statement. Any large lodgements must be explained.
If you are sending a bank statement from a deposit/savings account, you must also include a letter from your bank confirming that you are allowed to
withdraw money from that account.
If a third party is covering your costs, you must show how you are linked/known to this person.
There is no set amount of funds that will result in the approval or refusal of an application. The Visa Officer will decide whether your have enough funds
based on your individual circumstances.

Evidence of Examination
Letter of Acceptance of Registration for exam confirming the nature and dates of examination.
Evidence that the requisite fees have been paid - official receipt from college or electronic bank transfer required.
Evidence to support the necessity to undertake the exam in Ireland.

Evidence of your obligations to return to your country of permanent residence.

As you are applying for a short stay visa for Ireland (which permits visits of less than 90 days), it is important that you provide evidence that you have strong
family, social or economic ties to your country of residence. This is necessary in order to satisfy the Visa Officer that you will leave Ireland on, or before, your
intended date of departure from Ireland.
It is your responsibility to provide this evidence. All of the information that you provide must be in the form of documentary evidence which can be verified by
the Visa Officer.

Suggestions on how to show evidence your obligations to return

If you are employed, you must provide your 3 most recent payslips and a letter from your employer including:
how long you have been employed there,
the dates you will be absent from your employment,
the date you will be returning to work in that employment.

If you are a student, you must provide a letter from your college stating:
the course you are studying,
how many years you have been a student there,
how many years/terms you have left at that college, and that you will be returning there following your visit to Ireland.

Details of any family members living in your country of residence - if you are married or have children under age eighteen, and your spouse or children are
remaining at home, you should submit your marriage certificate and birth certificates for the children.

Evidence of any property you own/rent e.g. Title deed/tenancy agreement.

All letters submitted should be on official company headed paper and give full contact details so that they can be verified. These must include a full postal
address, name of contact, position in company/college, telephone number (landline), website, and email address (email addresses such as Yahoo or Hotmail
are not accepted).

Medical/Travel Insurance
Evidence of medical/travel insurance does not need to be provided with your application. However, the Visa Officer may request it before they make a decision

http://www.inis.gov.ie/en/INIS/Pages/Exam%20Visa

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on your application.
If your visa is approved, you must have evidence of medical/travel insurance when you arrive at the port of entry (airport/seaport) and must present it to the
Immigration Officer on request.

Previous Visa Refusals

If you have been refused a visa in the past for any country, you must provide the details.
The original letter issued to you by the authorities of that country must be provided with your application.
Not disclosing any previous visa refusals will result in your application being refused.

7. Return of Documents
All documents accompanying your application must be originals.
You should keep copies of all the documents that you provide.
Original documents such as marriage/birth/death certificates will be returned to you. However, other documents such as bank statements or letters of invitation
will not be returned.
If there are particular documents that you wish to have returned, please provide a list of these documents with the application.

APPLY NOW

http://www.inis.gov.ie/en/INIS/Pages/Exam%20Visa

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