🇮🇪Ireland Visa for Saint Kitts and Nevis Citizens2026 Requirements, Fees & Documents

Short Stay 'C' Performance/Tournament Visa

For visa-required nationals coming to Ireland to participate in a sporting event, musical performance, or similar tournament for less than 90 days.

Covers sportspeople and performers visiting for a specific event. Evidence of the event or tournament invitation required.

Short Stay 'C' Join Ship Visa

For visa-required non-EEA seafarers joining a ship docked in an Irish port for less than 90 days.

Applicant must have evidence of employment on the vessel and the vessel's docking details.

Short Stay 'C' Exam Visa

For visa-required nationals coming to Ireland solely to sit a specific professional or academic examination.

Applicant must provide confirmation of examination registration, date, and location in Ireland.

Short Stay 'C' Medical Treatment Visa

For visa-required nationals seeking medical treatment at an Irish hospital or medical facility for a period of up to 90 days.

Must provide a letter from an Irish medical professional confirming treatment, estimated duration, and costs. Proof of sufficient funds to cover treatment and repatriation required.

Short Stay 'C' Marriage Visa

For visa-required nationals coming to Ireland to marry or enter a civil partnership, for a stay of up to 90 days.

Applicant must provide evidence of the planned marriage/civil partnership in Ireland including civil notification to the Registrar. Note: UK BIVS visa does NOT cover visitor in transit or visitor for marriage/civil partnership.

Short Stay 'C' Study Visa

For visa-required nationals enrolling in a short course of study in Ireland lasting less than 90 days.

For short courses only (under 90 days). Applicants must provide a letter of acceptance from a recognised Irish educational institution.

Long Stay 'D' Study Visa

For visa-required nationals intending to study full-time at a recognised Irish educational institution for more than 90 days.

• Long-stay D visa fee is approximately €100 (~$108 USD).
• The D visa is a national long-stay visa valid for the duration of studies.
• After arrival, student must register with Immigration Service Delivery to obtain an Irish Residence Permit (Stamp 2).
• Must be enrolled in an approved full-time course.
• English language requirements and financial sufficiency proofs required.

Long Stay 'D' Employment Visa

For visa-required nationals who have been granted an Irish employment permit and need entry authorisation to take up employment in Ireland.

• Applicant must first obtain an employment permit from the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (enterprise.gov.ie).
• The D employment visa is required only by visa-required nationals; non-visa-required nationals with an employment permit can enter directly.
• After entry, holder must register for an Irish Residence Permit (IRP).

Long Stay 'D' Join Family Visa

For visa-required nationals seeking to join a family member who is an Irish citizen or has long-term immigration permission in Ireland.

• Covers joining an Irish national or a non-EEA national with long-term permission.
• Applicant must demonstrate genuine family relationship.
• Processing can take several months.
• After arrival must register for an IRP (Stamp 3 or Stamp 4 depending on circumstances).
• Joining EU/EEA/Swiss nationals is handled under EU Treaty Rights pathway.

Critical Skills Employment Permit

For highly skilled non-EEA workers in occupations on the Critical Skills Occupations List or earning above €68,911 annually, allowing them to work in Ireland for up to 2 years initially.

• Fee is €1,000 (~$1,080 USD); 90% refunded if unsuccessful.
• Minimum annual salary €40,904 (or €36,848 for recent graduates), or any occupation at €68,911+.
• Job offer must be for minimum 2 years.
• After permit expires, holder may apply directly for Stamp 4 (permission to work without permit).
• Pathway to citizenship after 5 years residence.
• Governed by Employment Permits Act 2024.

General Employment Permit

For non-EEA workers in occupations not on the excluded list, subject to a Labour Market Needs Test showing no suitable EEA workers were available.

• Fee: €500 for ≤6 months, €1,000 for 6–24 months; renewal €750/€1,500.
• 90% refund if unsuccessful.
• Minimum salary €36,605/year (lower for healthcare roles at €32,691).
• Labour Market Needs Test required for most occupations (EURES ad for at least 28 days).
• Initial permit up to 24 months; renewable for further 3 years.
• 50:50 rule requires 50% of employer workforce to be EEA nationals (exceptions for startups).

Intra-Company Transfer Employment Permit

For senior management, key personnel, or trainees transferring from a foreign branch to an Irish branch of a multinational company.

• Fee: €500 (≤6 months) or €1,000 (6–24 months); renewal €500–€1,500.
• Senior/key personnel minimum salary €49,523; trainees minimum €36,605.
• Prior employment with foreign employer: 6 months for senior/key, 1 month for trainees.
• Maximum 5 years total stay.
• Does not accrue rights toward long-term residency.

Dependant/Partner/Spouse Employment Permit

Allows family members (dependants, partners, spouses) of Critical Skills Employment Permit holders or researchers to work in Ireland.

• No fee for this permit.
• Applicant must already reside continuously in Ireland and have been determined a dependant by the Department of Justice.
• Cannot be used to apply from outside Ireland.
• Employment as a domestic operative is not permitted.
• Tied to primary permit holder's permission duration.
• Minimum wage applies.

Contract for Services Employment Permit

For non-EEA employees of foreign contractors being transferred to Ireland to fulfil a specific service contract with an Irish business.

The foreign contractor must have a valid service contract with an Irish-registered company. Employee remains employed by and paid by the foreign contractor.

Reactivation Employment Permit

Allows non-EEA nationals who previously held a valid employment permit but fell out of the employment permit system through no fault of their own to re-enter the legal work system.

Designed to address situations where workers became undocumented due to employer failures or exploitation. Must demonstrate previous valid status and involuntary loss of status.

Internship Employment Permit

For full-time international students studying outside Ireland who wish to complete a work placement/internship in a critical skills occupation with an Irish employer.

• Fee: €500 (≤6 months) or €1,000 (up to 12 months).
• 90% refunded if unsuccessful.
• Maximum duration 12 months, non-renewable.
• Must be enrolled full-time at a third-level institution outside Ireland pursuing a degree or higher.
• Role must align with Critical Skills Occupations List.
• No Labour Market Needs Test.
• Does not accrue rights toward long-term residency.

Sport and Cultural Employment Permit

For non-EEA nationals working in the sports or entertainment sectors in Ireland, including athletes, coaches, performers, and related roles.

• Full-time employment maximum 2 years initially, extendable up to 3 additional years.
• Seasonal employment also available.
• Holder must remain with initial employer for 12 months (except in cases of redundancy).

Exchange Agreement Employment Permit

For non-EEA nationals working in Ireland under an international bilateral reciprocal exchange agreement between Ireland and another country.

• No fee for this permit.
• Covers non-EEA nationals participating in formal government-to-government exchange schemes.
• Duration and conditions depend on the specific bilateral agreement.

Working Holiday Authorisation

For young nationals of countries with a bilateral working holiday agreement with Ireland to live and work in Ireland for up to 12 months.

• Available to nationals of countries with bilateral working holiday agreements with Ireland (includes Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Argentina, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, USA, and others).
• Typically for ages 18–35.
• Holder can take casual or temporary employment.
• No employment permit required under this scheme.
• Must be applied for from home country.
• Eligible nationalities and exact terms vary by bilateral agreement.

Transit Visa

For visa-required nationals transiting through Irish airports or seaports en route to another country.

• Ireland is not part of the Schengen Area so Schengen transit rules do not apply.
• Transit visa may be required by nationals of certain countries even for airside (sterile transit) transit.
• Specific transit visa requirements depend on nationality and whether the transit involves passing through Irish immigration control (landside) or remaining airside.
• Applicants should check the ISD transit page for their specific nationality.

Start-up Entrepreneur Programme (STEP)

For non-EEA entrepreneurs with an innovative business proposal who wish to establish and develop a start-up business in Ireland.

• Requires minimum €50,000 in funding (from personal resources, loan, business angel, VC, or Irish state agency grant).
• Business must not be retail, catering, or personal services.
• Must have potential to create 10 jobs and €1 million in sales within 3–4 years.
• Additional €30,000 per additional co-founder.
• Applications evaluated quarterly.
• Successful applicants receive 2-year residence permission.
• Visa-required nationals also receive a multiple-entry visa.
• Established 2012; guidelines updated September 2023.

Atypical Working Scheme (AWS)

For non-EEA nationals undertaking specialised, highly-skilled short-term work (generally under 90 days) not supported by employment permit legislation - e.g. skill-shortage roles, specialist ICT/engineering, short paid internships, locum doctors, and nurses undertaking clinical adaptation.

• Administered by ISD (Department of Justice), separate from the DETE employment-permit system.
• Fee €250 (~$270 USD) non-refundable, paid by card via the INIS online portal.
• Must be applied for from OUTSIDE Ireland.
• General category: max 90 days over a 6-month period with a 1-month cooling-off; exceptions extend to 6 months (locum hospital doctors, nurses seeking NMBI registration) or up to 12 months (paid internships integral to a degree).
• Minimum 20 working days processing (stated on page last updated 30 April 2026); letter of approval valid 90 days.
• Salary must meet the General Employment Permit threshold.
• Visa-required nationals must additionally obtain a C multi-entry or D long-stay visa.
• Family members may not accompany.
• Not reckonable toward Stamp 4.

Van der Elst Visa (Employment)

For non-EEA nationals lawfully resident and employed by a company in another EU member state who are posted to Ireland to provide services on behalf of that employer, without needing an Irish employment permit.

• Derives from the 1994 Van der Elst ruling of the European Court of Justice.
• Applicant must be lawfully resident, employed and on the payroll of the employer in the sending EU member state, and coming on a temporary/short-term contract up to a maximum of 12 consecutive months.
• Applied online via AVATS up to 3 months before travel; decision generally within 8 weeks.
• Visa fee €60 single / €100 multiple entry per the ISD page (~$65/$108 USD).
• May not take up any other employment in the State; must return to the sending EU country when the contract ends.

Long Stay 'D' Minister of Religion Visa / Preclearance

For non-EEA nationals coming to work with an eligible religious body or faith community in Ireland as a minister of religion or in a related religious role.

• Permission granted for up to 3 years, with a possible further 3-year extension.
• Preclearance approval is required before travel for ALL non-EEA nationals (visa-required and non-visa-required).
• Visa-required nationals apply for both preclearance and a long stay D visa (D-visa fee approx €100 / ~$108 USD) via AVATS, up to 3 months before travel.
• After arrival, holder registers for an Irish Residence Permit.

Long Stay 'D' Volunteer Visa / Preclearance

For non-EEA nationals coming to Ireland to volunteer on an unpaid basis with an eligible charitable or non-profit organisation.

• Permission granted for up to 2 years, with the possibility of a third year.
• Preclearance approval required before travel for ALL non-EEA nationals; visa-required nationals also apply for a long stay D visa (approx €100 / ~$108 USD) via AVATS up to 3 months before travel.
• Holder cannot engage in paid work, rely on state benefits/public services, or bring family members, and cannot spend more than two years volunteering.

De Facto Partner of an Irish National Visa / Preclearance

For a non-EEA national in a committed durable relationship (akin to marriage/civil partnership) with an Irish citizen, seeking to live and work in Ireland with that partner.

• For unmarried partners of Irish citizens; generally requires evidence of a durable relationship (typically around 2 years' cohabitation).
• Preclearance approval (valid 6 months) must be obtained before travel regardless of whether the applicant is visa-required; visa-required nationals also apply for a long stay D visa via AVATS.
• Initial permission granted for 1 year and normally leads to Stamp 4 (live and work without an employment permit).
• Distinct routes exist for de facto partners of Critical Skills Employment Permit / Hosting Agreement holders.

Stamp 0 - Retiree / Person of Independent Means

For financially self-sufficient non-EEA nationals who wish to retire to or reside in Ireland as a person of independent means without accessing the labour market or public funds.

• Stamp 0 is a low-level, temporary residence permission for persons of independent means / retirees.
• Applicant (or an Irish sponsor) should have an individual income of at least €50,000 per year plus access to a lump sum to cover a major unexpected expense (roughly the price of a dwelling in the State).
• Private medical insurance is required; the holder may NOT work or run a business (unless specifically permitted in writing) and may not access public funds/benefits.
• Granted for 1 year at a time and renewable annually while criteria continue to be met.
• Visa-required nationals apply for a long stay D visa first.
• Ireland has no dedicated digital nomad / remote-work visa - Stamp 0 is the nearest equivalent for self-funded residents but does not authorise remote work for an Irish employer.