Long Stay D Visa Ireland: Requirements for Employment Permit Holders
An approved employment permit does not let you into Ireland. If you are a citizen of a visa-required country — India, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Philippines, China, and many others — you need a second approval before you can travel: the Long Stay 'D' Employment Visa.
This is the step that surprises the most applicants, particularly those whose employers handle the permit application and forget to mention the visa stage. The permit and the visa are separate applications, processed by different government departments, with different document requirements and different timelines. Here is what the visa process involves.
Who Needs a Long Stay D Visa
Citizens of EEA countries, the UK, the USA, Australia, Canada, Japan, and a small number of other countries can travel to Ireland and begin work directly on their employment permit without a visa. Visa requirements depend on nationality, so check the Department of Justice's current list before planning travel. India, Nigeria, Pakistan, and the Philippines are examples of visa-required applicant nationalities in the research.
If you are unsure whether you need a visa, check the Department of Justice's visa required countries list at irishimmigration.ie. The list is comprehensive and uses country names rather than passport types.
The Application Process: AVATS
The Long Stay 'D' Employment Visa is applied for through the AVATS (Automated Visa Application and Tracking System) online portal. The process:
- Complete the AVATS application form online
- Print the summary sheet generated by the system
- Submit the summary sheet, your original passport, and all supporting documents to your nearest Irish Embassy or VFS Global visa application centre
- Await processing
The visa application is submitted after your employment permit has been approved by DETE. You will need the permit approval letter as part of the visa application. Do not attempt to apply for the visa concurrently with the permit — you need the permit number and approval date as evidence in the visa file.
Documents Required
| Document | Specification |
|---|---|
| AVATS summary sheet | Printed from the online system after completion |
| Passport | Valid for at least 12 months beyond your intended arrival date; biometric data page |
| Employment permit approval letter | The DETE approval issued through EPOS |
| Employment contract | Signed copy showing salary, role, and employer details |
| Bank statements | 6 months of personal bank statements showing sufficient funds for initial setup in Ireland |
| Health insurance | Private travel/medical insurance covering at least €30,000 in costs, valid for the visa period |
| Photographs | Two recent passport-sized photographs meeting Irish visa photo standards |
| Previous refusal letters | Originals of any visa refusal letters from any country, at any time |
That last point about previous refusals is critical. A prior permit or visa refusal is a material immigration-record issue and must be disclosed in future visa applications where asked, including applications to Ireland, the UK, the USA, and Canada. A prior refusal does not automatically lead to a new one, but non-disclosure can cause refusal.
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Visa Fees
The standard visa fees as of 2026:
- Single entry visa: €60
- Multiple entry visa: €100
Choose single or multiple entry according to your travel plan and the current visa instructions. Multiple entry is not automatic for every employment applicant.
Country-Specific Notes
India: VFS Global manages Irish visa applications from India across major cities including Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, and others. The research framing is typically 20–25 working days, with possible backlogs. Apply and book the relevant appointment as soon as your employment permit is approved rather than waiting until you have finalised a start date.
Indian applicants should also be aware of the NARIC qualification mapping issue for three-year degrees. If your permit application includes NARIC comparability documentation, keep it available with the supporting evidence for the visa application where relevant.
Philippines: PSA (Philippine Statistics Authority) issued documents are required for birth certificates and marriage certificates. For nursing applicants specifically, evidence of NMBI (Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland) registration is mandatory at the visa stage, not just the permit stage. Ensure your NMBI registration is confirmed before submitting the visa application.
Nigeria: Irish visa refusal rates for Nigerian applicants have historically been significantly higher than the global average — up to 45% in some assessment periods. Nigerian applicants must provide exceptionally robust documentation of ties to their home country (property ownership, family, business interests) and a clear, fully verifiable financial history. Any unexplained large deposits in bank statements will be questioned. Consider providing explanatory letters for any non-salary income.
South Africa: Since January 2026, all Irish visa fees must be paid online during the AVATS application process. VFS centres in South Africa no longer accept in-person cash or card payments for visa fees at the time of document submission.
Brazil: Brazilian nationals should check the current Irish visa-required list for their planned stay and activity. If a Long Stay 'D' visa is required for the employment route, follow the standard AVATS process and the instructions of the relevant Irish Embassy or VFS channel.
Timeline Planning
The Long Stay 'D' visa adds a country- and office-dependent period to the overall process. Plan the following stages after employment permit approval:
| Step | Time Required |
|---|---|
| VFS/Embassy appointment booking | Country and office dependent |
| Visa processing | Country and office dependent; India is framed at 20–25 working days in the research |
| Passport return by post | Follow the relevant office's instructions |
| Total additional time | No single fixed period |
Combined with standard CSEP processing of 4–8 weeks, the end-to-end timeline from EPOS submission to travel-ready depends on the permit, visa office, and appointment stages.
This matters for employment start date negotiations with your Irish employer. If you are a visa-required national, discuss the permit and visa stages early rather than assuming that a permit grant alone fixes the travel date.
After You Arrive
The 'D' visa permits you to enter Ireland. Upon arrival, the immigration officer stamps your passport with a temporary permission and instructs you to register with ISD at Burgh Quay within 90 days. This is when the IRP registration process begins.
The visa itself is not your ongoing permission to remain — it is your entry document. The IRP card and the immigration stamp you receive from ISD are your residence permissions. Do not confuse the two.
The Ireland Critical Skills Employment Permit Guide includes a country-specific visa section covering India, the Philippines, Nigeria, Brazil, Pakistan, and South Africa with the specific document requirements and common refusal reasons for each nationality.
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