Visa Processing times and decisions at the Dublin Visa Office
We separate visa applications and visa appeals into separate queues. We divide those queues into smaller queues for the visa types detailed below. Each application (or appeal) is placed in the queue in the order we received them in the Dublin Visa Office. Visa applications and appeals received by the Dublin Visa Office before the dates shown below, are now being processed - not all of those applications received before the dates below have been decided. Please bear in mind that your application or appeal will arrive in Dublin a number of days after you send it to us. All dates are updated every Tuesday.
Recent decisions for visa applications and appeals in the Dublin visa office can be found underneath the processing times.
If your application was sent to a Visa office outside of Dublin, Ireland, please contact that office for processing information.
Visa applications and appeals now being processed in Dublin (updated: 23 February 2021)
Due to the restrictions implemented as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, there are limited Visa services being provided. Certain Priority/Emergency cases will continue to be processed and details are available in the Covid-19 FAQ document.
This restriction on the processing of visa(s) applications includes those applications which were received before the COVID-19 restrictions were announced on the 20 March 2020.
If your application falls into one of these categories, you can apply on-line in the usual way. Once you’ve completed the on-line application, you should follow the instructions given on the summary page as to where you should submit the application. Updates will be posted on the COVID updates and announcements section of the website.
| Visa type | Date applications received in Dublin | Date appeals received in Dublin |
| Business | Suspended due to COVID-19 | 16 July 2020 |
| Employment | 01 February 2021 | 16 July 2020 |
| Join family (Sponsor is in Category B*) | 19 February 2020 | 15 January 2019 |
| Join family (Sponsor is an Irish citizen or is in Category A*) | 10 December 2020 | 29 April 2019 |
| Re-entry (children) | 23 February 2021 | Not applicable |
| Study | 12 January 2021 | 18 November 2020 |
| Tourism or visit a family/friend | Suspended due to COVID-19 | 01 September 2020 |
| Family Member of UK National | Suspended due to COVID-19 | 14 January 2021 |
| Minister of Religion | Suspended due to COVID-19 | 27 January 2021 |
| Volunteer | Suspended due to COVID-19 | 27 January 2021 |
| De Facto (unmarried) Partner of Irish National | Suspended due to COVID-19 | 14 January 2021 |
| De Facto (unmarried) Partner of CSEP/HA | Suspended due to COVID-19 | 14 January 2021 |
| Other | 15 December 2020 | 16 July 2020 |
(Processing times for Preclearance applications are available by visiting the Preclearance processing times web page.)
* Please see paragraph 16.4 of the Policy Document on Non-EEA Family Reunification for information on the Visa Types. The longer waiting time for “join family” applications reflects the detailed assessment we must do for every application. The time it takes to process your application may increase if we need more documents from you, or if a detailed assessment of family rights under the Irish Constitution or the European Convention on Human Rights is required.
Please note: Processing times can change during the year, for example before holiday periods or for study applications prior to a new college year. You are advised not to pay for a travel ticket before you receive a decision on your visa. There is no guarantee that any individual application will be successful.
Recent decisions in the Dublin Visa Office
The following list includes applications (and also applications which have been decided on appeal) in the Dublin Visa Office. Decisions are published on this page every Tuesday. To check if your application has been decised, open the Visa Decisions document (below) and search for your visa application number. Visa decisions for other visa offices can be access by following the links at the end of the page in the Other Visa Offices section.
Download visa decisions (updated:23 February 2021)
What happens after your application is decided
If your application is approved
We will contact you about issuing your visa. If we have not contacted you in relation to the issuing of your visa, then to arrange the issue of your visa please contact:
- The Irish Embassy or Honorary Consulate where you sent your application; or
- The Dublin Visa Office if you sent the application to that office.
If your application is refused
If we refuse your application, we will write to you by letter or by email setting out the reason(s) for the decision. If you have not received the decision letter (or email), then to get it please contact:
- The Irish Embassy or Honorary Consulate where you sent your application; or
- The Dublin Visa Office if you sent the application to that office.
You can usually appeal your visa decision without paying an additional fee to us. You must submit an appeal within 2 months of the date on your letter of refusal. We permit one appeal for an application, so if the refusal decision was on an appeal you will not be able to appeal that decision.
Recent Visa decisions in other Visa Offices
Abu Dhabi: https://www.dfa.ie/irish-embassy/uae/our-services/visas/weekly-decision-reports/
Abuja: https://www.dfa.ie/irish-embassy/nigeria/our-services/visas/weeklydecisionreports/
Ankara: https://www.dfa.ie/irish-embassy/turkey/visas/visas-for-ireland-weekly-decisions-report/
Beijing: https://www.dfa.ie/irish-embassy/china/visas/visa-decisions/
London: https://www.dfa.ie/irish-embassy/great-britain/our-services/visas/weekly-decision-report/
Moscow: https://www.dfa.ie/irish-embassy/russia/visas/weekly-decision-report/
New Delhi: https://www.dfa.ie/irish-embassy/india/visas/processing-times-decisions-appeals/
Contact
If you need further information see the Visa - Frequently Asked Questions section. If you are unable to find an answer in that section, contact visa division.
Page updated: 23 February 2021