Ireland Visa Requirements For Kenyan Citizens

In this post, we are going to look at the Ireland Visa Requirements for Kenyan citizens. Ireland is a large island located in the north Atlantic off north-west Europe. It’s the second richest country in Europe with a GDP per capita of  $79,925. Tourism is one of the biggest contributors to Ireland’s strong economy, for instance, 10.6 million tourists visited the country in 2017 alone bringing in a revenue of €5.8bn. This clearly shows you how the country is very attractive and welcoming to visitors.

Kenyans visiting Ireland for a short stay i.e tourism or study purposes require a visa. A short stay tourist visa allows you to stay in Ireland for up to 90 days. This type of visa does not allow you to work in Ireland or use any publicly funded services, e.g a public hospital while in Ireland.

Ireland Tourist / Short Stay Visa Requirements For Kenyan Citizens

1. Your Passport must be valid for at least 6 months and have at least 2 blank pages at the time of application. You will be required to produce copies of your previous passports in original.

2.Signed application letter explaining why you want to travel to Ireland. Your letter must include your full name and postal address, and the:

• The reason you want to come to Ireland
• Dates you plan to arrive and leave

Your letter must also include a commitment from you that you will:

• Obey the conditions of your visa in full
• Not rely on public services (eg public hospitals) or become a burden on the State
• Leave Ireland before your immigration permission expires

3.Holiday, vacation or study plan in Ireland

Write a detailed description of your planned holiday, vacation or study trip to Ireland, including where you will stay.

Accommodation

Include printed reservation confirmations (emails or letters) of your accommodation from:

• Hotels, guesthouses, hostels, B&Bs, AirBnBs, campsites, etc.
• Shared or free accommodation, eg Couchsurfing
• Any other type of accommodation

Reservation confirmations must show the dates you intend to stay at each place.

Study

If you plan to study during your stay, include information about your study plan, such as:

• The name, address, phone number, website and email of the place you are studying, eg school, college, institution
• The name of the course you are attending and how long it will last
• Proof you have reserved a place on the course, eg confirmation email or letter

4.Travel and medical insurance

If your application for a visa is approved, you must get travel/medical insurance before you travel. You will not be allowed to enter Ireland without it. In some cases, you may be asked to submit proof that you have travel/medical insurance before a visa is granted.

5. 3 passport-sized colour photographs of the visa applicant.  ( do not affix them on your form)

On the back of each photo:

• Sign your name (in your native script and language)
• Write your Visa Application Transaction Number from AVATS

Each photograph must meet all the following rules for visa photographs.

6.Financial Stability Proof

You must show that you have enough finance (money) to support yourself fully in Ireland. There is no minimum amount of finance for approving or refusing a visa application. The visa officer will decide if you have enough based on your own circumstances.

If you are paying for your own visit:

Include an up-to-date 6-month bank statement with your documents. The bank statement must:

• Be original and on headed bank paper
• Show your name and address
• Show the bank account number and account type, eg checking/current account, savings/deposit account

If you submit a bank statement from a savings/deposit account, you must include an original letter from your bank (on headed paper) that confirms you can withdraw money from it.You must also include a written explanation of any large movements of money in or out of your account, if appropriate.

If a friend or family member in Ireland is helping to pay for your visit

Type or write an estimate of how much your friend/family member will spend (in Euro) and what they will pay for (if appropriate), eg cost of airline tickets in Euro.Your friend/family member must also show that they can afford these costs. This applies to any friends/family members who will help to pay for your vacation, including Irish citizens.

To do so, you must ask them to send you the following original documents and include them with your application:

• An up-to-date bank statement
• If they are employed, they must provide:
  • Their 3 most recent payslips
  • Their most recent P60 (tax document)
  • A letter from their employer that confirms they are employed

If someone else (a third party) is helping to pay for your visit

Type or write a description that explains how and why your visit is being paid for by a third party. You must also include the third party’s:

• Full name and address
• Telephone number
• Email address (if available)
• Website (if appropriate)

You must also include:

• Proof of the relationship between you and the third party, eg copies of letters, emails, photographs together, etc.
• Your own personal bank statement

7.Proof that you will return to Kenya after your stay in Ireland

You must include proof that you will leave Ireland when your visit ends.

Work

If you have a job in Kenya, you must show that you have an obligation to return to it. To do so, you should provide:

• Your 3 most recent original payslips
• A letter from your employer that states:
  • How long you have been employed there
  • The dates you are on vacation
  • The date you will be returning to work in that job

Education or study

If you are a student, you must show that you have an obligation to return to continue your studies. To do so, you should provide:

• A letter from your school that states:
  • The course you are studying
  • How many years you have been a student there
  • How many years/semesters you have left there

The letter should also state that your school expects you return to your studies after your vacation or study trip to Ireland.

Family

If you have a family at home, you must prove that you will return to them. To do so, type or write a description of your family including:

• Your family status, eg married, cohabiting, separated, divorced, bereaved, etc
• Any children or dependents, eg elderly parents

If you are married and your spouse is not coming to Ireland with you, you should include your original Marriage Certificate with your application.

If you have children aged under 18 and they are not coming to Ireland with you, you should include their original Birth Certificates with your application.

Property

If you own or rent property, type or write a description of it and include it with your application.

You should also include other documents as proof, eg your original tenancy/rental agreement or property title deed.

8. Signed and dated Application Summary Sheets from AVATS. This is the online visa application system. Make sure you answer all questions in AVATS fully and honestly.

If you are visiting Ireland for a business visit, the following additional documents will be required.

• Invitation letter

You must have a written invitation from a host in Ireland to apply for a short stay business visa. Your host may be a customer, a supplier or a company/organisation.Ask your host to send you an invitation letter with the information listed below. Include this letter with your application.

The host’s invitation letter must include:

• The reason they are inviting you to Ireland
• The dates they plan you to work or meet with them
• Proof of an existing relationship between the host and you, for example:
  • Ask your host to include copies of their communications with you about your visit (printed emails or letters)
• A statement by your host about what they will contribute to the cost of your visit (if any):
  • The statement must indicate if your host will pay for ‘all’, ‘some’ or ‘none’ of the costs of your visit
  • The letter must include an estimate of everything your host will pay for, eg airline tickets, accommodation, etc.

If you have been invited by and intend to work/meet with more than one host in Ireland, you must obtain a separate letter of invitation from each.

Ireland Visa Fees For Kenyan Citizens

The fee is paid in cash.

Processing Times

The processing times for business visas are on average around 10 working days if all documents are in order.

Submitting your documents

The online application system will automatically request you to submit your documentation to Ireland’s Nairobi Visa office.

Visa Office,

Embassy of Ireland
4th Floor
Delta Office Suites
Manayani Road
Off Waiyakai Way

Phone : + 254 205 135 300

Postal address

P.O. Box 30659 00100
Nairobi

Please note that you must have an appointment to submit your application to the Embassy of Ireland in Nairobi. Contact the Embassy in advance to make an appointment and receive a checklist of the requirements for your visa.

N/B :

You must send the documents listed above to the visa office within 30 days of creating an application via AVATS. Your application will not be processed until everything is received.