For up to date information on Ireland’s new visa system is available from the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade website, click here.

 

Guidelines for visa applications for Chinese citizens

1. Application Forms

• Type or write clearly in BLOCK CAPITAL LETTERS when completing application forms
• You must answer all questions on the application form. Incomplete application forms will be considered invalid. The application form should be submitted in triplicate.
• You must sign the application form. If you have had assistance in completing this form you should only sign it when you are satisfied that all information is true and correct .

2. Photograph

Each application must include a recent passport sized colour photograph of each person included in the application (including children).
The photographs should be: No more than 6 months old Minimum size 35mm x 45mm, maximum size 38mm x 50mm Printed on photographic paper Sharp and clear, and taken against a plain white or light grey background A frontal pose looking directly at the camera and showing full face.
The face should take up 70-80% of the photograph. The expression should be neutral with both eyes open and mouth closed. There should be no hair covering the eyes. Only head coverings worn for religious reasons are permitted. Hair bands are not allowed Sunglasses are not acceptable.
If glasses are worn they should be of clear glass so that the eyes are visible NOTE: please print your name clearly on the back of all photographs submitted – do not attach the photograph to your application form or summary sheet.

3. Submitting documents and other material in support of your application

• Submission of false or misleading information will result in a visa application being refused. This will also be taken into account in any future visa application the applicant might make.
• Applicants should expect verification checks to be undertaken in respect of the information and documents supplied.
• Originals of all documents must be submitted along with a translated copy in English. Documents not translated from Chinese to English will not be considered.
• Please supply one photocopy of all documents that you would like returned to you. If you do not supply a photocopy the original document will not be returned to you. Please note, for applications lodged at the Consulate in Shanghai , 2 photocopies of all documents are required for Study, Visit and Join Family visas applications.
• Three passport-size colour photographs, taken in the previous six months , should be attached to the application form.
• The onus is on you the applicant to supply independently verifiable information in order to establish that your visa application is genuine.

4. Passport

• The passport must be submitted with the visa application.
• Please include a photocopy of the passport biopage, all visas and all stamps
• The passport must have no less than six months validity from the date of the completion of the course.
• If you held a passport previous to your current valid passport or are currently travelling on a replacement passport you must submit the original of your old passport with your application. If you no longer have the original of an old passport you must submit a photocopy of the passport. Photocopies of old passports must include every page of the passport, not just those with visas. Y ou must clearly explain why you replaced your old passport and include any relevant police reports in your application. A decision on a visa application will not be issued until all relevant passports are seen by the Visa Office.

5. Interview

• Visa applicants are not generally required to attend for an interview, however the Visa Office reserves the right to request an applicant to attend for interview on a case-by-case basis.

6. Medical Check

• Visa applicants are not required to have a medical check before a visa is issued.

7. Children under sixteen years of age

From November 27th 2008, a separate visa will be required by all dependents, even if they are included on your passport. Therefore a visa application needs to be completed for each person wishing to travel to Ireland. A visa processing fee is payable for each application. Children under 16 years of age travelling on their own travel documents, whether in the company of a parent/legal guardian or not, must be in possession of a valid visa.

8. Travel tickets should not be bought until a decision has been made and the applicant’s documents have been returned to them.

9. General Advice: Adhering to the following will ensure that your application is processed without delay:

• Submit all requisite documents with your application.
• Arrange documents in a logical order
• Do not send documents to the Visa Office prior to lodging your application.
• Read and take note of all relevant information on this website and on the visa application form before submitting your application
• Do not use any clips, staples or files to attach sheets together in your application.

LODGING YOUR APPLICATION

Visa Fees :
Standard non-refundable visa application processing fees apply as follows:

Single Journey	￥600 RMB    (€60 Euros, $75 US Dollars)
Multiple Journey	￥1000 RMB  (€100 Euros, $125 US Dollars)

When applying for a multiple journey visa please indicate on your application why a multiple journey is required.

The issuing of visa is at the Visa Officer’s discretion given. Should the Visa Officer issue a single journey rather than a multiple journey no refund will be given.

Fees for visa applications lodged in Beijing may be paid RMB in cash or by Chinese postal order only. For applications from Mongolia only, US or EURO bank drafts will also be accepted.  Cash is the only method of payment accepted at the Consulate in Shanghai .

• Please carry the exact change if you intend to pay by cash
• Postal orders should be made out to: 爱尔兰使馆 ( The Embassy of Ireland) . The applicants name and date of birth should be written in the comments at the bottom of the postal order
• Bank drafts must be made out to: Department of Foreign Affairs, Ireland . The applicants name and date of birth should be written on the back of the bank draft

Where to apply:
If you are resident in Shanghai , Zhejiang , Anhui , Jiangxi or Jiangsu province then you may submit your visa application to:

Consulate General of Ireland , Suite 700A , Shanghai Centre, 1376 Nanjing Road West Shanghai 200040, People’s Republic of China Tel: + 86 21 62798729 Fax: + 86 21 62798739

上海的爱尔兰领事馆 地址：上海南京西路 1376 号上海中心 大厦 700A 室 邮编 200040 电话：＋ 86 21 62798729 传真：＋ 86 21 62798739

Processing times may vary for Visit, Study and Join Family visa applications lodged at the Consulate in Shanghai . Every effort will be made to expedite the process, but at peak times applications lodged at the Consulate in Shanghai may take 20-30 working days to process.

If you are resident in Hong Kong then you may submit your visa application to:

Consulate of Ireland , 6/F, Chung Nam Building , No.1, Lockhart Road , Hong Kong Tel: + 852 2527 4897 Fax: + 852 2520 1833

香港的爱尔兰领事馆 地址：香港骆克道 1 号中南大厦 6 层 电话：＋ 852 2527 4897 传真：＋ 852 2520 1833

If you are resident in any other area of the People’s Republic of China or Mongolia you may submit your visa application to the Visa Office in Beijing . The application can be submitted by post or by calling to the Visa Office.

Embassy of Ireland , Visa Office Ta Yuan Diplomatic Office Building 2-11-1 14 Liang Ma He Nan Lu Chaoyang District 100600 Beijing People’s Republic of ChinaTelephone: + 86 10 65326945 / 65326971 Fax: + 86 10 65326956 Email: irishvisabeijing@dfanet.ie

北京市 朝阳区 亮马河南路 14 号 塔园外交办公楼 2 单元 11-1 爱尔兰大使馆签证处

The Beijing Visa Office is open to the public during the following times
09:30 – 12:00 ; 14:30 – 16:00 Monday to Friday.

You can have your documents returned to you in three different ways. When making your application please state which method you would like to choose.
1. Counter collection
2. Registered mail – There is currently no charge for this service
3. Express Mail Service – If you would like your documents returned to you within China by EMS please include RMB 50 to cover the EMS fee. For EMS fees to Mongolia please include 150 RMB or 18 US dollars. If you choose to have your documents returned to you by post please supply your full postal address. Chinese applicants should write their address clearly in Chinese characters.

Please note that any visa required nationals resident in Taiwan must apply for their visa directly to INIS, Department of Justice and Law Reform, 13-14 Burgh Quay, Dublin 2, Ireland.  Applications will not be accepted at the Visa Office in Beijing, Consulate in Shanghai or the Consulate in Hong Kong. 

BEFORE TRAVELING TO IRELAND

If your application is approved please check that all details on the visa are correct. If you have any questions in relation to the requirements and /or limitations of the visa please contact this office.

Please note that a visa is a form of pre-entry clearance. It does not guarantee entry to the State. Immigration Officers at point of entry to the State are entitled to deny access and to question a person regarding their bona fides. Visa holders are subject to normal immigration control at the port of entry.

You should carry your school letter of acceptance / letter of invitation and / or other documents for presentation to Immigration Officers.

This information is from the embassy of Ireland in China, which is available here. Please consult the official website for up to date requirements and fees.