Yes. South African passport holders have needed a visa for Ireland since 10 July 2024. For a visit, you apply for a short stay “C” visa online through the Irish immigration service, pay the fee and present your documents at an Irish Visa Application Centre in South Africa. A short stay visa allows up to 90 days.
This page covers Irish visa requirements for South Africans and applies to the Republic of Ireland. The rules come from the Irish Immigration Service, so check the official application guidance before you apply. See also visa requirements for other destinations.
Eligibility and Entry Requirements at a Glance
The Irish visa requirement for South African passport holders took effect on 10 July 2024. The short transitional arrangement for people who had booked flights earlier ran only from 10 July to 9 August 2024 and is over. South Africa is also on Ireland’s transit-visa-required list.
A short stay “C” visa covers tourism, visiting family or friends, a short study course, getting married and medical treatment, for up to 90 days. It does not allow you to work or use publicly funded services. If you hold a valid Irish Residence Permit (IRP) card, you do not separately need a visa.
A visa does not guarantee entry. An immigration officer at the border can still refuse you.
Passport and Travel Document Requirements
- A passport valid for at least 6 months after the date you plan to leave Ireland
- A photocopy of every page of all your previous passports
- 2 colour passport photographs, signed on the back with your AVATS Visa Application Transaction Number
- If you are travelling on to or from another country, a letter of travel plan saying whether you need visas for those countries. Get those visas first if you do, because Ireland may refuse your application if your passport does not contain the expected visas.
Visa and Supporting Document Requirements
The official document list includes the following. Submit original hard copies only: photocopies are not accepted except where stated, documents not in English need a full certified translation, and nothing is accepted on a USB drive or in the cloud.
- Your passport and photographs
- A signed and dated application letter with your full name and address, your reason for travelling, your arrival and departure dates, where you will stay and who is paying
- The application summary sheet, printed from your online application, signed and dated
- Proof of the fee payment
- A holiday plan or study plan, with reservation confirmations showing the dates of each stay
- A finance plan, bank statements and proof of your obligations to return home
- Details of any past visa refusal, with the original refusal letter
- An invitation letter from your host, if you are visiting someone
- Medical or travel insurance, if the visa officer asks for it
If you are visiting family or friends, the invitation letter must give the dates of the visit, the host’s address with Eircode and an estimate of the costs, and the host must show they can pay. A host who is not an EU/EEA or Swiss citizen must include a colour copy of their IRP and immigration stamp.
You must disclose a refusal from any country. Leaving it out leads to a refusal of your Irish application.
Financial, Health and Entry Conditions
There is no minimum amount of money. The visa officer decides on your individual circumstances, so show that you can fund the trip and will return home.
- Bank statements: originals on the bank’s headed paper, or an internet statement certified by the bank, showing your name, address and account number and type, and the money paid in and out over the last 6 months. Explain any large movements. For a savings account, include a bank letter confirming you can withdraw the money.
- Ties to South Africa: your 3 most recent payslips and an employer letter on headed paper giving your length of employment, leave dates and return date, with a fixed-line number and an original signature. Students need a letter from their college. A title deed or tenancy agreement and family details also help.
- Insurance: it does not have to accompany your application, but the officer may ask for it. If your visa is approved, carry evidence of medical or travel insurance and show it on request when you arrive.
The fees are EUR 60 for a single entry visa, EUR 100 for a multiple entry visa and EUR 25 for a transit visa. They are not refunded if your application is refused or withdrawn, and local charges such as for submitting documents may apply.
Do not give false or misleading information. It can lead to refusal, loss of appeal rights and a block of 5 years on getting an Irish visa.
How to Prepare or Apply
- Complete the online application on the Irish Automated Visa Application and Tracking System (AVATS) at www.visas.inis.gov.ie.
- Print, sign and date the Summary Application Form. It explains how to book an appointment at an Irish Visa Application Centre (VAC) in South Africa.
- Pay the fee and gather your documents.
- Present everything at the VAC. Irish guidance for South African applicants says all documentation must be presented at a VAC, and nothing is sent by post or taken to the Embassy in Pretoria. Booking is through VFS Global; confirm any service charge there.
Apply from your home country or country of legal residence, one application per traveller. Parents or guardians apply for children under 18. The Immigration Service recommends applying three months before you travel and waiting for approval before you buy tickets. Expect a decision within about 8 weeks of receipt, and longer if documents are missing or need verification.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a visa for Ireland as a South African?
Yes, since 10 July 2024. Apply for a short stay “C” visa for visits of up to 90 days.
How much is an Ireland visa?
EUR 60 for single entry, EUR 100 for multiple entry and EUR 25 for transit. The fee is not refunded if you are refused or withdraw.
Where do I submit my Ireland visa application?
Apply online on AVATS, then present your documents at an Irish Visa Application Centre in South Africa. Do not post them or take them to the Embassy in Pretoria.
How long does an Ireland visa take?
The Immigration Service expects a decision within about 8 weeks of receiving your application. Apply about three months before you travel.
Does a UK visa help?
Not automatically. The Short Stay Visa Waiver Programme lets nationals of listed countries use some UK short-stay visas for Ireland, and a UK ETA cannot be used. Check that page to see whether your nationality is covered; otherwise apply for an Irish visa.
Is the Republic of Ireland the same as Ireland for visa purposes?
Yes. The Irish visa requirement for South African passport holders applies to the Republic of Ireland, and the Irish Immigration Service issues the visa.
Do I need a transit visa for Ireland?
South Africa is on Ireland’s transit-visa-required list, and the transit fee is EUR 25. Confirm your route with the Immigration Service before you book.
What is the letter of application?
A signed and dated letter explaining why you want to come to Ireland, with your full name and address, your arrival and departure dates, where you will stay and who pays.
What if my Ireland visa is refused?
The refusal letter explains why. Confirm any appeal or review options and their deadlines with the Irish Immigration Service before you reapply, and address the stated reasons in a new application.
Confirm current rules with the Irish Immigration Service. See visa requirements and browse all travel and immigration requirements.