Republic of Ireland
Ireland visa processing times
7 visa routes, each with the typical decision window as published by Department of Justice (Ireland). Click through for the source URL, priority-service notes, and the eligibility criteria that drive the timeline.
| Route | Typical window | Last checked |
|---|---|---|
| Critical Skills Employment Permit Fast-track employment permit for high-skill roles on the Critical Skills Occupations List. | 3 weeks – 6 weeks | 2026-04-20 |
| Irish Student visa (Stamp 2) Study permission for international students enrolled at eligible Irish institutions on the Interim List of Eligible Programmes. | 4 weeks – 8 weeks | 2026-04-20 |
| General Employment Permit Sponsored employment permit for roles not on the Critical Skills list but above the general salary threshold. | 6 weeks – 3 months | 2026-04-20 |
| Start-up Entrepreneur Programme (STEP) Residence programme for founders establishing a High Potential Start-Up in Ireland. | 6 weeks – 3 months | 2026-04-20 |
| Join Family (Irish national or EEA national) Family reunification permission for spouses, civil partners, and dependants of Irish or EEA nationals resident in Ireland. | 6 months – 1.0 years | 2026-04-20 |
| Stamp 4 permission Long-term residence permission allowing unrestricted work in Ireland. | Not centrally published | 2026-04-20 |
| Immigrant Investor Programme (IIP — closed) Historic golden-visa equivalent; closed to new applications from 15 February 2023. | Not centrally published | 2026-04-20 |
Source authority: Immigration Service Delivery.