Last updated: 7 November 2026 | Checked against Immigration Service Delivery (ISD), the Department of Foreign Affairs visa pages on ireland.ie and the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment (DETE).
There is no single Irish visa tracker. Where you look depends on what you applied for and where you handed it in. A visa result appears on a published decision list, an employment permit has its own status form, and ISD runs an online portal for status checks and queries.
This guide shows which one is yours, the number you need for each, and what to do if nothing shows up. For the full Dublin and overseas decision tables, use our Ireland visa decisions page, which is updated every Tuesday.
Quick answer
- Visa: find your visa application number on your AVATS summary form, then search the decision list for the office that holds your file. Dublin’s list is updated every Tuesday and was last updated on 3 November 2026.
- Employment permit: use the DETE status form. You need your application ID (format EP-ABC100/10), the employee’s date of birth and an email address. An automated reply normally arrives within 1 hour.
- Applied through an embassy or consulate: you will be contacted once a decision is made.
- Status and queries with ISD: use the Customer Service Portal and open Status on the dashboard.
Key Facts at a Glance
| What you applied for | Where to check | Number you need | What you see |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visa decided in Dublin | Visa Decision Weekly Listing on irishimmigration.ie | Visa application number (8 digits) | Approved or Refused, updated every Tuesday |
| Visa decided at an overseas visa office | That office’s decision page on ireland.ie | Visa application number | The office’s own list |
| Visa submitted to an embassy or consulate | The embassy or consulate contacts you | Visa application number | A contact once decided |
| Employment permit | DETE employment permit status form | Application ID, date of birth, email | Automated email with the stage and, where possible, a time estimate |
| Other applications with ISD | ISD Customer Service Portal | Your portal login | Status section of the dashboard |
Step 1: Find Your Number
For a visa, apply online in the Automated Visa Application and Tracking System (AVATS). It produces an AVATS Summary Application Form that you print, sign and submit with your documents, photo and fee. ISD’s decision list identifies each application by its visa application number, an 8-digit number. Your summary form also states where you must submit the application.
For an employment permit, the DETE status form asks for your application ID in the format EP-ABC100/10.
Keep the two apart. A permit ID will not appear on a visa list, and a visa number will not work on the permit form. If you are a worker applying from abroad, you usually deal with both, because a long-stay employment visa follows a DETE employment permit. Our Ireland work visa guide explains the order.
How to Track an Irish Visa
Your AVATS summary form says where to submit the application. That may be an Irish embassy or consulate, a dedicated visa office (Abu Dhabi, Abuja, Beijing, London, New Delhi or Ankara) or ISD in Dublin. Where your file goes decides where you check.
Dublin
Dublin’s Visa Decision Weekly Listing on irishimmigration.ie covers applications and appeals processed by the Dublin visa office, including preclearance applications. It is updated every Tuesday and shows each application number with either Approved or Refused. Search the table for your number.
Overseas visa offices
If an overseas visa office holds your file, check that office’s own visa decision page on ireland.ie. They publish on their own schedules, so use the page for your office rather than the Dublin list.
Embassies and consulates
If you applied through an embassy or consulate, it will contact you once a decision is made. Check the advertised processing time before you contact the office, because you may not get a reply until that period has passed.
From Pakistan
Applications from Pakistan are lodged at a VFS Global Ireland visa centre in Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi or Mirpur, and the decision is made by the Dublin visa office. That means the Dublin list is where your result appears. Details are in our guides to the Irish embassy in Pakistan, the visit visa from Pakistan and the work visa from Pakistan.
From the Philippines
Every Irish visa application and query in the Philippines goes through VFS Global, at its centres in Makati and Cebu. The Embassy of Ireland does not take applications or answer visa queries. Some applications are decided in Dublin, and those results appear on the Dublin list. See our Irish visa guide for the Philippines.
How to Track an Employment Permit
DETE has an online status form for employment permit applications. You enter three things: the application ID (format EP-ABC100/10), the employee’s date of birth in DD/MM/YYYY format, and an email address, which you confirm by entering it twice.
You then receive an automated email that states the current processing stage and, where possible, an estimate of how much longer a decision will take. If a decision has been made, the email gives the decision and the date it was issued. DETE says the email normally arrives within 1 hour of receipt.
For queries, DETE lists the phone number +353 1 417 5333 and the email address employmentpermits@enterprise.gov.ie. For current permit waiting times, see our work permit processing time page.
The ISD Customer Service Portal
ISD’s visa offices page tells applicants to use its online Customer Service Portal for application status and queries. ISD’s guide to the portal says the Status section of the dashboard shows information about your current applications, and the Queries section lists your active and closed queries.
To register as an individual you need your own email address (one per person), your name, date of birth, mobile number, nationality and passport number. Registration uses multi-factor authentication through Microsoft Authenticator and an identity check through ID-Pal. Accepted documents include a passport, driving licence, national ID card, travel document, Public Service Card, residence permit or IPO Blue Card.
Solicitors and NGO workers must set up their own account. They cannot create one for you, but they can submit queries on your behalf.
What the Result Means
The decision lists show one word beside your number: Approved or Refused. They do not show reasons.
- Approved: ISD advises that you should not buy a travel ticket before you receive a decision, and that no individual application is guaranteed to succeed.
- Refused: your refusal letter explains the reasons and says whether you can appeal. Appeals are handled by the Irish Immigration Service.
Our visa decisions guide covers what to do after an approval or a refusal in more detail.
How Long Should You Wait?
The Department of Foreign Affairs gives a minimum of 8 to 12 weeks for most categories (visit, business, employment and study). Join family applications take a minimum of 2 years. It recommends applying 8 to 12 weeks before you travel, and processing starts only once a complete application, with all required documents, has been received.
Dublin also publishes the date it is working from for each visa type. As of the list updated on 3 November 2026, Dublin was deciding applications received before these dates:
| Visa type (Dublin) | Applications received before |
|---|---|
| Employment | 3 September 2026 |
| Study | 22 June 2026 |
| Tourism or visiting family and friends | 7 October 2025 |
| Join family (Irish citizen or Category A sponsor) | 4 July 2024 |
ISD updates these dates every Tuesday. Some dates stay the same for a while because of the volume of applications. Your application can also take several days or weeks to reach Dublin after you send it, and join family applications take longer because each one needs a detailed assessment. For the current dates, check our visa decisions page.
If Your Number Is Not on the List
- Check you are on the right list. Your AVATS summary form names the submission point. A Dublin list will not show a file held by another office.
- Compare your date with the queue. If your application was received after the date listed for your visa type, it has not been reached yet.
- Allow for transit. It can take several days or weeks for your application to reach Dublin.
- Contact the right place. If your application went to an office outside Dublin, contact that office. If it went to an embassy, contact the embassy.
- Email ISD about an online application problem. ISD says emails answered fastest include the visa application number, your full name, date of birth, nationality and passport number.
Related Guides
- Ireland Visa Decisions: Check Your Result and Dublin Dates
- Ireland Work Permit Processing Time
- Ireland Work Visa Requirements
- Irish Embassy in Pakistan
- Irish Visa Philippines
- Ireland Visit Visa from Pakistan
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a tracking number for an Irish visa?
Irish visa decision lists identify applications by the visa application number, an 8-digit number from your AVATS application. Use that number to search the decision list for the office that holds your file.
How do I check my Irish visa status?
Find your visa application number on your AVATS summary form, then search the decision list for your visa office. Dublin's Visa Decision Weekly Listing on irishimmigration.ie is updated every Tuesday. If you applied through an embassy or consulate, it will contact you once a decision is made.
How often does Dublin publish visa decisions?
Every Tuesday. The list shows each application number with Approved or Refused. ISD also updates its processing dates for each visa type every Tuesday.
How do I check my employment permit status?
Use the DETE employment permit status form. Enter your application ID (format EP-ABC100/10), the employee's date of birth and an email address. DETE says an automated reply normally arrives within 1 hour.
Where do Pakistani applicants check their Irish visa result?
Applications from Pakistan are lodged at a VFS Global Ireland visa centre and decided by the Dublin visa office, so the result appears on the Dublin decision list on irishimmigration.ie.
What should I do if my visa is refused?
Read your refusal letter. It explains the reasons and says whether you can appeal. Appeals are handled by the Irish Immigration Service.
How long does an Irish visa take?
The Department of Foreign Affairs gives a minimum of 8 to 12 weeks for visit, business, employment and study visas, and a minimum of 2 years for join family visas. Times vary by location and volume, and processing starts only when a complete application is received.
Should I book flights before I get a decision?
No. ISD advises against buying a travel ticket before you receive a decision, and says no individual application is guaranteed to succeed.
Official Sources
- Immigration Service Delivery: Visa Decisions
- Immigration Service Delivery: Visa Offices
- Immigration Service Delivery: Customer Service Portal guide
- Department of Foreign Affairs: Visas for Ireland
- DETE: Employment permit status form
Processing times and queue dates change. Always check the official pages for the latest position. This guide is general information, not legal advice.
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