Last updated: 31 October 2026 | Checked against the Embassy of Ireland, Philippines, Immigration Service Delivery (ISD) visa guidance, the ISD Short Stay Visa Waiver Programme page (updated 29 October 2026) and DETE employment permit statistics.
Filipinos are now one of the biggest groups moving to Ireland for work. DETE figures show 4,402 employment permits issued to Philippine nationals from January to September 2026, second only to India. Every one of those workers, and every Filipino visiting family or going on holiday, needs an Irish visa first.
The part that confuses most people is where to apply. Ireland has had an embassy in Makati since 2021, but you cannot hand in a visa application there or even ask it about one. Everything goes through VFS Global. This guide explains which visa you need, the documents, the fees, how long it takes, and when a UK visa can save you from applying at all.
Quick answer
Philippine passport holders need a visa for every trip to Ireland. You fill in the online AVATS form, pay €60 for a single-entry visa (€100 for multiple entry), then book an appointment and hand in your documents at a VFS Global centre in Makati or Cebu. The Embassy of Ireland in Makati does not accept applications or answer visa queries; it refers everyone to VFS (+632 8528 2535). Work visas need an Irish employment permit first. ISD’s general guidance is a decision within about 8 weeks from when your application is lodged, but this varies. A Schengen visa is not valid for Ireland.
Key Facts at a Glance
| Item | Current position |
|---|---|
| Do Filipinos need a visa? | Yes, for all visits, work and study |
| Where to apply | AVATS online form, then VFS Global Philippines (Makati or Cebu) |
| Embassy of Ireland, Manila | 18/F Tower 2, RCBC Plaza, 6819 Ayala Avenue, Makati City. Does not take visa applications or queries |
| VFS Ireland call centre | +632 8528 2535 | info_ireland_phl@vfshelpline.com |
| Short stay (C) visa fee | €60 single entry, €100 multiple entry |
| Transit visa fee | €25 |
| VFS service fee | Charged separately in pesos at VFS |
| When to apply | Up to 3 months before travel |
| Typical decision time | About 8 weeks from lodging (ISD guidance), longer at busy times |
| Work visa | Long stay (D) employment visa, only after a DETE employment permit |
| UK visa shortcut | Short Stay Visa Waiver Programme (enter the UK first) |
| Schengen visa valid for Ireland? | No |
Do Filipinos Need a Visa for Ireland?
Yes. The Philippines is on Ireland’s list of visa-required countries, so you need an Irish visa before you fly, whatever the purpose of the trip. Two misunderstandings cause a lot of wasted bookings:
- Ireland is not in the Schengen area. A Schengen visa, even a multiple-entry one, does not let you enter Ireland.
- A UK visa alone does not let you enter Ireland. The only exception is the Short Stay Visa Waiver Programme explained below. The British-Irish Visa Scheme, which lets one visa cover both countries, is open only to Chinese and Indian nationals, not Filipinos.
A visa also does not guarantee entry. An immigration officer at Dublin Airport makes the final decision, so carry copies of the documents you used to apply.
The UK visa shortcut: Short Stay Visa Waiver Programme
The Philippines is one of the countries on Ireland’s Short Stay Visa Waiver Programme. If you hold a valid UK short-stay visitor visa, you can travel on to Ireland without an Irish visa, but only if all of the following apply:
- You have already landed in the UK and cleared UK immigration on that visa. Flying straight from Manila to Dublin does not qualify.
- Your UK visa is a short-stay visit visa. Transit and marriage visas do not count, and neither do long-stay UK visas such as work or student permission.
- You leave Ireland within 90 days, or before your UK permission ends, whichever comes first.
The legal order behind this programme set an end date of 31 October 2026. When we checked ISD’s page (updated 29 October 2026), the Philippines was still listed and no end date was shown, and some outlets have reported an extension to 31 December 2026. If your trip depends on the waiver, check the ISD page shortly before you travel.
The Embassy of Ireland in Manila vs VFS Global
Since 5 September 2022, the Embassy has routed every visa application and visa query to VFS Global. In practice that means:
| Office | What it handles |
|---|---|
| Embassy of Ireland, Philippines 18/F Tower 2, RCBC Plaza, 6819 Ayala Avenue, Makati City 1200 Tel: +632 8247 5420 | Passports and emergency help for Irish citizens, and the Ireland–Philippines relationship. Visits are by appointment only. It will not give updates on visa applications and its emergency duty line does not take visa questions. |
| VFS Global Philippines (for Ireland) visa.vfsglobal.com/phl/en/irl/ +632 8528 2535 info_ireland_phl@vfshelpline.com | Visa appointments, receiving your documents and fee-related services, returning your passport. Ireland visa centres operate in Metro Manila (Makati) and Cebu City. Use the address on your appointment confirmation. |
VFS is a service provider. It does not decide your application and cannot speed it up.
Which Irish Visa Do You Need?
| Visa | Use it for | Key condition |
|---|---|---|
| Short stay (C) visit | Tourism, visiting family or friends, up to 90 days | No work allowed; strong ties to the Philippines |
| Short stay (C) business | Meetings, conferences, up to 90 days | Invitation from the Irish company |
| Long stay (D) employment | Working in Ireland, e.g. nurses, carers, chefs, engineers | DETE employment permit first |
| Long stay (D) study | Courses of more than 90 days | Fees paid, funds shown |
| Join family | Spouse or children of someone living in Ireland | Depends on the sponsor’s status |
| Transit | Changing planes in Ireland | Only needed if not exempt |
Documents for an Irish Visit Visa from the Philippines
Ireland asks for originals and printed copies, not screenshots. The core set for a tourist or family visit is:
- Signed and dated AVATS summary sheet and your fee payment confirmation.
- Your original Philippine passport, signed, valid for at least 6 months after you leave Ireland, plus clear copies of the bio page and every stamped page. Include old passports if you have travelled before.
- Two recent colour passport photos that meet ISD’s photo rules.
- A signed application letter explaining who you are, why you are going, where you will stay, who pays, and when you will return.
- Six months of bank statements on bank letterhead or stamped by the bank, showing regular income rather than a sudden large deposit.
- Proof you will come back: a certificate of employment with approved leave, business registration (DTI or SEC) and recent ITR if self-employed, or school enrolment for students.
- Invitation letter from your host in Ireland with a copy of their passport or Irish Residence Permit (IRP), proof of address, and proof of their finances if they are paying.
- Every previous visa refusal, from any country, with the original refusal letter. Not declaring one leads to refusal.
If you hold a non-Philippine passport and live in the Philippines, VFS also asks for proof of long-term permission to stay, such as your visa and ACR I-Card, valid for at least 3 months after you return.
Refused? Since 1 June 2026, short stay (C) visa refusals can no longer be appealed. Read the refusal reasons carefully, fix the weak points, and submit a fresh application with stronger evidence. Long stay (D) refusals, including employment visas, still carry an appeal right.
Employment Visa: How Filipino Workers Get to Ireland
For work, the order of steps matters. You cannot apply for the visa until the job and the permit are in place.
- Job offer from an Irish employer. Nursing, healthcare assistant and care roles are the biggest areas for Filipinos. See our jobs in Ireland for Filipinos guide for the sectors and salary thresholds.
- Employment permit from DETE. Your employer usually applies. Nurses also need NMBI registration, covered in our nursing jobs in Ireland guide.
- Long stay (D) employment visa through AVATS and VFS, up to 3 months before travel. Include your permit, the contract, a letter from your employer confirming the job, salary and any accommodation, your qualifications and experience letters, bank statements and the signed AVATS summary.
- The Philippine side. Separately, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) process applies: contract processing, a medical at a DMW-accredited clinic, the pre-departure orientation seminar and your Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC).
- Arrive and register. After landing, register for your Irish Residence Permit (IRP) within 90 days.
How to Apply: Step by Step
- Check the visa type using ISD’s Travel Path for your purpose of travel.
- Complete the AVATS form online. Answer every question honestly and keep your application number.
- Pay the visa fee (€60 single, €100 multiple entry, €25 transit) as directed on your summary sheet.
- Book a VFS appointment at visa.vfsglobal.com/phl/en/irl/ for Makati or Cebu. Walk-ins are not the normal route.
- Submit your documents at VFS in the order on the checklist, and pay the VFS service fee in pesos.
- Wait for the decision. Do not buy non-refundable tickets until you have it. Track your file through VFS, not the Embassy.
- Collect your passport and check the visa dates and number of entries before you travel.
How Long Does an Irish Visa Take from the Philippines?
ISD’s general guidance is that you can expect a decision within about 8 weeks from the date your application is lodged at the visa office, embassy or consulate. That is a guide, not a promise: times stretch at peak periods, and incomplete files take longer.
Some applications are decided in Dublin rather than by the Embassy. Dublin’s queue is published every Tuesday on ISD’s visa decisions page. On 27 October 2026, Dublin was deciding employment visa applications received on 25 August 2026, but tourism and family-visit applications received back on 7 October 2025. If your visit visa is sent to Dublin, the wait can be far longer than 8 weeks. Apply as early as the rules allow (3 months before travel) and keep your plans flexible.
Fees
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Short stay visa, single entry | €60 |
| Short stay visa, multiple entry | €100 |
| Transit visa | €25 |
| VFS service fee | Charged in pesos at VFS (check the current amount when booking) |
| Optional VFS extras (courier, SMS updates) | Extra, optional |
Visa fees are not refunded if you are refused or withdraw. Some applicants, such as certain family members of EU citizens, are exempt from the visa fee.
Avoiding Visa and Recruitment Scams
- Nobody can guarantee an Irish visa. Not an agent, not a “contact” at the Embassy, not VFS.
- VFS appointments are booked on the official VFS site. Be wary of anyone selling appointment slots.
- The Embassy does not collect visa payments. You pay the visa fee as your AVATS summary directs and the service fee at VFS, never to an individual’s personal account.
- For overseas jobs, check the agency’s licence on the DMW’s list of licensed recruitment agencies and the job order on the DMW’s approved job orders list.
- A real Irish job offer for a work permit role comes with an employment permit issued by DETE in your name. Ask for the permit before you pay anyone anything.
Going to Ireland as a nurse? Read our guide for Filipino nurses in Ireland first: you need NMBI registration and a permit before the work visa.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Filipinos need a visa to go to Ireland?
Yes. Philippine passport holders need an Irish visa for visits, work and study. The only exception is the Short Stay Visa Waiver Programme for people who first enter the UK on a valid UK short-stay visa.
Where do I apply for an Irish visa in the Philippines?
Complete the AVATS form online, then submit your documents at a VFS Global Ireland visa centre in Makati or Cebu. The Embassy of Ireland does not accept applications directly.
Where is the Embassy of Ireland in the Philippines?
18/F Tower 2, RCBC Plaza, 6819 Ayala Avenue, Makati City 1200. Visits are by appointment only, and visa queries are referred to VFS.
How much is an Irish visa for Filipinos?
€60 for a single-entry short stay visa and €100 for multiple entry, plus a separate VFS service fee in pesos.
How long does an Irish visa take from Manila?
ISD’s general guidance is a decision within about 8 weeks from lodging. Visit visas decided in Dublin have recently taken much longer, so apply up to 3 months before travel.
Can I use my Schengen visa to visit Ireland?
No. Ireland is not part of the Schengen area, so a Schengen visa is not valid for entry to Ireland.
Can I go to Ireland with a UK visa?
Only through the Short Stay Visa Waiver Programme. You must enter the UK first on a valid UK short-stay visa, and you can stay in Ireland for up to 90 days or until your UK permission ends.
Can I appeal an Irish visit visa refusal?
Not for short stay refusals made on or after 1 June 2026. You can submit a fresh application that addresses the refusal reasons. Long stay refusals, including employment visas, can still be appealed.
Do I need a work permit before applying for an Irish work visa?
Yes. You need an employment permit from DETE before you can apply for a long stay employment visa.
Related Guides
- Jobs in Ireland for Filipinos (2026)
- Nursing Jobs in Ireland: NMBI Registration and Visa Sponsorship
- Caregiver Jobs in Ireland With Visa Sponsorship
- How to Check Your Ireland Visa Decision
- Ireland Work Permit Processing Time
Official Sources
- Embassy of Ireland, Philippines: Visas (all applications through VFS since 5 September 2022)
- Embassy of Ireland, Philippines: Contact and address
- VFS Global: Ireland visa information in the Philippines
- ISD: Short Stay Visa Waiver Programme
- ISD: Visa decisions and Dublin processing dates
- ISD: Long stay employment visa
- DETE: Employment permit statistics 2026
- DMW: Licensed recruitment agencies
Verification note: fees, contacts and processing dates in this guide were checked against official Irish government pages on 31 October 2026. VFS service fees in pesos change with exchange rates, so confirm them when you book. This guide is general information, not legal advice.
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