China → Ireland
Short tourist/business visits are normally under a short-stay C visa, for up to 90 days; the final permission is decided by the immigration officer.
A mainland China ordinary passport alone is not visa-free for Ireland; unless an eligible UK-visa waiver/British-Irish Visa Scheme condition applies, an Irish visa is required before travel.
Based on passport-specific data. · as of 2026-06-18
Official source ↗Documents that change the outcome
- Visa-free· uk_visa · 90 days
Chinese nationals holding an eligible UK short-stay visitor visa may use the Short-Stay Visa Waiver Programme only after they have landed in the UK on that visa and still have valid UK permission; stay is up to 90 days or the remaining UK permission, whichever is shorter. A UK ETA cannot be used. Chinese nationals with an eligible UK visitor visa endorsed “BIVS” may also use the British-Irish Visa Scheme; normally they must first enter the visa-issuing country, and stay is up to 90 days or until UK permission expires, whichever is shorter.
source ↗
Documents & how to apply
- Passport — Current passport must be valid for at least 6 months after the planned date of leaving Ireland; copies of each page of all previous passports, where available, are also required.
- Passport photographs — Submit 2 passport-sized colour photographs; sign the back and write the AVATS visa application transaction number.
- Application summary sheets — Print, sign and date the application summary sheets from AVATS.
- Application letter — Explain the reason for travel, planned arrival and departure dates, place(s) of stay, who will pay for the trip, and commitments to obey visa conditions, not rely on public services, and leave on time.
- Invitation letter · optional — Required if visiting friends or family: the inviter must provide a signed and dated invitation letter plus a clear colour copy of the photo page of their ID card or passport; if they provide accommodation or financial support, include the relevant details and evidence.
- Holiday or vacation plan — Describe the planned trip and accommodation details, and include accommodation reservation confirmations showing the intended dates at each place.
- Proof of visa fee payment · optional — May be required in some circumstances; the application office will advise whether it is needed and what to include.
- Finances — Show enough funds to support yourself in Ireland; if paying yourself, include an up-to-date bank statement showing name, address, account details and transactions over the last 6 months, with explanations for large movements where appropriate.
- Obligations to return home — Provide verifiable evidence of family, social or economic ties to the country of residence; examples include 3 most recent payslips and employer letter, a college letter, family details, or property/tenancy evidence.
- Previous visa refusals or immigration issues · optional — If previously refused a visa or preclearance, refused entry, deported or required to leave any country, provide details, original official letters/documents and an explanation.
- Medical or travel insurance · optional — Usually not required with the application, but the visa officer may request it; if approved, you must have medical/travel insurance evidence on arrival and present it if requested.
- Translations and certification · optional — Documents not in English or Irish must include a full certified translation; some official documents issued outside the EU/EEA/Switzerland must be attested or apostilled by the issuing country’s foreign ministry.
⏱ Applicants can generally expect a decision within approximately 8 weeks from the date the application is received at the visa office, embassy or consulate; missing or verifiable documents may extend this. 💳 60 EUR (government fee) 📍 Create the visa application online through AVATS; print and sign the summary form, then submit supporting documents and pay as instructed on the summary form. Applicants resident in China must provide fingerprints at an Ireland Visa Application Centre operated by VFS Global.
Apply at least 3 months before travel and do not buy travel tickets before approval. Applicants resident in China are generally required to attend an Ireland Visa Application Centre in person to provide fingerprints.
Requirements vary by consulate — verify with the official source. official ↗
Common questions
No. The Irish official waivers found are the UK short-stay visa waiver programme and the British-Irish Visa Scheme; a U.S. visa is not a qualifying document for those programmes. A mainland China ordinary passport is not on Ireland’s visa-exempt list, so an Irish visa is normally required.
Yes, if the conditions are met. The short-stay visa waiver programme requires an eligible UK short-stay visitor visa, prior lawful entry to the UK on that visa, and valid remaining UK permission; stay is up to 90 days or the remaining UK permission, whichever is shorter. A UK visa endorsed BIVS can also be used under the British-Irish Visa Scheme.
No. Ireland’s visa policy treats British citizens as visa-free under Common Travel Area arrangements; the official visa order also lists the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies in the visa-exempt schedule.
No. Ireland’s official visa order lists “Hong Kong (Special Administrative Region)” in the visa-exempt schedule, and the Irish short-stay visa waiver page also states that Hong Kong and Macau SAR nationals are already on the no-visa-required list.
No Irish visa is required, and no Irish ETA requirement for U.S. short visitors was found. The United States is listed in Ireland’s official visa-exempt schedule.
Verify with official sources
Visa policy changes without notice and this page is reference information that may contain errors. Before travel, verify via the official sources below or contact the destination country's embassy / consulate / immigration authority directly; final admission is at the destination government's discretion.