How to Apply for Ireland Visa to Attend Conference/Event as Kenya Passport Holder

Ireland Visa Requirements for Kenyan citizens to attend Conference or Event

With its beautiful and untouched natural scenery, imposing castles, gorgeous vistas, and plenty of things to see and do, Ireland is beloved worldwide. The ultimate tourist destination.

Ireland is also hailed as a conference or event destination.

Yet again, Kenyans need a visa to enter Ireland to attend a conference or event.

There’s a wide held belief that applying for a visa is such a hustle especially when chances of getting your visa approved are minimal.

While these sentiments are somewhat true, if you have a valid, straightforward and convincing reason for applying for the visa, and many more valid, straightforward and convincing reasons for coming back to Kenya once your authorized stay in the destination country expires.

Anyhow, I applied for an Irish Visa as a Kenyan passport holder while in Kenya, and got approved it approved.

Ireland Irish Visa Requirements for Kenyan Citizens to attend Event/Conference

Following is you Ireland visa document checklist:

i. Passport

You must hand over:

• Your current passport
  • Validity of at least 6 months after your intended departure date from Ireland.
  • Must have at least 2 blank pages at the time of submitting visa application.
• Original copies of each page from all previous passports you’ve held (if applicable).

ii. Application summary sheets

Print, sign and date the Application summary sheets (from step 2 above) and include them with your application documents.

iii. Application letter

Type or write a letter detailing why you want to visit Ireland. Your letter must me signed and dated, and must include the following:

• Your full name and postal address
• The reason you want to attend the conference or event
• The dates you plan to arrive and leave
• The names and addresses of any members of your family who currently live in Ireland or any other EU/EEA country or Switzerland.
• A description of the conference or event and who is organizing it.
• Confirmation that you are registered to attend, e.g. confirmation email or original letter
• Confirmation that your registration fees have been fully paid (if relevant), e.g. original receipt or payment.
• A commitment from you that you will:
  • Obey the conditions of your visa in full
  • Not rely on public services (e.g. public hospitals) or become a burden on the State
  • Leave Ireland before your immigration permission expires

iii. Letter from the conference organizer

The conference organizer must send you a letter with the information listed below. Include this letter with your application.

The letter must include:

• A description of the conference and who has organised it
• Confirmation that you are officially registered to attend
• Confirmation that your registration fees have been fully paid (if relevant)
• A statement by the conference organizer about what they will contribute to the cost of your visit (if anything):
  • The statement must indicate if the organizer will pay for ‘all’, ‘some’ or ‘none’ of the costs of your visit
  • If ‘all’ or ‘some’, the letter must include an estimate of everything the conference organizer will pay for, e.g. airline tickets, accommodation, living expenses, etc (see viii. Finance plan for more)

If you wish to attend more than one conference or event in Ireland, you must obtain a separate letter from each conference organizer.

iv. Accommodation plan

In your application letter, type or write a description of everywhere you will stay in Ireland (e.g. hotel, guesthouse, hostel, Bed &Breakfast, AirBnB, etc), including the dates you will stay at each place.

Booking.com

Include printed reservation confirmations (emails or letters) of your accommodation from:

• Hotels, guesthouses, hostels, Bed &Breakfasts, AirBnB, campsites, etc.
• Shared or free accommodation, eg couchsurfing
• Any other type of accommodation

Reservation confirmations must show the dates you intend to stay at each place.

V. Travel & medical insurance

If your application for a visa is approved, you must get travel/medical insurance before you travel. You will not be allowed to enter Ireland without it.

In some cases, you may be asked to submit proof that you have travel/medical insurance before a visa is granted.

iv. Proof of fee payment 

In some circumstances, you may have to include proof that you have paid the visa application fee. Contact your application office to find out if you need to provide proof and what to include.

If you are exempt from the visa fee, you may have to include documents that prove you are exempt. Contact your application office about proof of exemption.

Proof of payment/exemption may differ between offices. Extra charges may also apply for some applications, eg consular fees.

v. Photographs

Include your 2 passport-sized color photographs.

On the back of each photo:

• Sign your name
• Write your Visa Application Transaction Number from AVATS (step 2 above)

Each photograph must meet all the following rules for visa photographs.

vi. Finance plan

You must show that you have enough finance (money) to support yourself fully in Ireland.

If you are paying for your own visit

Include an up-to-date bank statement with your documents. The bank statement must:

• Be original and on headed bank paper
  • Note: You may use a printed internet statement but it must be officially certified by your bank. Uncertified internet statements will not be accepted
• Show your name and address
• Show the bank account number and account type, e.g. checking/current account, savings/deposit account
• Show money paid in and out of the account over the last 6 months

If you submit a bank statement from a savings/deposit account, you must include an original letter from your bank (on headed paper) that confirms you can withdraw money from it.

You must also include a written explanation of any large movements of money in or out of your account, if appropriate.

If your conference organizer or accommodation host is helping to pay for your visit

Include the letter from your conference organizer or host that lists everything they will pay for, e.g. cost of airline tickets in Euro (as above).

If someone else (a third party) is helping to pay for your visit

Type or write a description that explains how and why your travel is being paid for by a third party. You must also include the third party’s:

• Full name and address
• Telephone number
• Email address (if available)
• Website (if appropriate)

You must also include:

• Proof of the relationship between you and the third party, e.g. copies of letters, emails, photographs together, etc.
• Your own personal bank statement, following the same rules as described above

vii. Proof you will return home

You must include proof that you will leave Ireland when your visit ends.

To do so, you must show that you have a strong ties that warrant returning home (i.e. to your country of residence) for economic, social or family reasons.

Related: 6 Ways to Prove “Rootedness” or Deep Ties for your Visa Application

Work

If you are employed in a job at home, you must show that you have an obligation to return to your employer. To do so, you should provide:

• Your 3 most recent original payslips
• A letter from your employer that includes:
  • How long they have employed you
  • A description of the conference and why you are attending
  • The dates you will be at the conference
  • The date you will be returning to work
  • A statement about what they will contribute to the cost of your visit:
  • The statement must indicate if your employer will pay for ‘all’, ‘some’ or ‘none’ of the costs of your visit
  • If ‘all’ or ‘some’, the letter must include an estimate of everything your employer will pay for, e.g. airline tickets, accommodation, living expenses, etc.

If you are self-employed at home, you must show that you have an obligation to continue it. To do so, you must provide a letter that includes:

• A description of your business and the products or services you provide
• Proof that your business is trading, for example:
  • Your most recent financial accounts (photocopy)
  • Recent tax return (original)
  • Confirmations of payments from customers from within last 6 months (printed emails or letters)
• Proof of a business reason to attend the conference in Ireland, for example:
  • Communication by you with the conference organizer (printed emails or letters)
• The date you will return to your business at home

Education or study

If you are a student at home, you must show that you have an obligation to return to continue your studies. To do so, you should provide a letter from your school or college that states:

• The course you are studying
• How many years you have been a student there
• How many years/semesters you have left there
• A description of the conference, how it relates to your studies and why you are attending
• That your school/college expects you return to your studies after your visit to Ireland
• The date you will be returning to study
• A statement about what your school/college will contribute to the cost of your visit (if relevant):
  • The statement must indicate if your school or college will pay for ‘all’, ‘some’ or ‘none’ of the costs of your visit
  • If ‘all’ or ‘some’, the letter must include an estimate of everything your school or college will pay for, e.g. airline tickets, accommodation, living expenses, etc

The letter should also state that your school/college expects you return to your studies after your visit to Ireland.

Family

If you have a family at home, you must prove that you will return to them. To do so, type or write a description of your family including:

• Your family status, e.g. married, co-habiting, separated, divorced, bereaved, etc
• Any children or dependents, e.g. elderly parents

If you are married and your spouse is not coming to Ireland with you, you should include your original Marriage Certificate with your application.

If you have children aged under 18 and they are not coming to Ireland with you, you should include their original Birth Certificates with your application.

Property

If you own or rent property in your country of residence, type or write a description of it and include it with your application.

You should also include other documents as proof, e.g. your original tenancy/rental agreement or property title deed.

ix. Visa refusals

If you were ever refused a visa by any country, type or write a description about it.

You must also include the original letter sent to you by the authorities that refused your application.

When and where to apply for Ireland Irish Conference Event Visit Visa

Short stay ‘C’ visit (tourist) visa applications for Ireland once processed online must be submitted in person at Embassy of Ireland’s Visa office in Nairobi.

According to the Irish Department of Justice and Equality website, you need to prepare your application 3 months before you travel.

How to apply for Irish Ireland Conference/Event Visa as Kenyan

1.Apply for your Irish visa online via AVATS

Completely fill in the online visa application form by responding to all questions truthfully.

If visiting Ireland as a Kenyan passport holder for tourism or study for less than 90 days, fill out your application on AVATS as follows:

• Visa type: ‘Short Stay (C)’
• Reason for travel: ‘Conference/event’
• Journey type: ‘Single’ or ‘Multiple’ (as appropriate for you)
• Note: Multiple entry visas are approved in under very rare circumstances.

Have some FAQs on how to apply for a visa in AVATS.

Application summary

Once you’ve completed the Irieland short stay visit conference/event visa application in AVATS, you will land on a web page with your application summary, including the following:

• Visa Application Transaction Number: Take note of this number. You will need it to follow progress on your application or when contacting the Irish Visa office.
• Application summary sheets: Print, sign and date these sheets and forward them to the Irish Visa office in Nairobi, alongside your valid Kenya passport and other supporting documents.
• Application office: This information is indicated on your summary sheet. If you’re making your application while in Kenya, you will be sent to the Embassy of Ireland office in Nairobi. (In some circumstances, your Irish visa application office may send your application to a different office for a visa decision.)

2. Make an appointment at the Irish embassy visa office in Nairobi

Kindly note that ALL visits/appointments have to be booked in advance.

The physical address of Embassy of Ireland in Nairobi is at the Delta Office Suites, Manyani Road, Off Waiyaki Way. They are located on the 4th Floor.

If going by public transport from town, take any matatu going towards Kangemi (e.g. #23) and alight at Shell opposite Safaricom House.

Main Telephone line: (+254) 0205 135 300

Email: Contact Us
Website: www.dfa.ie/kenya

Embassy Office Hours: Monday to Friday: 8.00 a.m. – 4.00 p.m.

Consular Section
Email: Contact Us
Opening hours for public: Weekdays from 8.30am – 12.30pm

3. Submit your documents and pay visa fees

When you are satisfied that you have prepared your application documents, submit them to the Ireland visa application office.

If you are making a visa application for yourself and another person, you may send them together. To send together:

• Place each person’s application documents into separate envelopes
• Write the name and Visa Application Transaction Number of each applicant on each envelope
• Place each envelope into a larger envelope send it to the application office

You will pay the visa fee in cash at the embassy when you submit your documents.

Current Ireland Visa Fees For Kenyan Citizens are:

• € 60: Single entry – Short stay ‘C’ visa
• € 100: Multiple entry – Short stay ‘C’ visa

The visa fee is non-refundable even if your application is withdrawn or denied.

Visa Decisions

Generally, the Ireland c visa processing time is about 8 weeks after your documents are received whether your short stay ‘C’ conference/event visa was approved or not.

Well, that is the complete guide on requirements as well as how to apply for Ireland visa to attend conference/event as Kenya passport holder.

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Enjoy your stay!