Visa information

Do I need a visa?

If you want to attend the EPH Conference in Dublin you may need a visa to enter Ireland. Find out more here about getting a visa to come to Ireland.

You do not need a visa to land in Ireland if you:

• Are a citizen of the EU or the EEA (the EU plus Iceland, Norway and Lichtenstein) or Switzerland
• Have a residence card issued by an EEA country or Switzerland because you are the family member of an EEA or Swiss citizen living in a country outside of the EEA/Swiss family member’s home country (for example, you live in Germany with your French spouse)
• Have a UK short-stay visa and qualify for the short-stay visa waiver or the British-Irish Visa Scheme (see below)
• Are a citizen of a country listed in the table below.

UK visa holders

The Short Stay Visa Waiver Programme allows nationals of a number of Eastern European, Middle Eastern and Asian countries who have a short-term UK visa, to come to Ireland without the need for a separate Irish visa. 

Schengen visa holders

Ireland is not a part of the Schengen Agreement. A Schengen visa does not entitle you to travel to Ireland without a visa. More information for Schengen visa holders: https://visaguide.world/europe/schengen-visa/

Ukrainian citizens

From 25 February 2022, citizens of Ukraine do not need a visa to travel to Ireland.

What type of visa do I need?

If you are a visa-required national and coming to Ireland for the EPH Conference, you will find useful guidelines and details of requirements for Conference Visa applications on the website of the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS).

How to apply?

You are advised to prepare your application three months before you travel. In general, you can expect a decision about eight weeks after sending the required supporting documents.

You need to:

1. Complete the online application form
2. Gather your supporting documentation, passport photograph and fee 
3. The online application system will automatically request you to submit your documentation to one of the following:

• • Your appropriate Irish Embassy or Consulate
  • The dedicated Visa Offices in Abu Dhabi, Abuja, Beijing, London, Moscow, New Delhi & Ankara
  • Direct to INIS, Burgh Quay, Dublin 2, Ireland

More information

Visit the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) website to find out what you need to know before you apply for a visa.

Letter of Invitation

To be granted a visa, you need a Letter of Invitation from the EPH Conference organisation. The following rules are very strict; we do not make exceptions.

It is the delegate's responsibility to investigate the visa requirements for Ireland and to apply for a visa, if necessary. Delegates who require a visa must allow sufficient time for the application procedure. Delegates should contact the nearest Irish Embassy, Consulate, Visa Office or the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) to determine the appropriate timing of their visa applications.

Delegates must first register for the conference, pay in full and submit any required supporting documents (if applicable) before a letter of invitation is issued. EPH Conference Office will issue the letter of invitation, which must be submitted to the embassy/office when applying for a visa.

In case the visa could not be granted, the registration fee minus a handling fee will be refunded after the conference. This will only be done if the visa was applied for in time and proof is given that the visa could not be granted even though all requested documents were submitted. Refund requests must be made in writing and sent together with the required proof to the Registration Officer, no later than 15 November 2023. Refund requests received after that date cannot be accepted.

The Letter of Invitation does not financially oblige the EPH Conference Office in any way. All expenses incurred in relation to the conference are the sole responsibility of the delegate. The Letter of Invitation does not guarantee an entry visa to Ireland.

Delegate registration details may be shared with the immigration authorities to assist in the visa application process. However, EPH Conference Office will not directly contact embassies/offices on behalf of delegates.

The deadline for requesting a letter of invitation is 15 October 2023.

In short, if you need a visa, you should proceed as follows:

• Register for the main EPH Conference and pay the registration fee.
• Send the paid for invoice of your registration with your request for a Letter of Invitation to registration@ephconference.eu.
• With the Letter of Invitation, contact the embassy/office where the visa can be requested.