Embassy of Ireland
7 reviews Varette Building, 130 Albert St, Ottawa, ON +1 613-233-6281 www.dfa.ie/irish-embassy/canada suggest an edit
19 October 2023 7:55
Honestly ive had a gold experience with the Irish embassy and their staff.i submitted my visa application quite late knowing that my travel dates are coming up soon. The visa officer called me and asked me to submit the missing documents asap so they can try to process my visa before the date I fly. Got the visa approved on time. The staffs are nice and you might have to call multiple times during their working hour but they will respond.
04 October 2023 14:48
Worst Embassy to deal with - avoid if you can. Not only are they misinformed and providing incorrect information, they are snarky and rude about it. They lost one of our documents, knowing we were on a time crunch they said they would need to investigate and we received no response from them in days, so we had to go and get another document which cost us an extra $60. Never received a response from them on whether they had found it or not. Cost us headaches and extra money for their negligence.
03 September 2023 13:54
Worst Embassy ever! Be aware is you are planning to get a Visa from them. I applied for a tourism visa at the beginning of February 2020 because I wanted to visit a friend that I haven't seen in a long time.
1. Their website is very disorganized. It doesn't explains properly the documents and information needed.
2. To obtain a TOURISM visa they ask for an incredible number of documents (actually the same documents that Canada asks to apply for a permanent residence) too many for 8 days trip.
3. I planned to arrive in Dublin (where my friend lives) on a Friday and travel with her to France on Monday to celebrate her Birthday. On my visa application, I explained this in a very detailed letter also mentioning that I didn't apply for the Schengen visa before, because Ireland asked you to apply at least 3 months before your trip and for France visa, you just need 2 weeks.
4. I paid CAD$165 for the visa application in addition to the UPS fee to send the docs and a returning label that they also asked for.
5. By the middle of February, a lady called me from the Ireland Embassy saying "Thank you for putting so much time on your application, it looks good. However, you need to apply for the Schenger visa before applying with us" I explain that my main trip was to Dublin and she said "Doesn't matter, you need to apply to the other one first" She sent me the documents back.
6. By this point, I was starting to doubt about traveling to Ireland, but I love my friend, I already had the flight ticket so I continued the process.
7. Schenger visa through the France Consulate in Toronto was a very expedited process. I got the visa in two weeks.
8. I sent my documents back to the Ireland Embassy including paying (Again) for the UPS fee and returning label.
9. By the middle of March due to COVID-19 Ireland Embassy called me saying that not travels allow and that I have to send them an email saying "I want to withdraw my application" to get my documents back.
10. I was surprised because WHY do I have to "withdraw" my application if they are the ones canceling the process. Especially when they returned my documents before without any email.
11. I ask for a refund or the hold of my CAD$165. Well, they say.they won't return or hold the money because that is an application fee and is non-refundable. "The visa fee is an administration fee which covers the cost of processing your application. This fee cannot be refunded if your application is refused or withdrawn" (Ireland Embassy, 2020). That is the reason why they wanted an email from me asking to withdrawn. To have the right of keeping my money.
I understand the COVID-19 situation affected us and that obviously I can't travel anywhere. However, the way that the Embassy of Ireland acts is very shady and not proper with people that are paying to visit their country. I lost $165 + all the UPS+ Schenger visa fee ($100). They couldn't even hold the money for next time (Like the embassy of EEUU and other embassies).
Please be aware that they apparently don't want you to visit their country. If you want to visit Europe I highly recommend to get the Schenger visa instead, is faster, less money, less paperwork and you can travel within more than 20 countries. Don't waste your time with this Embassy.
1. Their website is very disorganized. It doesn't explains properly the documents and information needed.
2. To obtain a TOURISM visa they ask for an incredible number of documents (actually the same documents that Canada asks to apply for a permanent residence) too many for 8 days trip.
3. I planned to arrive in Dublin (where my friend lives) on a Friday and travel with her to France on Monday to celebrate her Birthday. On my visa application, I explained this in a very detailed letter also mentioning that I didn't apply for the Schengen visa before, because Ireland asked you to apply at least 3 months before your trip and for France visa, you just need 2 weeks.
4. I paid CAD$165 for the visa application in addition to the UPS fee to send the docs and a returning label that they also asked for.
5. By the middle of February, a lady called me from the Ireland Embassy saying "Thank you for putting so much time on your application, it looks good. However, you need to apply for the Schenger visa before applying with us" I explain that my main trip was to Dublin and she said "Doesn't matter, you need to apply to the other one first" She sent me the documents back.
6. By this point, I was starting to doubt about traveling to Ireland, but I love my friend, I already had the flight ticket so I continued the process.
7. Schenger visa through the France Consulate in Toronto was a very expedited process. I got the visa in two weeks.
8. I sent my documents back to the Ireland Embassy including paying (Again) for the UPS fee and returning label.
9. By the middle of March due to COVID-19 Ireland Embassy called me saying that not travels allow and that I have to send them an email saying "I want to withdraw my application" to get my documents back.
10. I was surprised because WHY do I have to "withdraw" my application if they are the ones canceling the process. Especially when they returned my documents before without any email.
11. I ask for a refund or the hold of my CAD$165. Well, they say.they won't return or hold the money because that is an application fee and is non-refundable. "The visa fee is an administration fee which covers the cost of processing your application. This fee cannot be refunded if your application is refused or withdrawn" (Ireland Embassy, 2020). That is the reason why they wanted an email from me asking to withdrawn. To have the right of keeping my money.
I understand the COVID-19 situation affected us and that obviously I can't travel anywhere. However, the way that the Embassy of Ireland acts is very shady and not proper with people that are paying to visit their country. I lost $165 + all the UPS+ Schenger visa fee ($100). They couldn't even hold the money for next time (Like the embassy of EEUU and other embassies).
Please be aware that they apparently don't want you to visit their country. If you want to visit Europe I highly recommend to get the Schenger visa instead, is faster, less money, less paperwork and you can travel within more than 20 countries. Don't waste your time with this Embassy.
07 August 2023 20:49
Difficult to give anything other than 1 star as they never bothered to reply to my request for information/ advice.
29 March 2023 2:53
I’ve honestly never had a good experience with any embassies since I’m from a third world country but the Irish embassy gave the best service I’ve ever had in my life. Everything went as smooth as could be and they gave me the correct information and tips on how to apply for a tourist visa.
31 January 2023 23:10
Took them nearly 2 months to let me know my passport copy was denied. Another month and a half to actually process the visa once resent. Wasted so much money waiting; don't even bother. Cheers.
18 January 2023 6:15
I called the embassy to inquire about transit and short term visas to Ireland and the agent not only returned my call, but was also very helpful with the information provided. I think this is the most useful information I’ve received from calling an embassy before.