Submit a visa application on the Embassy of Ireland website at Embassyofireland.org. As of early 2011, the embassy was no longer accepting paper applications.
Check the expiration date on your passport. Your passport must be valid for a full six months past your expected date of departure from Ireland.
Provide a copy of documentation that shows your permission to reside in the United States, if you are not a permanent resident. The documentation must show that you have permission to stay in the United States for at least three months past the date of your last day in Ireland.
Provide a confirmation of your hotel booking, when applicable, and an itinerary if you are traveling on a group tour. Your reference must write a letter of invitation confirming your accommodations.
Write a letter on behalf of yourself and your reference stating that you will comply with the conditions of your visa and will not overstay the dates on the visa. Show proof of how you are known to your reference.
Provide evidence of how you will finance your stay in Ireland. A bank statement that shows your current balance and six month history is acceptable. If your reference is supporting you, they must provide a six month history of their bank account to prove that they have sufficient income and funds to cover the cost of your stay.
Submit proof that you will return to the United States. Acceptable proof includes a written letter from your employer or school on official letterhead. You may also use proof of property ownership or a lease as proof that you will return to the United States.
Provide details of any previous applications for a visa to Ireland, as well as a letter explaining previously denied visas to any country.
Provide information about your family in your permanent country of residence. Include your marriage certificate and birth certificates for your children, if applicable.
Include the appropriate payment in the form of a money order. As of early 2011, the fee for a visa was $88.
Send the materials to the consular district that handles applications from your state. Offices are located in New York, Boston, Washington, D.C., San Francisco and Chicago. A list of the consulate office contact information and which applications each location accepts is available on the Embassy of Ireland website at Embassyofireland.org.
