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    Visa Guide · 🇮🇪 Ireland

    Ireland Minister of Religion Visa from Bangladesh

    Long Stay D visa for eligible religious personnel serving an established religious body or faith community in Ireland.

    Last Updated: 30 August 2026

    The Ireland Minister of Religion Visa is a Long Stay D visa for Bangladeshi nationals who are qualified, ordained or professed members of an eligible religious body or faith community and have been invited to serve in Ireland for more than 3 months.

    The applicant must meet the Minister of Religion Scheme criteria and be fully supported by an eligible Irish sponsoring body. Applications from Bangladesh fall under the New Delhi jurisdiction, while Minister of Religion cases may be routed to Dublin for decision. Non-visa-required residents of Bangladesh use the Minister of Religion preclearance process instead. 

    Document Checklist

    1. Passport (Original): Original passport valid for at least 12 months from the proposed date of entry to Ireland, with sufficient blank space for the visa. Submit the current passport together with the required copies.
    2. Previous Passport(s) & Travel History: Full clear copies of previous passports, including relevant visa and immigration pages, where available. Travel history should be disclosed consistently with the AVATS application.
    3. Photograph (Ireland Visa Format): Provide 2 recent colour passport photographs that meet Ireland visa photograph requirements. Sign your name and write the AVATS Visa Application Transaction Number on the back of each photograph.
    4. AVATS Application Summary Sheets: Printed AVATS summary sheets completed for the applicant, signed and dated. Keep the Visa Application Transaction Number and submit the summary sheets with the passport and supporting documents.
    5. Cover Letter: Applicant’s signed letter explaining the Minister of Religion purpose, proposed duration, ordination/qualification, ministry experience, duty locations, accommodation, family details, relevant immigration history, and commitment to comply with the permission conditions and not rely on State funds.
    6. Sponsorship Letter & Religious Body Evidence: Original sponsorship letter from the eligible Irish religious body or faith community confirming the role, genuine need, applicant’s suitability, dedicated premises, serving ministers, congregation size, contact/tax details, and the full financial and accommodation support arrangements.
    7. Qualifications, Ordination & Ministerial Experience: Evidence of ordination or relevant qualification, including at least 2 years of structured training where qualification is relied on, together with verifiable evidence of at least 1 year of post-ordination or post-qualification experience as a Minister of Religion.
    8. Accommodation Plan: Evidence showing where the applicant will live in Ireland, the accommodation cost, and who will pay. Where the sponsor provides accommodation, the sponsor should give full details of the arrangement.
    9. Personal Bank Statements & Solvency Certificate: Original bank statements (personal and/or salary account) for the last 6 months, issued by the bank and showing the bank name and contact details. Statements must be stamped and signed by an authorized bank officer (e-statements not accepted), and accompanied by a bank solvency/financial standing certificate where required.
    10. Sponsor Financial Evidence: The sponsoring organisation should provide its full 6-month bank statements and clear evidence that it can financially support the applicant in Ireland, including the payments, accommodation, living costs, and other support stated in the sponsorship letter.
    11. Police Clearance Certificate: A recent police clearance certificate, no more than 3 months old at submission, from the country of current residence, together with police clearances from any country where the applicant has resided during the previous 5 years, as applicable. Garda Vetting / Sponsor Undertaking: Garda Síochána vetting evidence where the role involves children or vulnerable adults. If not applicable, the sponsor should clearly confirm in writing that the applicant will have no involvement with children or vulnerable adults.
    12. Proof of Legal Residence in Bangladesh (where applicable): Applicants who are not Bangladeshi nationals should provide evidence that they are lawfully and ordinarily resident in Bangladesh and are eligible to submit the visa application from Bangladesh.
    13. Medical Insurance: Evidence of suitable medical insurance is required with the application. Cover should meet the Minister of Religion Scheme requirements; travel insurance may suffice during the first year if it provides the prescribed accident, illness/disease, and hospitalisation coverage. 

    Process Roadmap

    Step 1

    Confirm Scheme & Sponsor Eligibility

    Confirm that you meet the Minister of Religion Scheme criteria and have an eligible Irish religious body or faith community willing to sponsor your role and full financial support.

    Step 2

    Complete AVATS for the Correct Category

    Complete AVATS using “Long Stay (D)”, journey type “multiple”, and “reason for travel - Minister of Religion”. Print, sign, and date the summary form and follow the generated instructions.

    Step 3

    Align the Role, Sponsor & Ministry Evidence

    Ensure the sponsorship letter, religious role, qualifications, ministry experience, premises, congregation details, and support arrangements present one clear and consistent case.

    Step 4

    Prepare Financial, Vetting & Insurance Evidence

    Arrange the applicant and sponsor finances, accommodation, police clearance, Garda vetting or sponsor undertaking, medical insurance, residence records, and other applicable supporting documents.

    Step 5

    Follow the AVATS Submission Instructions

    Follow the office shown on the AVATS summary. Bangladesh applicants are under New Delhi jurisdiction; where instructed, submission may be by post to the Embassy or by appointment at the Ireland Visa Application Centre in Kolkata.

    Step 6

    Pay Fees & Submit the Complete File

    Submit the signed AVATS summary, passport, supporting documents, required copies, and applicable fees. Embassy submissions use the prescribed bank-draft process; VFS submissions follow the applicable VFS payment procedure.

    Step 7

    Track the Dublin Queue & Prepare for Arrival

    Follow the relevant application updates. If approved, check the visa, carry key sponsor and insurance evidence, and complete immigration registration after arrival.

    Common Rejection Pitfalls

    Sponsor eligibility or genuine need is not established

    How UnivEase helps

    We identify the sponsor records needed to demonstrate an established religious body, active congregation, dedicated premises, and a genuine need for the proposed role.

    Ministerial qualifications or experience are weakly evidenced

    How UnivEase helps

    We clarify the ordination, structured training, and post-qualification ministry records needed to support eligibility under the Scheme.

    Sponsor support, accommodation or finances are unclear

    How UnivEase helps

    We review the sponsorship letter and financial evidence so the applicant’s accommodation, payments, living costs, and full support arrangements are clearly documented.

    Vetting, police or insurance requirements are incomplete

    How UnivEase helps

    We guide applicants on police clearance, Garda vetting or the appropriate sponsor undertaking, medical insurance, previous refusals, and required disclosures.

    VFS & Embassy

    Embassy

    Embassy of Ireland, New Delhi
    Address: Thapar House, 124, Janpath Rd, Connaught Place, New Delhi, 110001, India.
    Telephone: +91 11 4940 3200
    Fax: +91 11 4059 1898
    Visa Queries: Use the official Ireland.ie Visa Queries contact form
    Website: Click Here
    Office Hours: Monday to Friday from 10:00 to 12:00, and 14:30 to 16:30.

    Visa Application Centre

    Ireland Visa Application Centre, Kolkata
    Address: 4th Floor, RENE Tower, Plot No. AA-I, 1842 Rajdanga Main Road, Kasba, Kolkata 700107, India.
    Helpline: 02267866033 (Monday to Friday, 8.00 am to 5.00 pm)
    VFS Service Charge: INR 3,518 per applicant; payment mode: online
    Website: Click Here
    Business Hours: Monday to Friday, 8.00 am to 2.00 pm.
    Passport Return: Courier return is mandatory under the current VFS Ireland process.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Prepare your Ireland Minister of Religion Visa application with greater clarity.

    Get clear guidance on AVATS, sponsor evidence, Scheme requirements, fees, submission instructions, and Dublin processing before you apply.

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