Visa Guide · 🇮🇪 Ireland
Ireland Volunteer Visa from Bangladesh
Long Stay D visa for eligible unpaid volunteering with an eligible organisation in Ireland.
Last Updated: 30 August 2026
Document Checklist
- 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.
- Previous Passport(s) & Travel History: Full clear colour copies of all pages of previous passports, including blank pages, where available. Travel and immigration history should be disclosed consistently with the AVATS application.
- 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.
- 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.
- Cover Letter: Applicant’s signed letter explaining the volunteering purpose, proposed role, qualifications and experience, accommodation, relevant address and family details, and commitment to comply with the permission conditions and not rely on State funds.
- Sponsorship Letter from Eligible Irish Organisation: Original sponsorship letter confirming the organisation’s details, the proposed volunteer role, why the applicant is needed and suitable, the intended support arrangements, and the organisation’s commitments under the Volunteer Scheme.
- Sponsor Eligibility & Financial Evidence: Evidence that the sponsor is an eligible Irish charitable, voluntary/not-for-profit, or recognised sports organisation, together with 6 months of sponsor bank statements and a clear breakdown of all financial and in-kind support. The applicant must be financially supported by the sponsoring organisation in Ireland; outside-State financial support does not satisfy this scheme.
- Garda Vetting (where applicable): Where the role involves children or vulnerable adults, provide Garda vetting arranged by the sponsor. If the role has no such involvement, the sponsorship letter should clearly confirm this where applicable.
- Accommodation Plan: Evidence of where the applicant will stay in Ireland. If accommodation is provided by the sponsor, include full details; if arranged independently, explain the plan, expected cost, and temporary accommodation while searching where relevant.
- Qualifications & Work / Volunteer Experience: Clear copies of relevant qualifications and supporting letters from previous employers or volunteer organisations confirming roles, duties, and dates. A CV alone is not accepted as evidence of experience.
- 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.
- Police Clearance Certificate (PCC): Police clearance certificate, including a criminal-record check, issued within the last 3 months from the applicant’s current country of residence and any country where the applicant lived during the previous 3 years.
- Proof of Legal Residence in Bangladesh (where applicable): Applicants who are not Bangladeshi nationals should provide evidence of lawful residence in Bangladesh and normally show permission to remain for at least 3 months after the intended departure date from Ireland.
- Private Medical / Travel Insurance: Evidence of appropriate medical insurance is required with the application. The applicant must have qualifying private medical cover for the stay; travel insurance may suffice during the first year if it covers at least €25,000 for accident, €25,000 for illness/disease, and hospitalisation for the relevant period.
Process Roadmap
Step 1
Confirm Volunteer Eligibility & Sponsor
Confirm that the role, applicant, and sponsoring organisation meet the Volunteer Scheme criteria and that the sponsor will fully support the applicant in Ireland.
Step 2
Complete AVATS & Print the Summary
Complete AVATS accurately, select “Long Stay (D)”, journey type “multiple”, and “Visa - Volunteer”, then print, sign, and date the summary sheets.
Step 3
Build the Sponsorship & Role Evidence
Prepare the sponsor letter, organisation eligibility evidence, support breakdown, role details, and Garda vetting where the work involves children or vulnerable adults.
Step 4
Prepare Personal & Supporting Evidence
Provide qualifications, work/volunteer history, 6-month finances, accommodation, police clearance, insurance, residence records, translations, and previous-refusal documents where applicable.
Step 5
Follow the AVATS Submission Instructions
Follow the office shown on the AVATS summary. Bangladesh applications fall under the New Delhi jurisdiction and may use the Embassy or Kolkata VAC process where instructed.
Step 6
Pay Fees & Submit the 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 Decision & Prepare for Registration
Follow the relevant decision updates. If approved, check the visa, travel with sponsorship and insurance evidence, and complete immigration registration after arrival as required.
Common Rejection Pitfalls
Sponsor or volunteer role does not meet the scheme rules
How UnivEase helps
We clarify sponsor eligibility and the volunteering criteria so the organisation and proposed role are properly evidenced.
Sponsorship and financial support are not sufficiently evidenced
How UnivEase helps
We review the sponsorship letter, support breakdown, and sponsor financial records to ensure the funding arrangement is clearly documented.
Police clearance, Garda vetting, or insurance is incomplete
How UnivEase helps
We clarify the applicable character, vetting, and medical-insurance requirements before the file is submitted.
Qualifications, accommodation, or immigration history are unclear
How UnivEase helps
We help organise experience evidence, accommodation details, residence records, previous refusals, and other required disclosures consistently.
VFS & Embassy
Visa Application Centre
Frequently Asked Questions
Prepare your Ireland Volunteer Visa application with greater clarity.
Get clear guidance on AVATS, sponsorship evidence, police clearance, insurance, fees, the submission process, and registration requirements before you apply.
