Two separate systems: visa refusals are appealed free of charge to a Visa Appeals Officer within 2 months; employment permit refusals go back to DETE for review within 28 days — with 90% of the €1,000 fee refunded if you still lose.
Overview
Ireland splits refusal remedies between two departments, and using the wrong one wastes your deadline. Visa and preclearance refusals are issued by Immigration Service Delivery (ISD) in the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration (or by visa offices and embassies abroad): the refusal letter sets out the reasons and states whether you may appeal. Where an appeal is allowed, it is free of charge, must be made in writing by post to the Visa Appeals Officer at the address in the refusal letter, and must arrive within two months of the date on that letter — a late appeal cannot change the original decision. Employment permit refusals are a separate track: the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment (DETE) refuses the permit, and you may submit a Decision for Review form within 28 days, decided by a separate and more senior official. If the refusal stands, 90% of the application fee is refunded, and nothing stops you filing a fresh, corrected application. Judicial review in the High Court remains the backstop for both systems. Verified against irishimmigration.ie and enterprise.gov.ie as of June 2026.
Appeal and Review Routes (2026)
| Decision refused | Where to challenge | Deadline | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visa / preclearance (ISD or visa office) | Visa Appeals Officer — written appeal by post to the address in the refusal letter | Must ARRIVE within 2 months of the date on the refusal letter | Free |
| Employment permit (DETE) | Submission of a Decision for Review form — decided by a separate, more senior DETE official | Within 28 days of the refusal decision | Free; 90% of the €1,000 permit fee refunded if refusal stands |
| Citizenship / naturalisation | No statutory appeal — reapply addressing the reasons, or seek judicial review | Judicial review: strict short time limits | New application fee if reapplying |
| Any decision (legality challenge) | Judicial review, High Court | Strict time limits under Order 84 — get legal advice immediately | Court and legal costs |
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See Paid Plans →Frequently Asked Questions
How long do I have to appeal an Irish visa refusal, and what does it cost?
Your appeal must arrive — not be posted — within two months of the date on the refusal letter, and it is completely free. It must be made in writing and sent by post to the Visa Appeals Officer at the address stated in your refusal letter; there is no email or online channel. An appeals officer then reviews your original application file together with any new documentation you include. If your appeal arrives late, ISD states the original decision cannot be changed, leaving a fresh application (with a new fee) or judicial review as the only options.
Can every Irish visa refusal be appealed?
No. Your refusal letter explicitly states whether you are allowed to appeal, and some categories carry no appeal right. Citizenship refusals have no statutory appeal at all — the realistic remedies are a new application addressing the refusal reasons or, where the decision-making process itself was legally flawed, judicial review in the High Court under strict time limits. For appealable visa refusals, the appeal is free and decided by an appeals officer who was not involved in the original decision. Always read the letter carefully before deciding your route: it lists the reasons, the appeal address and your deadline.
My employment permit was refused — do I get my €1,000 back?
Mostly, yes: 90% of the fee is refunded on an unsuccessful application, so €900 of the €1,000 Critical Skills or General Employment Permit fee comes back. Note the quirk DETE itself flags: refunds issue to the applicant only, so if your employer paid the fee, the refund still goes to you, the employee. Before the refund stage, you have 28 days to seek a review using the Submission of a Decision for Review Form — it costs nothing and is decided by a separate, more senior official than the person who refused you.
What are the most common reasons Irish employment permits are refused?
Salary below the minimum annual remuneration is the classic one — from 1 March 2026 that means under €36,605 for a General Employment Permit, or under €40,904 (with a relevant degree) for Critical Skills. Others: the occupation appears on the Ineligible Occupations List, the labour market needs test was skipped or defective for a General Employment Permit, the employer fails the 50:50 rule requiring at least half the workforce to be EEA nationals, or the company isn't properly registered with Revenue and the CRO. Most of these are fixable, and a refusal upheld on review does not bar a corrected fresh application.
Should I appeal my visa refusal or just apply again?
Appeal when the refusal was wrong on the facts you submitted — for example, the officer overlooked bank statements proving your finances, or doubted ties to your home country that you can now directly evidence. Reapply when something material has changed: a new sponsor, better finances, corrected documents. The appeal is free and preserves your original application date, but it is decided on whether the original refusal reasons stand. A fresh application costs a new fee but lets you build a clean, stronger file. Nothing stops you reapplying after a failed appeal — neither route blacklists you.
What happens after I send the 28-day review form to DETE?
A separate and more senior official re-examines the refusal — this is an internal review, not a tribunal hearing, so there is no appearance and no fee. Your review submission should directly answer each refusal ground stated in the decision letter, attaching any evidence the original application lacked. If the reviewer confirms the refusal, 90% of your permit fee is refunded and you remain free to submit an entirely new application following the correct procedures. If even the new application route fails and you believe the process was legally defective, judicial review in the High Court is the remaining avenue.