New freedom-of-information figures released this morning by the Department of Justice reveal that almost 63,000 applications for Irish visas were refused in 2024-2025, sparking debate among multinational employers that rely on short-term assignments to the State. While the overall approval rate remained a robust 82.5 per cent, the statistics expose stark disparities between source countries: India enjoyed a 92.4 per cent success rate on more than 72,000 applications last year, but applicants from Burundi were approved in just 8 per cent of cases. Cameroon, Togo and the Gambia also recorded sub-30 per cent approval rates.
Officials attribute many refusals to inadequate or contradictory financial evidence. Internal guidance circulated to visa officers and released under the FOI request urges staff to “trust their instincts” and to examine payslips and six months of bank statements when claims look inflated. The memo also highlights a rising incidence of forged supporting documents. Companies that routinely sponsor business-visitor or employment visas are therefore being advised to audit document trails more rigorously before filing applications.
For employers needing extra assurance, VisaHQ’s Ireland desk (https://www.visahq.com/ireland/) can step in to pre-screen payroll records, bank statements and invitation letters before they ever reach an INIS officer. The firm’s secure portal flags common red-ink issues—missing seals, inconsistent balances, outdated formats—and returns a compliance report within 48 hours, giving HR teams time to patch gaps and significantly boost approval odds.
![Department of Justice data show 63,000 Irish visa refusals over two years]()
For Irish-based HR teams, the numbers are a reminder that processing quality counts as much as speed. Where documentation is watertight, approval rates consistently exceed 90 per cent—even for high-volume markets such as China and South Africa. Conversely, small mistakes can sink an application from lower-volume countries with limited track records. Immigration lawyers warn that once a refusal is on the record, securing a subsequent Irish visa or a Schengen permit can become significantly harder.
The FOI release also underscores political pressures on the visa system. Rejection figures were only published after an appeal, officials initially citing “immigration control” concerns. Advocacy groups say greater transparency is essential if Ireland is to remain competitive for international talent, arguing that employers need predictable risk assessments rather than opaque decision-making.
Practical takeaway: mobility managers should double-check that payslips, bank statements and letters of assignment meet INIS guidelines—especially for staff from countries with historically low approval rates. Building in at least two extra weeks for document verification can save months of downstream delay caused by refusals and appeals.
Officials attribute many refusals to inadequate or contradictory financial evidence. Internal guidance circulated to visa officers and released under the FOI request urges staff to “trust their instincts” and to examine payslips and six months of bank statements when claims look inflated. The memo also highlights a rising incidence of forged supporting documents. Companies that routinely sponsor business-visitor or employment visas are therefore being advised to audit document trails more rigorously before filing applications.
For employers needing extra assurance, VisaHQ’s Ireland desk (https://www.visahq.com/ireland/) can step in to pre-screen payroll records, bank statements and invitation letters before they ever reach an INIS officer. The firm’s secure portal flags common red-ink issues—missing seals, inconsistent balances, outdated formats—and returns a compliance report within 48 hours, giving HR teams time to patch gaps and significantly boost approval odds.
For Irish-based HR teams, the numbers are a reminder that processing quality counts as much as speed. Where documentation is watertight, approval rates consistently exceed 90 per cent—even for high-volume markets such as China and South Africa. Conversely, small mistakes can sink an application from lower-volume countries with limited track records. Immigration lawyers warn that once a refusal is on the record, securing a subsequent Irish visa or a Schengen permit can become significantly harder.
The FOI release also underscores political pressures on the visa system. Rejection figures were only published after an appeal, officials initially citing “immigration control” concerns. Advocacy groups say greater transparency is essential if Ireland is to remain competitive for international talent, arguing that employers need predictable risk assessments rather than opaque decision-making.
Practical takeaway: mobility managers should double-check that payslips, bank statements and letters of assignment meet INIS guidelines—especially for staff from countries with historically low approval rates. Building in at least two extra weeks for document verification can save months of downstream delay caused by refusals and appeals.
