Ireland rejected nearly 63,000 visa applications over the past two years, according to figures released by the Department of Justice.
At the same time, more than 321,000 visas were granted in 2024 and 2025, showing continued strong demand to travel, study and work in Ireland.
Strong approval rate for Indian-origin applicants
In 2025 alone, 72,137 visa applications from Indian nationals were processed, with an approval rate of 92.4% — one of the highest among major applicant groups.
By contrast, approval rates varied sharply for some countries. For example:
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Burundi: 8.1% approval (11 approvals out of 136 applications)
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Cameroon: Around 9% approval
Overall in 2025:
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More than 205,000 applications were received for business, work and tourism
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195,000 applications processed
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161,084 approved
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34,089 rejected
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Overall approval rate: 82.5%
What affects visa approval?
Officials say several key factors influence decisions:
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Travel history
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Financial stability
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Previous immigration violations
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Evidence of genuine purpose of travel
Authorities have warned that overstaying a visa can significantly reduce chances of future approval. Attempts to conceal previous refusals — such as applying with a new passport — are also scrutinised.
Applicants are generally required to submit six months of bank statements, and large last-minute deposits may raise concerns. However, in genuine emergency cases, applications may still be approved on compassionate grounds.
Wide variation between countries
While African nations recorded some of the lowest approval rates, other countries showed very high success rates:
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Russia: 94.5%
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China: 95%
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South Africa: 93.1%
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Bhutan, Montenegro, Papua New Guinea: 100% approval (though with very small application numbers)
The figures highlight both Ireland’s growing global visa demand and the strict assessment process applied to ensure compliance with immigration rules.