Nearly 63,000 people were refused visas to travel to Ireland over the past two years, with applicants from some countries facing rejection rates of more than 90 percent, according to figures released by the Department of Justice.
The data, obtained under Freedom of Information laws following an appeal to the Information Commissioner, provides a detailed country-by-country breakdown of visa decisions for 2024 and 2025. More than 321,000 visa applications were granted during that period.
In 2025 alone, over 205,000 applications were submitted for business, work, or leisure travel. Decisions were finalised in approximately 195,000 cases. Of those, 161,084 were approved while 34,089 were rejected, representing an overall approval rate of 82.5 percent.
India accounted for one of the highest volumes of applications. In 2025, decisions were made in respect of 72,137 Indian nationals, with 92.4 percent granted visas. China and South Africa also recorded high approval rates. Of the 16,511 applications from China that were finalised, nearly 95 percent were approved. South Africa saw 12,500 decisions, with 93.1 percent granted.
At the other end of the scale, applicants from Burundi had the lowest approval rate. Of 136 decisions made in respect of the East African country, only 11 visas were granted, representing a success rate of 8.1 percent. Cameroon recorded a 9 percent approval rate, while Togo stood at 16.9 percent and Gambia at 28.6 percent.
An analysis of the Department’s figures shows that the ten lowest approval rates were all from African states, including Guinea, Congo, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Algeria, Djibouti, and Malawi. By contrast, some countries recorded 100 percent approval rates, though these were based on small numbers of applications, including Bhutan, Montenegro, and Papua New Guinea.
Applications from Russia were granted at a rate of 94.5 percent, compared with 74 percent for applicants from the Palestinian National Authority. Of the 13,662 visa requests from Pakistan finalised last year, fewer than 53 percent were approved. The Department also confirmed that 245 visa decisions were made in cases involving stateless persons, of which 86.9 percent were granted.
Alongside the statistical breakdown, internal Department of Justice documents detailing guidance for processing visas were also released. The Department had initially refused to provide the material, arguing that disclosure could adversely affect immigration controls, but the documents were made public following an appeal under FOI legislation.
The internal guidance advises visa officers to be alert to passport tampering and instances where an applicant may have previously overstayed a visa. Replacement passports are flagged as a potential concern, with the document noting they are “often obtained to hide previous visa refusals.”
Officials are also warned to scrutinise large cash deposits made shortly before planned travel. Instead, they are advised to review six months of bank statements and supporting payslip evidence to assess financial stability. Officers are further instructed to “trust your instincts” and “not be afraid to make a decision,” while maintaining objective language in case notes, as written records may be accessed by applicants or their legal representatives through FOI requests or judicial review.
The manuals outline that decisions are based on assessments of whether an applicant may overstay, breach the Common Travel Area with the UK, or become a burden on the State. Travel history, financial stability, and previous compliance with immigration rules are listed as key considerations.
The guidance also confirms that visas may be granted in exceptional or compassionate circumstances, even where standard requirements are not fully satisfied. The publication of the data is expected to prompt further debate over regional disparities and transparency within Ireland’s visa system.
