A group of Iranian nationals seeking to resettle in Ireland for work, education, or research purposes is urging Irish authorities to address significant delays in visa processing, which have had a detrimental impact on their plans.
In a petition initiated by the affected individuals, they are calling for faster visa processing, as many have been waiting for their visas for between seven to 13 months. This delay has caused missed job opportunities and academic positions, severely affecting their careers and lives. While only a dozen individuals are directly seeking faster processing, it is estimated that hundreds of Iranian nationals are impacted by the ongoing delays.
According to data from the Irish Department of Justice, in 2024, a total of 350 long-term visa applications were submitted by Iranian nationals. Of these, 190 were approved (54%), 29 were refused (8%), and 131 were still pending (37%).
In comparison to applicants from countries like India, China, and Pakistan, Iran has one of the highest percentages of pending applications. While only 5.9% of Indian visa applications are still pending, and just 2.6% of Chinese applications remain unresolved, the percentage of pending applications for Iranians is much higher at 37%.
Iranian Scholars Demand Action to Resolve Visa Delays
The Iranian group has made two key requests to the Irish authorities. First, they are calling for the expedited processing of long-pending applications. Second, they urge the authorities to address the backlog by allocating additional resources to process these applications and ensure more consistent processing times for all applicants.
Despite their efforts to reach out, including emails to the head of the Honorary Consulate of Ireland in Tehran and the new ambassador, the group has not received clear responses. As of February 18, 2025, the new ambassador has not responded to their emails. Schengen.News has also contacted the Irish Embassy in Tehran for clarification but has not yet received a reply.
