Ireland Visa Fee Moves Online From 16 November, UK-Visa Waiver Runs to 31 December, and the US Flight Halt: What Indian Travellers Should Know (November 2026)

Ireland visa news for Indians, November 2026: online fee payment in AVATS from 16 November, the Short-Stay Visa Waiver Programme extended to 31 December 2026 with its exact conditions, current New Delhi processing times, the end of short-stay visa appeals, and practical steps after the FAA nationwide ground stop of 13–14 November.

Krosz Visa Desk · Updated 2026-11-14 · 7 min read

Two Irish changes matter to Indian travellers this winter. From Monday, 16 November 2026, the Irish visa fee is paid inside the AVATS online application, according to the Embassy of Ireland in New Delhi. And Ireland’s Short-Stay Visa Waiver Programme, which lets many Indians with a used UK visit visa enter Ireland without a separate visa, has been extended to 31 December 2026 instead of ending on 31 October. Overnight, the US also briefly shut its skies: a nationwide FAA ground stop halted US-bound flights for about four hours, a story that was trending across India this morning.

*Information checked on 14 November 2026.*

The quick take

Irish visa fee goes online: from 16 November 2026, pay during the AVATS form and bring the payment confirmation email to the visa centre.
UK-visa waiver extended: Indians can still visit Ireland on an eligible, already-used UK short-stay visa until 31 December 2026.
Order matters: you must enter the UK first on that visa; Ireland-first trips need an Irish visa.
Allow time: an Irish visit visa from New Delhi usually takes 6–8 working weeks, plus courier time.
No appeals: since 1 June 2026, refused short-stay applicants must reapply rather than appeal.
US flight halt: the FAA ground stop ran from about 02:24 to 06:45 IST on 14 November; no visa rules changed, but expect knock-on delays.

Timeline: Ireland ended appeals for short-stay visa refusals on 1 June 2026; the UK-visa waiver was due to end on 31 October 2026 but now runs to 31 December 2026; from 16 November 2026 the Irish visa fee is paid inside the AVATS online form — Sources: Embassy of Ireland, New Delhi (page updated 12 Nov 2026); Irish Immigration Service programme notes, Oct 2026.

At a glance

Change	Effective date	Who it affects	What to do
Irish visa fee paid in AVATS	16 Nov 2026	Everyone applying for an Irish visa from India	Pay online, save the confirmation email and Transaction ID
UK-visa waiver for Ireland extended	Until 31 Dec 2026	Indians holding a used UK Visit or Business visa	Enter the UK first; finish the Ireland trip before UK leave ends
No appeals for short-stay refusals	Since 1 Jun 2026	Refused Irish visit or business applicants	Fix the gaps and reapply on AVATS
US nationwide ground stop	13–14 Nov 2026 (about 4 hrs)	Travellers flying to, from or within the US	Check flight status and rebooking options with your airline

Ireland: the visa fee now goes into the online form

What changed: the Embassy of Ireland in New Delhi has posted a customer notice saying that from Monday, 16 November 2026, Irish visa applicants must pay the fee while filling in the AVATS online application. Once paid, you should receive an email from Immigration Service Delivery in Ireland containing a Payment Transaction ID.

What Indian travellers should do: when you lodge documents at the visa centre, select “AVATS Online Payment Made” in the fee exemption field and attach a copy of the payment confirmation email. If you have not paid online and have no confirmation email, the Embassy says you pay when booking the visa centre appointment. Keep the Transaction ID with your application file, because a missing or mismatched payment record is an easy way to lose days. The Embassy has not announced any change to the fee amount itself.

Timing still matters most. The Embassy’s published usual decision time for a Visit visa is 6–8 working weeks from the day your file reaches the Embassy, and it advises applying up to 90 days before travel. Courier time between the visa centre and the Embassy adds one to two working days each way. The Embassy also says it is receiving very high volumes and is not giving status updates, so build in a buffer.

Chart: usual Irish visa decision times at the Embassy of Ireland, New Delhi: Business or Conference 4 weeks, Employment Category A 4 to 6 weeks, Study 4 to 8 weeks, Visit 6 to 8 weeks, Employment Category B 8 to 10 weeks; Join Family about 12 months — Source: Embassy of Ireland, New Delhi, processing times updated 5 Nov 2026. Usual times, not guaranteed.

Ireland: your UK visa still works until 31 December

What changed: Ireland’s Department of Justice has extended the Short-Stay Visa Waiver Programme from its previous end date of 31 October 2026 to 31 December 2026. India is one of the covered countries. The programme notes add that it may be amended at any time, and nothing has been announced for 2027.

How it works for Indians: you can travel to Ireland without an Irish visa only if all of these are true: you hold an Indian passport; you have a UK short-stay Visit visa or Visit/Business entry clearance (transit visas and marriage or civil partnership visit visas do not count); you have already entered the UK on that visa and been given leave by a UK officer; that leave is still valid; you are not living in the UK (leave of more than 180 days); and your Ireland visit ends before your UK leave ends. You can then travel to Ireland directly from the UK, or later via another country, as long as the UK leave is still running.

Common traps: flying London-to-Dublin without passing through UK immigration does not count as entering the UK. A brand-new UK visa must be used to enter the UK before it can be used for Ireland, even if you used an older UK visa that way before. On a multi-entry UK visa, it is your most recent UK leave that must still be valid. Stays are capped at 90 days per visit, the Irish border officer decides how long you get, and time in Ireland and the UK together cannot exceed 180 days.

What to do: if your UK leave ends before your Ireland dates, or your trip runs past 31 December 2026, apply for an Irish visa now rather than relying on the waiver. Indians living in India can also look at the British Irish Visa Scheme, which allows travel to both countries on one visa, and Indians living long-term in the UK need an Irish visa but do not pay the application fee.

Flowchart: can an Indian passport holder visit Ireland on a UK visa? Yes only if they hold a UK short-stay Visit or Business visa (not transit or marriage), have already entered the UK on it through UK immigration, their latest UK leave is still valid, they do not live in the UK, and the Ireland trip ends before UK leave ends and by 31 December 2026; otherwise apply for an Irish visa on AVATS — Simplified from the Irish Immigration Service programme notes (Oct 2026). Not legal advice.

Refused? Reapply, do not appeal

Since 1 June 2026, Ireland no longer accepts appeals against refused short-stay visa applications, apart from certain EU free-movement family categories. If you are refused, the only route is a new AVATS application. The Embassy notes that applicants who follow the published document guidance closely are more likely to succeed, and that easily verifiable documents, such as DigiLocker records for India residents, help avoid verification delays.

United States: the four-hour nationwide ground stop

What happened: on Friday afternoon US time, the Federal Aviation Administration ordered a nationwide ground stop for flights bound for US airports after a communications failure affected air traffic control. It was issued at 20:54 UTC (about 02:24 IST on 14 November) and lifted at 01:15 UTC (about 06:45 IST), roughly 4 hours 21 minutes later. Flightradar24 counted 4,042 US-bound flights in the air when the order came, and said inbound international flights would be handled case by case. Some Pacific and transatlantic departures were cleared during the halt, according to San Francisco and Boston airports cited by Al Jazeera. US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy blamed overloaded switches and routers that began giving inconsistent data. Indian outlets reported around 11,000 flights disrupted; airlines warned delays and cancellations would continue after the restart.

What it means for Indian travellers: this was a systems outage, not a visa, entry or security rule change, and US visas and entry requirements are unaffected. The impact is on schedules: missed connections inside the US, crew and aircraft out of position, and possible delays on India–US routes over the next day or two.

Check your flight status directly with the airline before leaving for the airport, especially for onward domestic US connections.
Keep evidence of any cancellation or delay (emails, boarding passes, rebooking confirmations).
Watch your permitted stay if you are in the US and your departure is pushed back; speak to the airline at once and keep that proof.
Students and workers returning to the US should carry their usual documents and allow extra connection time this weekend.

Timeline in India time: the US FAA issued a nationwide ground stop at 02:24 IST on 14 November 2026 with 4,042 US-bound flights airborne, some transatlantic and Pacific departures were cleared during the halt, and the stop was lifted at 06:45 IST, about 4 hours 21 minutes later — Sources: Flightradar24 live blog; Al Jazeera; ABC7 (14 Nov 2026).

What to do now

Applying for Ireland after 15 November? Pay the fee inside AVATS and keep the confirmation email for the visa centre.
Holding a UK visit visa? Check the five waiver conditions before you book Ireland, and make sure the trip finishes by 31 December 2026.
Ireland first, or a trip into January? Apply for an Irish visa now, allowing 6–8 working weeks plus courier time.
Flying to the US this weekend? Confirm your flights and connections with the airline before you travel.

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Sources

*This article reflects information published up to 14 November 2026 and is general information, not legal or immigration advice. Always confirm requirements with the Irish Immigration Service, the Embassy of Ireland, your airline or a qualified adviser before you act.*

Frequently asked questions

How do I pay the Irish visa fee from 16 November 2026?

The Embassy of Ireland in New Delhi says applicants must pay the visa fee during the AVATS online application from Monday 16 November 2026. You should then get a payment confirmation email with a Payment Transaction ID. At the visa centre, choose “AVATS Online Payment Made” as the fee exemption reason and hand in a copy of that email. If you have not paid online and have no confirmation email, you pay when booking your visa centre appointment.

Can I visit Ireland on my UK visa?

Yes, under the Short-Stay Visa Waiver Programme, now extended to 31 December 2026, if you hold an Indian passport and an eligible UK short-stay Visit or Business visa, you have already entered the UK on that visa through UK immigration, your latest UK leave is still valid, and you do not live in the UK. Your Ireland trip must end before your UK leave ends.

Can I fly to Ireland first and then go to the UK?

Not on a UK visa alone. The waiver only works after you have entered the UK on that visa. If Ireland is your first stop, or you only transit through a UK airport without passing UK immigration, you need an Irish visa.

How long can I stay in Ireland under the waiver?

Up to 90 days or until your UK leave ends, whichever comes first. The Irish immigration officer at the port of entry decides whether to admit you and for how long, and the combined time in Ireland and the UK is capped at 180 days.

What happens to the waiver after 31 December 2026?

The Irish authorities have only confirmed it until 31 December 2026 and say it may be amended at any time. No decision on 2027 has been announced, so if your trip runs into January, plan to apply for an Irish visa or check the Irish immigration website before booking.

Can I appeal if my Irish tourist visa is refused?

No. Since 1 June 2026, short-stay visa refusals can no longer be appealed, except for certain EU free-movement family categories. You need to make a fresh application on AVATS with the documents listed for your visa type.

Does the US ground stop affect my US visa?

The FAA halt on 13–14 November was an air traffic control systems problem, not a visa or entry rule change, and it was lifted after about four hours. It does not change any US visa rule. If a cancelled flight pushes your departure from the US close to the end of your permitted stay, keep proof of the disruption and speak to your airline straight away.

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