This guide gives the contact details of the Embassy of Ireland in New Delhi, lists the Indian cities with an Irish consulate or honorary consulate, and brings together the visa, mobility, air transport and consular points in the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) bilateral brief of May 2026. Contact details are taken from the MEA Protocol Division register, read on 24 September 2026.

Embassy of Ireland in New Delhi

According to the MEA brief of May 2026, the Irish Embassy in New Delhi was opened in 1964, which the brief notes was before Moscow, Tokyo and Beijing. The contact details recorded in the MEA Protocol Division register are:

As of 24 September 2026, the register lists the head of mission as H.E. Mr. Kevin Kelly, Ambassador.

Consulate and honorary consulates

The register lists an Irish consulate in Mumbai and honorary consulates in three cities:

  • Bengaluru
  • Chennai
  • Kolkata

The brief gives the history of these offices. Honorary Consulates were set up in Mumbai in 1976 and Bengaluru in 2000, and in Chennai in 2010 and Kolkata in 2017. The Irish Government opened a full-fledged Consulate General in Mumbai in April 2019, as part of its Asia-Pacific outreach policy. On 1 April 2026, it officially announced new dedicated Tourism Ireland support and staff in India.

National day

The national day of Ireland is 17 March (St. Patrick's Day).

Visas and travel

The brief records that the Electronic Tourist Visa facility for travel to India was extended to Ireland with effect from 15 August 2015, with no reciprocity. It also notes that Ireland gained traction as a tourist attraction after the introduction of the common British Irish Visa Scheme (BIVS).

The brief does not set out visa requirements, fees or processing times for travel to Ireland. Readers planning to travel, study or work in Ireland should check current requirements with the Embassy of Ireland or its website.

Work permits and residence

The brief records two decisions by the Irish Government that it describes as having positive implications for the Indian community:

  • In March 2019, spouses and partners of Critical Skill Employment Permit holders were no longer required to obtain an additional work permit. The brief says this is likely to attract more Indian high-skilled workers to Ireland, particularly in the high-tech, medical and management sectors.
  • In April 2019, GNIB card holders were no longer required to obtain a re-entry visa.

Mobility and migration

Irish Minister of State for Migration Mr. Colm Brophy visited India from 7-12 January 2026 and met Minister of State for Home Affairs Shri Bandi Sanjay Kumar. The brief lists an Agreement on Mobility & Migration and visa free travel for holders of Diplomatic/Official passports among the agreements in the pipeline.

An Agreement on authorization for dependents of Diplomatic, Consular, Technical and Administrative Staff of Diplomatic and Consular Missions to engage in Gainful Employment was signed on 21 March 2018.

Air transport

An Agreement on Air Transport between India and Ireland was signed in February 1991. The brief does not give details of flights or routes, and travellers should confirm current options with airlines.

India's mission in Ireland

India opened its Embassy in Dublin in 1951. According to the brief, during the period 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026 the Embassy of India rendered 8858 passport and 6640 OCI services, issued 1347 visas and 94 Emergency Certificates, attested 3986 documents and issued 3216 birth certificates.

At the outset of the Covid pandemic in March 2020, the Embassy put in place support structures to assist Indian citizens, and two Vande Bharat Mission repatriation flights were organised from Dublin to destinations in India for stranded citizens in May-June 2020. Indian nationals in Ireland who need consular help should approach the Embassy of India in Dublin.

Getting help

For any matter involving Ireland, readers should contact the Embassy of Ireland in New Delhi or the consulate in Mumbai in the first instance. Diplo does not publish office hours or a list of services, because these are not given in the official sources used for this guide.

Honorary consuls have limited powers, and an honorary consulate may not be able to deal with every request. Readers should confirm current requirements, and which office can help, with the Embassy of Ireland before they travel or submit documents.