Ireland Student Visa

Ireland houses 9 top universities of the world, with the prestigious Trinity College being one of them. Among the 38 members of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Ireland’s education system ranks in the 4th position and 3rd in the 27 European Union countries. With the advancement of economic development and improved educational infrastructure, Ireland is undoubtedly one of the most sought-after countries for foreign nationals willing to pursue their further studies.

As a foreign student, if one is willing to study in Ireland and apply for an Irish Student Visa, then they must undertake a course that has a minimum duration of 3 months. One has to apply online for their Irish Study Visa with all the required documents. Upon submission of the visa application, one must print the summary form and submit it with other supporting documents.

Types of Student Visas and their Validity

• C-Type Study Visa (Short Stay Visas): If an international student is looking to study a short course (generally a training course) of 90 days (3 months) or less, then they should apply for this visa. Students who have enrolled in shorter courses and have paid the full fees will be considered as Educational Tourists. Since they will be staying in Ireland for a short duration, they don’t have to register with the Ireland Immigration Department. There are approximately 47 recognized short-term certificate courses in Ireland. Legal Training for Child Protection and Welfare Practitioners, Applied Behavior Analysis, General Learning Disabilities, Teaching Happiness: Positive Psychology for Behavior and Learning are a few of the short duration (3 months) courses offered by various reputed universities in Ireland.
• D-Type Study Visa (Long Stay Visas): If an international student is looking to study in Ireland for a course period longer than 3 months, they will have to apply for the D-Type study visa. Before applying for this visa, one must enroll at an educational institution for a full-time program. This visa is valid for 90 days but can be extended upon entering Ireland for up to 7 years.

Who Needs to Apply for the Ireland Student Visa?

Students from EU/EEA, and Switzerland do not need to apply for a study visa or the Irish Residence Permit (IRP) in Ireland. There is a list of countries that need to apply for an Ireland Visa, and a list of those nations exempt from it. Candidates from non-EU/EEA nations such as Canada, Japan, the United States of America, Vatican City, Israel, Singapore, South Africa, and so on, are exempt from applying for an Ireland Visa. They are also exempt from applying for a student visa if they wish to study in Ireland. They will only have to register for the Irish Residence Permit (IRP). To be qualified to register for an IRP, the candidate must also be above 16 years of age.

Cost of Ireland Student Visas

• The fee for processing the application for a Single Entry Visa is €60, which is around $70. The fee for a Multi-Entry Visa is €100, which is $116.
• Candidates from countries such as Ecuador, Peru, Indonesia, Serbia, Jamaica, Sri Lanka, etc., do not have to pay any fee for the application for an Ireland Visa.
• For the registration of the IRP, the applicant must pay an amount of €300, which is approximately $348. In case the card gets stolen, the candidate must report to the nearest Garda station, that is the Irish police force. If the card is not found, one may have to reapply for the IRP and repay for its application.

Steps to Applying for Ireland Student Visa

• The student is ideally required to apply 3 months/90 days before the date of travel.
• Apply online for the visa through the AVATS application system.
• After the application has been submitted, the student will receive a summary document which will also have details about the required supporting documentation. This summary page is to be signed and printed.
• The documents to be submitted must be either in English or in Irish. If not, they must be fully translated to any of these languages.
• The student may be asked to submit their biometric information for the process.
• Submit the form, along with the documents and fee, and wait for the approval of the visa.

Documents Required to Apply for Ireland Student Visa

• The applicant must submit a filled-out application form along with their signature.
• Two passport-sized color photographs (45-50mm in height and 35-38mm in width) that are not more than 6 months old. The applicant’s name and reference number of the visa application must be noted at the back of the photograph in block letters. The background should be white.
• A valid passport, with a minimum of 12 months of validity along with old passports, if any.
• An authorized letter of application that has all the personal information and contact details.
• A filled-out questionnaire with the applicant’s signature.
• Signed undertaking that on completion of the study program, one will return to their country of origin.
• One must submit proof of being enrolled at an institution in Ireland. The Letter of Acceptance issued by Ireland’s education provider along with the fee receipt has to be submitted.
• In case, a foreign student has a gap in their education, then they must submit an undertaking with a valid reason for the gap. If one was working in the ‘gap period’, then employment details are to be submitted.
• A copy of Electronic Transfer of Funds (ETF) to the Irish Bank of College, with the bank and personal details of the beneficiary and sender is required.
• One has to submit proof of their academic eligibility for the desired study program.
• Proof of financial capability to sustain oneself while studying in Ireland.
• Details of the applicant's medical insurance must be submitted along with the study visa application.
• In case, one has been refused a visa by other countries, they must submit the original letter of refusal. Failing to do so means that one’s Ireland Study Visa application may get canceled.
• While applying for Ireland Study Visa, one must provide information about their accommodation in Ireland.
• While applying for Ireland Student Visa, one must provide proof of their proficiency in English according to the Minimum English Language Requirements, or the Irish language.

Steps to be Taken to Extend the Stay in Ireland

The D-type Study visa is valid for 90 days and upon arrival in Ireland, the student will have to register with the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) before this period is over, to be able to stay for more than 90 days in order to complete their course. Upon approval, the student is given immigration permission to stay in Ireland for 1 year. The registration can be renewed annually for up to 7 years. The application and renewal can be done at the local Immigration Office. The student will have to show proof of their course enrolment along with the Letter of Acceptance from their university. Proof of financial funds and medical insurance will also need to be submitted. The cost of registration is €150 per registration.

Working While Studying in Ireland

Students from the European Union (EU) or European Economic Area (EEA) can work in Ireland while pursuing their study programs without any restrictions. They are eligible to work on a full-time or part-time basis. However, non-EU/EEA students can work on a part-time basis for up to 20 hours per week during semesters and 40 hours per week during holidays. The holiday period is considered from December 15 to January 15 and from June 1 to September 30 per year.

It is also mandatory to be enrolled in a full-time course that is included in the Interim List of Eligible Programmes (ILEP) in Ireland. These students come under the 'Stamp 2' category. Students who will pursue a course that is not on this list can study full-time, but will not be allowed to work, and they come under the 'Stamp 2A'. Students who will pursue accountancy as a training course will come under the category of 'Stamp 1A'. This permits the student to undergo paid accountancy training on a full-time basis.

Appealing Visa Refusal

In case a candidate is refused a Study Visa, a 'letter of refusal' will be sent to the candidate which will also include the reason they have been denied the visa. The reason/reasons stated in this letter will determine if the student has the right to object to the decision and send an appeal. The appeal must be submitted within 60 days/two months of receiving the refusal letter. If the student fails to submit the appeal within the stipulated period, the application will be automatically rejected, and the student will have to reapply.

The reasons for the appeal should be stated clearly. In case the authority finds any detail about the candidate that is false, the candidate will be denied the right to appeal. In this case, the candidate will also not be allowed to apply for a new visa for up to five years. Students should keep in mind that the appeal should not be sent via email and must be sent to the office address via post. In case the appeal is accepted, the student will be notified along with further instructions to secure the visa. In case the appeal is refused, the student will receive another refusal letter, and will not be able to appeal again. Under such circumstances, the candidate is allowed to reapply for a new visa.

Conditions for Non-EU Students

• One must provide proof of full payment of course fee to the education provider.
• One cannot avail of any State benefits.
• One must maintain their attendance and show proof of their academic progress before advancing to the next year of the desired study program.
• A degree student can study in Ireland for a maximum of seven years.
• One must provide a letter of renewal to prove the maintenance of their private medical insurance.

Benefits of Studying in Ireland

• English-speaking country: Since Ireland is an English-speaking country, an international student won’t feel alienated while living and studying here. Moreover, Ireland’s close economic and educational ties with English-speaking countries, like the UK and the US, make it a more favorable destination for international students to pursue their further studies in Ireland.
• Secure and friendly inhabitants: Ireland ranks 12th in the 2020 Global Peace Index indicating the low crime rates of Ireland. Moreover, the friendly and welcoming inhabitants of Ireland help foreign nationals to assimilate and integrate with the Irish culture and habits.
• Internationally acclaimed courses: Ireland’s diverse and acclaimed educational courses are recognized all over the world for their excellence. An international student willing to study in Ireland can choose his/her study program from a wide array of courses offered by various renowned Irish Universities.
• Nurturing educational environment: The Government of Ireland has set up dedicated international offices that work closely with international students for any kind of administrative or academic work. With the help of these supportive offices, international students get direct access to facilities, pieces of information, services, etc.
• Distinguished degree holders: Ireland’s innovative and creative courses with world-class educational infrastructure, deliver distinguished degree holders in their respective fields who are representative of Ireland’s academic excellence. With a degree from Ireland’s renowned Universities, it is certain for an individual to secure themselves with a well-paid job across the globe.
• Growing economic development: Top companies like- Pfizer, Apple, Facebook, Google, Intel chose Ireland as their base in Europe. With such a developed and innovative employment infrastructure, it is indeed a wise decision for international students to study in Ireland and get themselves acquainted with the raging economic development.

Some Things to Remember

Due to the ongoing Covid-19 crisis, the Ireland Government has made new changes in Ireland Student Visa. Visas only for Emergency and Priority services are being issued for the time being. Interviews for international protection applicants and tribunal hearings at the International Protection Appeals Tribunal have been suspended until further notice. Wearing a mask and maintaining social distancing is mandatory in public places, failing to do so might attract a penalty.