Irish Student Visa

Ireland houses nine top universities worldwide, 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 fourth position and third among 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 further studies.

As a foreign student, if one is willing to study in Ireland and apply for an Irish Student Visa, one must undertake a course with a minimum duration of 3 months. One has to apply online for an 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 enrolled in shorter courses and paid the full fees will be considered Educational Tourists. Since they will stay 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, and 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 three 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 for up to 7 years upon entering Ireland.

Who Needs to Apply for the Irish Student Visa?

EU/EEA and Switzerland students 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 qualify for an IRP, the candidate must also be above 16.

Cost of Irish Student Visa

• The fee for processing the application for a Single Entry Visa is Euro 60, which is around $70. The fee for a Multi-Entry Visa is Euro 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 Euro 300, which is approximately $348. If the card gets stolen, the candidate must report to the nearest Garda station, 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 Irish Student D-type Visa

An international student does not need to apply for a study visa if they live in Switzerland or the EU/EEA and want to study in Ireland. It is for others to start applying for a visa to enter Ireland. Interested candidates must take the following steps:

Getting Letter of Acceptance

If international students wish to study in Ireland, they must first decide which institution/university they want to attend. Ireland is the home of nine of the world's most prestigious universities, including Trinity College. To be considered for a course at an Irish university, international students can apply online to the Central Applications Office or directly to the university of their choice.

Filling out the Application Form

After receiving an acceptance letter from an Irish university, students must visit the website of the Irish Naturalization and Immigration Service. Students must provide information on this website when applying for a visa or preclearance. A red asterisk (*) designates information that students are required to provide. Unless otherwise indicated, every piece of information is required. The following information must be filled out:

• Nationality- When choosing a passport for travel, applicants with dual nationality should select the nation that issued the document. The applicant should select "Stateless" if they are a refugee and have a travel document issued under the 1951 Convention.
• Motive for Traveling- Remember that the kind of application that was made available to students for this answer was limited by the nationality that they selected in the first question. They should select "Other" if their reason for traveling is not listed in this list.
• Visa Type or Preclearance- Applicants must choose between a short stay (C) and a long stay (D) based on the travel purpose they chose in the preceding question. All of the applications for pre-clearance are Long Stay (D).
• Single or Multiple Journey Visa- An applicant with a single journey visa is only permitted one trip to Ireland during the duration of the visa. During the duration of the visa, an applicant with a multiple-journey visa is permitted multiple entries into Ireland. The applicant has to select one of the two.
• Purpose of Travel- This option, while optional, is crucial for applicants who selected "Other" in the second question when asked why they were traveling. Applicants must provide further pertinent details about why they are traveling to Ireland.
• Passport Details- The applicant must answer this question with their passport number and the kind of passport they currently possess.
• Dates Under Consideration- The dates that the applicant plans to enter and exit the nation must be entered. Applicants may omit the "To" field if they request pre-clearance or a long-term visa.
• Personal details- The applicant must fill out the following personal information:
  • Surname, forename, or maiden name as shown on the passport.
  • Date of Birth.
  • Gender
  • Nation of Birth
  • Their current country of residence
  • The complete current address
  • Telephone number and email address

The applicant's response to the "Reason to Travel" question may influence other questions in the application process. Certain questions are required, and candidates may respond with a "Yes" or "No." These are:

• Biometric information- The applicant may be required to provide their biometric information, such as their fingerprints and live capture facial image, as part of the application process. This question is located in the middle of the Immigration History and Criminal Record section.
• Immigration history and criminal record- Applicants must provide details about their immigration background, place of residence, family members residing in Ireland, past criminal convictions, and other related matters in this section.
• Passport issue and expiry- The applicant must type the name of the nation or establishment that issued their travel document or passport. The applicant must provide the date and expiration date of the passport or travel document. The applicant will then be prompted to provide any information from a prior passport, if any.
• Employment and college- Applicants must fill out information about their study program, employment, and other related details in this section.
• Travelling with others- If students are traveling with anyone else, including family members, business associates, or other travelers in a group, they must fill out this section with more information about them.
• Contact/Host in Ireland- Applicants need to provide information about their host or contact in Ireland. If they don't have a host or contact, they need to
• Family members- Applicants must select whether they are in a civil partnership, single, married, widowed, divorced, separated, or have an unmarried partner. They must also provide some basic information about them.
• Details of Course- Candidates must provide details about the courses they plan to study in Ireland. They must provide information about their qualifications, financial assistance, employment history, English proficiency, and any sponsors they may have.
• Assistance for filling form- To complete the form, applicants must supply information about any agent or agency they have received assistance from.
• Application Number- Upon completion of the application, the candidate will receive a unique eight-digit application number. Before saving their form, the applicant needs to write down this number.

Upon finishing the application, candidates will see a Declaration that needs to be carefully read and verified. They will then review the information and press the submit button. Subsequently, candidates must print the application and sign the form's declaration.

Gathering the Required Documents

The documentation needed may differ depending on the country. It is recommended that students inquire with the Irish Embassy or Consulate in their nation or visit the website mentioned on the application regarding the precise documentation needed. The required paperwork must be in English or be accompanied by a notarized translation, and it cannot be photocopied.

Documents Required to Apply for D-type Study Visa

• The applicant must submit a filled-out application form and their signature.
• Two passport-sized color photographs (45-50mm in height and 35-38mm in width) that are not more than six months old. The applicant's name and visa application reference number must be noted at the back of the photograph in block letters. The background should be white.
• A valid passport, with at least 12 months of validity and old passports, if any.
• An authorized application letter with 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 enrollment at an institution in Ireland. The Letter of Acceptance issued by Ireland's education provider and the fee receipt must be submitted.
• If a foreign student has a gap in their education, they must submit an undertaking with a valid reason for the gap. If one was working in the "gap period," employment details must be submitted.
• A copy of the 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 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 and the study visa application must be submitted.
• If other countries have refused one a visa, 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 an Ireland Study Visa, one must provide information about their accommodation in Ireland.
• While applying for an Ireland Student Visa, one must provide proof of their proficiency in English according to the Minimum English Language Requirements, or the Irish language.

Submitting the Application Form and Waiting for Decision

The application will direct applicants to a website where they can review the specifics of the submission procedure, required paperwork, costs, and other information. The application must be submitted to the Irish embassy, consulate, or visa application office. To apply, applicants must make and keep an appointment. After that, they'll be able to see how their application is progressing. The time it takes to process a study permit application varies depending on the applicant's home country.

Steps to be Taken to Extend the Stay in Ireland

The D-type Study visa is valid for 90 days. 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 to complete their course. Upon approval, the student is given immigration permission to remain in Ireland for one 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 must show proof of course enrollment and a university acceptance letter. Proof of financial funds and medical insurance will also need to be submitted. The cost of registration is Euro 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 part-time for up to 20 hours per week during semesters and 40 hours per week during holidays. The holidays are from December 15 to January 15 and from June 1 to September 30 per year.

Obtaining a Personal Public Services Number(PPS) to work while studying is mandatory. 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 not on this list can study full-time but will not be allowed to work, and they come under 'Stamp 2A'. Students pursuing accountancy as a training course will come under the 'Stamp 1A' category. This permits the student to undergo paid accountancy training on a full-time basis.

Appealing Visa Refusal

If a candidate is refused a Study Visa, a 'letter of refusal' will be sent to the candidate, which will also include why 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. If the authority finds any details about the false candidate, the candidate will be denied the right to appeal. In this case, the candidate will not be allowed to apply for a new visa for up to five years. Students should remember that the appeal should not be sent via email but must be sent to the office address via post. If the appeal is accepted, the student will be notified and given further instructions on securing the visa. If the appeal is refused, the student will receive another refusal letter and cannot appeal again. Under such circumstances, the candidate is allowed to reapply for a new visa.

Some Things to Remember

• During their first year of study, students can only switch programs under very special circumstances.
• In Ireland, students can benefit from discounts using valid student identifications.
• Remember that the applicant is not required to complete the application in one go. They can save the data and finish the form over 30 days.