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International Students Information:
- Travelling to Ireland for study
- Access to employment while in Ireland on a student visa
- Renewal of student visas
- Extending a student visa
- Rules: People who do not require visas to visit Ireland
- Travellers from Hong Kong
- Travellers from British Dependent Territories (Colonies)
- If I don't need an entry visa to enter Ireland, do I need a student visa to study?
- Rates
- How To Apply
- Extending a student visa for Ireland
- Where To Apply
Travelling to Ireland for study
Citizens of certain countries who wish to pursue a course of study in Ireland must apply for a visa to enter Ireland before they travel here. (See Rules for a list of those who require a visa to study in Ireland.) Students from the EU/EEA do not require a student visa to study in Ireland.
If you would like to study in Ireland and require a visa, you will need to present the following to your nearest Irish embassy or consulate with your visa application. (Please remember, original doucments are required and must be in English or accompanied by a notarised translation):
- Letter of acceptance from a recognised school/college/university in Ireland confirming that you have been accepted on a course of study. This course of study must be full-time (lasting an academic year) and have a minimum of 15 hours per week study time.
- Evidence of your academic ability to pursue the chosen course through the English language (unless it is an English language course).
- Evidence that the fees for the course have been paid in full.
- Evidence that you have enough funds (7,000 euro as of November 2005) to maintain yourself for the initial part of your stay.
- Evidence that you or a sponsor have access to at least 7,000 euro for each subsequent year of your studies, in addition to the course fees for each of those years.
- Evidence that you have private medical insurance
- An explanation of any gaps in your educational history
- Confirmation that you intend to return to your country of permanent residence when you leave Ireland.
Remember, the granting of a student visa to study in Ireland does not confer the automatic right of anyone to join or visit you in Ireland (whether they are a relative or not).
You will find more detailed information on the exact requirements for a student visa on the website of the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform.
Access to employment while in Ireland on a student visa
Citizens from countries outside the EU/EEA (that is, the 27 EU member states member states and Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway) who are registered as full-time students with the Garda SÃochána are permitted to work part-time in Ireland (up to a maximum of 20 hours a week and full-time during vacation periods) to support themselves. Read more information on employment rights of part-time workers in Ireland here.
Since 18 April 2005 new students given permission to remain in Ireland for study cannot be given permission to work unless they are attending a full-time course of at least a year leading to a recognised qualification (recognised qualifications include those issued by the Dublin Institute of Technology, the universities, FETAC and HETAC). This change does not affect students who had permission to remain on the 18 April 2005. These students can continue to work part-time and study in Ireland for the remaining period of their visa. (See 'Renewal of student visas' below.)
The Department of Education and Science has compiled a 'Register of Programmes Recognised by the Minister for Education and Science for purposes of student access to employment'. The Register of Programmes is divided into two parts:
- Programmes in a range of disciplines offered to students in third-level and further education colleges that lead to qualifications validated under the National Framework of Qualifications or a similar awarding body in another jurisdiction or qualifications validated by a professional body with a basis in Irish law.
- English language programmes that are approved by the Department of Education and Science on the basis of the Advisory Council for English Language Schools (ACELS) inspection scheme.
Full-time courses are courses of at least one year's duration. The academic year is considered to be 25 weeks (rather than 52 weeks) so courses of this length will qualify for inclusion on the register.
Renewal of student visas
Since 1 January 2005 students who are not on full-time courses of at least a year leading to a recognised qualification will only be allowed to extend their study visas when the total period of permissions granted (and requested) is no longer than 18 months in total. If the student had permission to remain before 1 January 2005 this 18-month period is calculated from 1 January 2005.
Extending a student visa
If you wish to study in Ireland for less than three months you should apply for a 'C study visa'. If your course lasts longer than three months, you should apply for a 'D study visa'.
If you hold a 'C study visa' and wish to extend the period of your stay in Ireland, you should visit the District Headquarters of the Garda District where you live and present yourself to the Registration Officer. You may also be requested to apply in writing for your visa extension to the Immigration and Naturalisation Service of the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform.
Generally speaking, the duration of a 'C study visa', (that is, a three-month visa for study in Ireland) is not extended once you have arrived in Ireland. Extensions will be granted in exceptional cases only. It's very important therefore to make sure you know the duration of your course before you apply for a visa. Further information on how to apply to extend a student visa is under 'How to apply' below.
Rules
People who do not require visas to visit Ireland
You do not require a visa to visit Ireland if you are a citizen of an EU/EEA member state or if you are from one of the countries listed below.
You require a visa if you are from a country not listed below.
| Andorra | Antigua and Barbuda |
| Argentina | Australia |
| Bahamas | Barbados |
| Belize | Bolivia |
| Botswana | Brazil |
| Brunei | Canada |
| Chile | Costa Rica |
| Croatia | Dominica |
| El Salvador | Fiji |
| Grenada | Guatemala |
| Guyana | Honduras |
| Hong Kong (SAR)* | Iceland |
| Israel | Japan |
| Kiribati | Lesotho |
| Liechtenstein | Macao (SAR) |
| Malawi | Malaysia |
| Maldives | Mauritius |
| Mexico | Monaco |
| Nauru | New Zealand |
| Nicaragua | Norway |
| Panama | Paraguay |
| Saint Kitts and Nevis | Saint Lucia |
| Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | Samoa |
| San Marino | Seychelles |
| Singapore | Solomon Islands |
| South Africa | South Korea |
| Swaziland | Switzerland |
| Tonga | Trinidad and Tobago |
| Tuvalu | United States of America |
| Uruguay | Vanuatu |
| Vatican City | Venezuela |
Travellers from Hong Kong
*If you have a Hong Kong Certificate of Identity, you will need an entry visa if you want to travel to Ireland.
You do not need an entry visa if you hold a British Hong Kong passport and have a right of abode in Great Britain.
If you have a British Hong Kong passport but have a right of abode in Hong Kong only, you will not need an entry visa but will be subject to full foreign national controls relating to registration, permission to remain, work permits, etc.
Travellers from British Dependent Territories (Colonies)
You do not require a visa if you are from British Dependent Territories (Colonies), which are:
- Anguilla
- Bermuda
- British Antarctic Territory (South Georgia, South Sandwich Islands)
- British Indian Ocean Territory (Chagos Archipelago, Peros Banos, Diego Garcia, Danger Island)
- Cayman Islands
- Falkland Islands and Dependencies
- Gibraltar
- Montserrat
- Pitcairn (Henderson, Ducie and Oneno Islands)
- St. Helena and Dependencies (Ascension Island, Tristan Da Cunha)
- The Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia
- Turks and Caicos Island
- British Virgin Islands
If I don't need an entry visa to enter Ireland, do I need a student visa to study?
No. If you do not require an entry visa enter Ireland (that is, if you are an EU/EEA national or from a country listed in the box above), you do not require a student visa to study in Ireland. However, you should have all documentation relating to your studies on your person when coming through immigration. In other words, you should have your letter of offer of a place at the school, or educational institution ready for inspection at immigration.
If you will be studying in Dublin, you must bring this documentation to the Garda National Immigration Bureau (see 'Where to apply' below) when you come in to have your passport stamped. If you live in a Garda District outside of Dublin, you must bring this documentation to the Garda District Headquarters and present yourself to the Registration Officer in order to have your passport stamped.
Rates
Standard non-refundable visa application processing fees are:
Single-journey visa: 60 euro
Multiple-journey visa: 100 visa
Certain applicants are not required to pay a fee. They include non-EU Spouses of EU citizens and nationals of the countries listed below:
- Bosnia
- Ecuador
- Indonesia
- Ivory Coast
- Jamaica
- Kirghizstan
- Morocco
- Peru
- Sri Lanka
- Tanzania
- Tunisia
- Uganda
- Serbia and Montenegro
- Zambia
How to apply
Download and complete the application form for a student visa (pdf). Answer the questions (in English) on the student visa questionnaire (pdf). Send the completed form and questionnaire to the Irish embassy or consulate in or accredited to the country in which you normally live. If there is no Irish Embassy or Consulate in your country, send your visa application to your nearest Irish embassy or consulate or to the Visa Office, Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service, 13-14 Burgh Quay, Dublin 2.
Extending a student visa for Ireland
The Registration Officer in your area (Garda National Immigration Bureau if in Dublin) can advise you on any application forms you will need to complete to extend your student visa. Your application to extend your visa should contain the following information:
- Details of and proof of payment of course/study fees
- Details of the course of study
- Information on where you will live
- Evidence that you are self-sufficient
- Copy of your passport with your original study visa
- Visa reference number and your nationality
- Details of attendance if this is a further education course.
Where To Apply
If you require a visa in order to study in Ireland, your application must be made to your nearest Irish embassy or consulate before you travel.
Garda National Immigration Bureau
13/14 Burgh Quay
Dublin 2
IRELAND
Tel: +353 1 666 9100
Fax: +353 1 666 9100
Homepage: http://www.garda.ie/angarda/gnib.html
Email: gnib@iol.ie
Opening Hours: Mon to Thurs inclusive: 8am to 10pm
Wheelchair Access: Unknown
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