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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:
- 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 enough funds to maintain you and pay your fees for the remainder of your stay.
- 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.
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. |
Student visas to study in 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.
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
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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. |
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| Complete the application form (pdf) for a student visa. Answer the questions on the 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. |
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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
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Access to employment while in Ireland on a student visa |
Citizens from countries outside the EU/EEA (that is, the 25 EU member states and Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway) who are registered as full-time students with the Garda Síochána 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 18th 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 18th 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. |
Links |
| Moving to Ireland for 3rd Level Education |
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