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Visa & Immigration Support

 

Do You Need to Apply for a Visa?

  • If you are from an EU/EAA country you do not require a visa to study in Ireland.
  • Non-EU/EEA students will need to have a letter of acceptance and have paid your fees to study in Ireland.
  • Depending on your nationality, you may also require a visa. Find out what you need to enter Ireland based on your nationality on the Irish Immigration website.
  • All non-EU/EAA students staying over 90 days must register with Irish Immigration (ISD).

 

If you Require a Visa to Study in Ireland
 
You will complete a booking form and forward a copy of your passport. We will issue an invoice of the course fees, fees must be paid through Transfermate and will be held in escrow pending the visa decision. When your course payment is confirmed we can issue your letter of acceptance and you can apply for your visa.
 
Visa applications geberally take 6 to 8 weeks and we reccommend applying 3 months before your course start date to avoid delays.
 

Submitting your Visa Application

 

In order to apply for a visa:

  1. Complete the online application form www.visas.inis.gov.ie/AVATS/OnlineHome.aspx
  2. Gather supporting documentation, passport photograph and fee.
  3. The online application system will automatically request students to submit documentation to the embassy.

Please check the following webpages for additional information on visa applications: https://www.dfa.ie/travel/visas/visas-for-ireland/ & http://www.inis.gov.ie/en/INIS/Pages/Study

 

Tracking your application

Track your application by contacting the Embassy or Consulate to which it was submitted, quoting the reference number from your application.

If you sent your application to Dublin, you should contact Immigration Service Delivery directly.

 

Notification

If you applied at an Embassy or Consulate, they will contact you once a decision has been made.

If you applied directly to INIS in Dublin, or if your application was referred to INIS for a decision, you can check the Immigraion Service Delivery’s Visa Decision Weekly Listing using your reference number.

If your Visa Application is Refused

Students may not be granted a visa and in the case of an unsuccessful visa application a €200 administration fee will be retained.

Refunds will only be made on receipt of a visa refusal letter from the embassy.

 

Immigration Registration in Ireland

If you are a non-EU student studying longer than 90 days, you will register with immigration after arriving in Ireland.

You will book an appointment on Irish Immigration website https://portal.irishimmigration.ie/en/ 

You will need the following documents at your registration appointment;

  • Letter of acceptance confirming your course
  • Proof of full payment of your course
  • Valid passport
  • Private medical insurance
  • Proof of address in Ireland
  • Evidence of financial support, bank statement in your name with balance of at least €6,665
  • Registration fee, €300 paid by debit/credit card
 
You receive an Irish Residence Permit (IRP) card by post within a few weeks. The card shows your immigration stamp (e.g., Stamp 2 for students) and expiry date. 
 
Students can renew their visa two times if they;
  •  Enrol on another ILEP registered course.
  • Pay their course fees in full.
  • Maintain a minimum 85% attendance level.
  • Sit a recognosed exam at the end of their course (ILETS).
  • Purchase private medical insurance.  
  • Have a valid passport. 
 

Visa Student Obligations

Visa students attending an ILEP registered course must:

  • Mainatain a minimum attendance rate of 85%.
  • Sit a recognised exam at the end of the their course, the IELTS is included in the Academic Year Programme.
  • Maintain valid medical insurance for the duration of their course.
  • Ensure your passport is valid for more than 8 months.

 

Work and Holidays

Academic Year students must complete 25 course weeks. The remaining 8 weeks are a vacation period.

There is a compulsory 3 week vacation for the Christmas holiday, the remainder of the holiday will be taken on completion of the 25 course weeks, any holidays a student wishes to take outside these periods must be booked during the first course week.

Academic Year students have the right to work 20 hours per week during the course and 40 hours per week during holidays taken from June to September & December 15th to January 15th.