Ireland Student Visa Requirements
Ireland student visa applications have been on the rise in recent years. As a foreign student planning of pursuing your studies in Ireland, you may need an Ireland Student Visa which is one of Ireland’s long-stay visas. The visa permits you to pursue a full-time educational course for longer than three months in Ireland.
Ireland Study Visa Requirements
According to the Irish Immigration, when you submit a study visa application, you must have the following documents:
- Application Summary document
- Application letter
- Two colour passport sized photograph not more than 6 months old
- A valid passport.
- Evidence that you have enrolled on a privately funded course
- Evidence accounting for any gaps in your educational history
- Evidence of fee payment to college
- Evidence that you have the academic ability to follow your chosen course
- Evidence of your level of English
- Finances
- Private Medical Insurance
- Previous Visa Refusals
- Summary of finances for study visa application
Ireland Visa Application Process
The first thing to sort out before you begin your student visa application is to be enrolled in an Irish educational institution, enter an English language test to prove you meet the language requirements, and pay all necessary fees. These are compulsory because the documents that prove you meet these requirements along with your Ireland student visa application must be submitted.
Students who do not meet this requirement may enrol in our preparatory English Language programme at OHC Dublin to prepare them for a recognised English Language test.
Applying for the Student Visa
The application process is divided into two parts: the online application and the submission of documents.
Online application begins when you fill in an application form via AVATS, the Irish visa application facility. After completing the form, a summary of the form will be sent to your mail, which you have to print. You will also be informed about where to submit it. Location for submission changes based on the country you are from.
The student visa processing time takes about eight weeks. However, different factors, such as missing documents, and the time of year application was done could delay it, so plan accordingly.
If your visa is refused, you can make a refusal appeal during a stipulated time given on the refusal letter.
Border Control
After receiving the Ireland student visa, you are free to travel to Ireland. On arrival at the Ireland airport/seaport, you will go through Border Control, where the immigration officer decides whether to grant you permission to enter the country.
You have to bring along all documents such as copies of documents submitted for your student visa application, acceptance letter, medical insurance, proof of financial means, and your passport, in order to convince the immigration officers you are fit to enter the country.
Registering for a residence permit
If the immigration officers at Border Control decide to allow you entrance into Ireland, your passport will be stamped. The stamp states clearly the number of days, months or years you are allowed to stay in Ireland.
You must register for an Ireland residence permit with the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) before those days run out. You will also receive the Ireland Stamp 2 or 2A, which is the stamp awarded to full-time international students.
Can I Work With an Ireland Student Visa?
If you are an international full-time student in Ireland, and you receive a Stamp 2 or 2A, you are free to work in Ireland without having to obtain a separate work permit.
However, there are restrictions.
- The eligibility criteria as set out above must be met.
- It's important to also be enrolled in a program which will result in you obtaining one of the qualifications set out in the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ). An example is the Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Business that we offer at Holmes Institute Dublin.
- Your course should last at least 1 year.
- You can only work a maximum of 20 hours a week (part-time) during the school year.
- You can work full-time (up to 40 hours a week) only during the holidays. This includes the months of June, July, August and September as well as from 15th December to 15th January.
You can find out more information on the Irish Immigration page.
