Visa Information

Student Visa - Guidelines and Information

Important Information

All study visa applications must allow at least six weeks for processing. Applications which do not all six weeks will be returned to the applicant.

The application forms

Payment of Tuition Fees

It is a requirement for study visa applications that full fees are paid in advance of submitting an application.

An application must include an original letter of acceptance from the university, college or school in which the applicant intends to study which clearly states the cost of tuition (and other fees payable) for the course and the exact sum paid by the applicant.

Proof of fees paid

Evidence of fees paid must be submitted in the form of an original letter issued by the school.

This letter must be accompanied by details of the relevant bank transaction from the Irish bank confirming that the funds for the named individual have been received in the school's account. Under guidelines issued by the Department of Justice, Equality & Law Reform it is not expected that an applicant pay more than a total of €6,000 in fees prior to a visa being issued. This does not affect requirements of individual educational institutions.

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Approval in Principle

From 1st June 2006 the Visa Office in New Delhi will accept applications for certain Irish Educational Institutes/Courses for which the fees will not have to be paid in advance. If the applicants visa is approved, they must then pay the requisite fees and once proof of this payment has been received by the Visa Office then the visa will be issued.

A full listing of Educational Institutions and Courses to which Approval in Principle applies is available here.

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Entitlement to take up casual employment

From 18 April 2005 new non-EEA national students granted permission to remain in the State on registering with the Garda National Immigration Bureau will not be permitted access to employment unless they are attending a full-time course of at least one year's duration leading to a qualification recognised by the Minister for Education and Science.

A register of approved programmes compiled by the Department of Education and Science for this purpose is published on the Department's Website and will be updated on a monthly basis. Click here for a direct link to the registers.

Those permitted access to employment may enter casual employment only (defined as up to 20 hours part time work per week or full-time during normal vacation periods). Access to employment is not permitted to other students.

The entitlement to take up employment will cease upon the expiry of permission to remain as a student. Having been in casual employment will not, in itself, entitle a person to further permission to remain. It will continue to be a breach of their student conditions to be in full time employment, other than during vacation periods.

This will not affect students who have current permission to remain at the date of introduction ( 18 April 2005 ). Their access to employment may continue for the duration of their permission to remain.

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Advice for Study Visa Applicants

Should I use an agent?

The Visa Office does not use different criteria to assess applications lodged by individuals and applications lodged by an agent.

If you decide to use the services of an agent when making your visa application remember that you are responsible for the documents submitted even if they are submitted by an agent on your behalf.

If it is found that you have used false or misleading documents in support of your visa application then this will affect all future applications for an Irish visa. Submit authentic documents only. Applicants should expect verification checks to be carried out on all documents that are submitted.

Planning and Preparation

It is expected that a genuine student will have done sufficient planning and preparation to be capable of answering all questions on both application forms. Have you researched how much money you will need to entirely cover your tuition, accommodation and maintenance for the duration of your study plan? Does the proposed length of stay on your application form correspond with the verified course acceptance details that you will submit with your application?

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Your curriculum vitae

Do not leave gaps in your curriculum vitae. Give details about how you are currently spending your time. Explain what you have been doing since you graduated school/college. If you have been studying part-time, explain how you are spending the rest of your time and submit documents to support this.

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Study Plan

Does your study plan clearly show the thought and research that you have invested in your decision to study in Ireland? Do not leave gaps in your study plan. If you plan to spend four years studying in Ireland then explain exactly where and what you will be studying. You should also explain why you have selected specific courses and how they relate to your experience. Include details of your intentions after you have completed your study plan.

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Standard of English

We need to know your current standard of English so we can assess whether or not your study plan is feasible. Your English level should be recorded in documentary evidence, for example in the form of an IELTS score.

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Funds

You must satisfy the Visa Office that you can afford to complete your study plan. A bank statement that shows a large sum of money on deposit will not prove that an applicant has sufficient funds unless it is supported by clear and transparent supporting documentation. It must be clear that all monies genuinely belong to the applicant and his or her sponsor and that the money was not deposited solely for the purposes of the application. Savings records covering at least a twelve-month period must be provided. The savings records should be consistent with the income of the applicant and his or her sponsor. Any inconsistencies must be explained.

Adhering to the following guidelines will ensure that your application is processed without delay:

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How long will my application take?

We aim to make a decision on your application as soon as possible however, please allow six weeks for your application to be processed.

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Useful Information

www.educationireland.ie
A government website which has useful information relating to the Irish education system, third level institutions, courses, learning English and further links.

www.acels.ie
The Advisory Council for English Language Schools established under the auspices of the Irish Department of Education & Science to control standards in EFL schools. Contains the official list of schools and organisations recognised by the Department of Education & Science.

www.irlgov.ie
This site will help you to find government organisations or information by providing links, indices of recent publications and a search engine that searches all government sites. There is also general information about Ireland .

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