Ireland Student Visa - Requirements, Checklist, Processing Time, Work Permit, & Rejection Rate

The highly reputed Irish Education System, extensive choice of courses, and low educational costs make Ireland a favorable study destination among international students. Central to the appeal of pursuing higher education in Ireland is the student visa, which serves as a crucial entry point for people looking to study in the country. With a strong and widely acknowledged education system, Ireland provides numerous chances for students to delve into various subjects, ranging from humanities to STEM fields.

The Ireland student visa not only opens doors to academic excellence but also provides students with a chance to immerse themselves in the captivating Irish culture and picturesque landscapes. All international citizens of a Non-European country require a Irish student visa to study in Ireland. The conditions and requirements needed for a successful Ireland student visa process will be discussed in this article.

Learn about the Ireland Study Visa Process for International Students!

Types of Ireland Student Visa

You must first decide what type of visa you will require, depending on the duration of your course -

• If you wish to study in Ireland for less than 3 months you should apply for a 'C study visa'. The short-stay C visa is typically a training visa that allows you to come to Ireland to attend a training course for work or professional development for a short period of 90 days. This training visa does not allow you to work, paid or unpaid, in any way.
• If your course lasts longer than 3 months, you should apply for a 'D study visa'. An international student generally applies to a D study visa when planning to stay in Ireland.

When to apply for an Ireland student visa?

Usually, the processing time of the student visa for Ireland is up to 4-8 weeks from the date of application. However, you are advised to apply for the Ireland student visa up to 3 months before your traveling date to Ireland. This will increase your chances of getting approved on time and give you sufficient time to re-apply in case your visa gets rejected.

Make sure you go through the Ireland student visa checklist twice before submitting the application. Your application may take longer if you have not submitted all necessary supporting documentation, your supporting documentation needs to be verified, or because of your personal circumstances (criminal or legal convictions).

What are the conditions to apply?

Before applying, keep in mind that you will need to qualify and prove the below conditions as a part of the student visa process:

• Purpose of visit to Ireland and Intentions to return home: Your statement of purpose for Ireland student visa must clearly mention that you plan to return to India post completion of your studies. If the visa officer finds that your intentions are to find a job or to become permanent residents of Ireland, your visa will more than likely be denied.
• Sufficient Financial Support: You must show evidence that you have immediate and ready access to at least 7,000 EUR in addition to the course fees to be paid. This is the estimated cost of living in Ireland for a student for one academic year.
• You must also demonstrate that you and/or your sponsor(s) have ready access to at least 7,000 EUR for each subsequent year of your studies in addition to course fees for each of those years.
• Admission to an Approved School: Student visa for Ireland is necessary to prove that you are accepted by an Irish institution. You can submit the letter of acceptance from the concerned Irish university confirming that you have been accepted for a full-time course.
• Ties to your home country: Another essential part of the student visa process is proving strong ties to your home country, including family, job offers, bank accounts, or other assets.

How to Apply for an Ireland Student Visa?

It is no news that you must apply for your Ireland student visa online.

It is important that you do not include false or misleading information or documents in your application. If you do, your application may be refused. In some circumstances, you may not be allowed to appeal the visa decision and may be blocked from getting an Irish visa for 5 years.

Apply for a student visa to study in Ireland via the following steps:

1. To apply for a study visa visit AVATS online portal.
2. Complete the online application form.
3. Send documents according to the Irish embassy details. You may need to provide your biometrics information at the visa application center in your country.
4. Pay the visa application fee for single, multiple, or transit entry.
5. Provide an application explaining why you need this visa.

Ireland Student Visa Fees

The visa fee is an administration fee which covers the cost of processing your application. The fees for visas are:

• Single journey visa - 60 EUR
• Multi journey visa - 100 EUR
• Transit - 25 EUR

NOTE - This fee cannot be refunded if your application is refused or withdrawn.

Ireland Student Visa Checklist

To apply for Student Visa Ireland, you must produce the following documents:

• 2 passport sized colored photographs not more than 6 months old
• Current passport and copy of previous passports.
• A signed letter of application including your full contact details and outlining your reasons for visiting Ireland.
• Confirmation of enrolment or letter of acceptance from an Irish institution providing all the details
• Evidence of fee payment to the university
• An explanation of any gaps in your educational history
• Valid proof of finances of minimum 7,000 EUR
• Private medical insurance and related details
• Reasons for previous visa refusals, if any.
• Proof of English proficiency through test scores of IELTS, TOEFL, or other accepted test scores
• Accommodation and vetting certificate
• Confirmation that you intend to return to your country of permanent residence when you leave Ireland.

Please note that all documents accompanying your application must be originals. You should keep copies of all the documents that you provide. All the documents must be in English. If you submit a document that is not in English/Irish, it must be accompanied by a full translation with the translator’s full name, signature, and contact details.

Medical Insurance Requirement

Non-EU students must have private medical insurance before traveling to Ireland. The insurance does not support dental care and in Ireland, dental care is quite expensive.

• Non-EU students must get themselves checked before flying to Ireland.
• If the documents are not in either Irish or English language, they must be translated in the given languages.
• The documents must have translation date, translator details, Translator’s full name, signature, and contact details.

English Language Requirements for Study Visa Ireland

You must refer to these English language requirements for study visa application purposes when applying for a full-time course in Ireland-

Working while Studying in Ireland

If you have received stamp 2 on your passport, you can take up casual employment to supplement their income while studying in Ireland. During term time you can work up to 20 hours per week and during normal college holiday periods you can work on a full-time basis up to 40 hours per week.

If you are enrolled in a degree program you can get casual work permission for which you will have to:

• Enroll in a recognized program leading to a qualification recognized by the Minister for Education & Skills
• Attend a full-time program of education at or above NFQ Level 7
• Undertake a minimum of 15 hours of daytime study
• Get tuition, between the hours of 8 am and 6 pm per week for a minimum of 25 weeks per annum on a program of at least one year’s duration
• Register for the Irish Residence Permit (IRP).

IRP Registration

After getting visa approval, international students must register with the authority which provides residence permit/GNIB card to non-Irish nationals or the students who are not the member of EU/EEA after the registration with the third-level institution.

Your registration certificate is called the Irish Residence Permit (IRP). Previously it was known as the 'GNIB card'. From 11 December 2017, the new IRP has replaced the GNIB card.

• IRP registration is mandatory for all international applicants, irrespective of the visa requirement.
• An IRP costs 300 EUR per person each time.

Applying for an Ireland student visa is simple but is one of the lengthiest processes towards studying in Ireland. The student visa is necessary to start the process as soon as you receive the unconditional acceptance from the institution of your choice.