In This Section
When you can apply
You can apply for a study visa if you are planning to come to Ireland to undertake a course of study for more than 3 months.
We ask that you read our Policy on Non-EEA Nationals studying in Ireland. Make sure that you meet the requirements of our policy before you make your visa application.
You can apply for a study visa up to 3 months before your date of travel to Ireland.
If you are visiting another State before travelling to Ireland, you must have the relevant visa for that State in your passport before applying for an Irish visa.
How to apply
You must apply online for a visa.
First, complete the online application process. The online system will then create a Application Form
Follow the instructions on the Application Form. The Application Form will contain information on how to submit your supporting documentation
You must print, sign and date the Application Form and submit it with your supporting documents.
We may ask you to provide your Biometrics information as part of the application process.
Important: Do not include false or misleading information or documents in your application. If you do, we may refuse your application. In some circumstances, you may not be able to appeal the visa decision. Additionally, we may prohibit you from getting an Irish visa for 5 years.
You must make your visa application from the country where you are ordinarily resident, i.e. the country where you live. Requests to make a visa application from any other country (e.g. a country that you are visiting while on holiday) will not be accepted.
Fees
Please refer to the table of Fees for information on the fee that you must pay.
Some applicants are exempt from the need to pay the visa fee. Although you may have to pay extra charges. For example, there may be extra charges related to the submission of your documents.
You may be able to pay the fee in local currency.
Visit the website of the visa office, embassy or consulate. They will have details about extra charges and local payment options.
How long will it take?
We process applications in date order.
We ask you not to buy travel tickets before you know the outcome of your visa application.
Processing times can vary between countries and visa office, embassy or consulates. They can also vary during high volume periods during the year. Generally, you can expect a decision within 8 weeks from the date on which you lodge your application.
Your application may take longer:
If you have not submitted all necessary supporting documentation
If we need to verify your supporting documentation
Because of your personal circumstances. For example, if you have a criminal conviction.
Visit the website of visa office, embassy or consulate that is handling your application. There you can check the processing times for applications.
If your application is being processed by the Visa Office in Dublin you can check the date of the applications currently being processed on our Visa Decisions page
Conditions associated with a study visa
We ask you to read our Policy on Non-EEA Nationals studying in Ireland. This outlines the conditions applying to such students who we permit to enter the State. Please read this before you make your visa application.
Guide to supporting documentation
The documents below are important. They provide information about your personal circumstances in the country from which you are applying.
The onus is on you to meet the requirements that are necessary to enable a Visa Officer to grant a visa for the purpose sought.
The submission of documents does not guarantee that your application will be successful.
You must provide original documents.
If you submit a document that is not in English or Irish, you must also supply a full translation. Each translated document must contain:
Confirmation from the translator that it is an accurate translation of the original document
The date of the translation
The translator’s full name and signature, and
The translator’s contact details.
Any State issued official documents, such as Birth Certificates, Marriage Certificates, Death Certificates, Divorce Certificates that were issued by a State outside of the EEA or Switzerland, must be attested/apostilled as genuine by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the State that issued the document, in order that it can be accepted as evidence for Irish visa purposes. Such documents are required to be translated into English or Irish, if necessary. Translations done outside the EEA or Switzerland must also be attested/apostilled as genuine, by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the country in which the translation occurs. Send us both the original documents and the certified translations. Translations done in the EEA or Switzerland do not need to be attested by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Any State issued official documents, such as Birth Certificates, Marriage Certificates, Death Certificates, Divorce Certificates that were issued by a State within the EEA or Switzerland do not require to be attested as genuine from Member States. A translation of these documents is not required where a multilingual standard form (MSF) is also provided. Such MSF forms are available from Member States on request. If an MSF is not provided by you then those documents are required to be translated into English or Irish, if necessary in order that it can be accepted as evidence for Irish visa purposes.
Translations done outside the EEA or Switzerland must also be attested/apostilled as genuine, by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the country in which the translation occurs. Translations done in the EEA or Switzerland do not need to be attested by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. We will also accept the Extract of a European marriage certificate, issued in accordance with the “Convention on the issue of multilingual extracts from civil status records“, as proof of a marriage within the EEA or Switzerland. Send us both the original documents and the certified translations.
All letters submitted by a business, company or other organisation should be on official headed paper. They must also provide full contact details so that we can verify them. These must include:
Their position in the organisation
Telephone number (landline)
Email address – Please note that email addresses such as Yahoo or Hotmail are not accepted.
The Visa Officer will consider each application on its own merits. They may also request further information or documentation.
Documents Required
Provide your signed and dated Application Form and the appropriate fee (where applicable). These must go with the supporting documents set out below. If you do not submit the required documentation we may refuse your application. This will be on the basis of insufficient documentation.
Your letter must include your full name and postal address, and the:
- Reason you want to come to Ireland
- Dates you plan to arrive and leave.
Your letter must also include a commitment from you that you will:
- Obey the conditions of your visa in full
- Not rely on public services (for example, public hospitals) or become a burden on the State
- Leave Ireland before your immigration permission expires.
Application Letter
A signed letter of application including your full contact details:
- Outlining your reason for wanting to come to Ireland
- giving details of any members of your family who are currently in Ireland, or any other EU Member State
- Undertaking that you will observe the conditions of your visa, that you will not become a burden on the State, and that you will leave the State on the expiry of your permission to remain, and
- Where the course you now wish to study does not naturally follow on or relate to your educational/employment history, giving valid reasons, supported by documentary evidence (where available), for this change.
You must print your name and visa application reference number clearly on the back. Information on photograph requirements.
Your current passport must be valid for at least 12 months after your proposed date of arrival in Ireland.
You must submit a Letter of Acceptance from the college. The letter should:
Confirm that you have been accepted and enrolled on a course of full-time education, involving a minimum of 15 hours organised daytime tuition each week
Give details of the course that you will be studying
State the amount of fees payable for your course and
State the amount that you paid
State if applicable, that the college has taken out medical insurance on your behalf.
Note: Where the course fees are less than €6,000, you must pay fees in full to the college before to applying for your visa.
Where the course fees are more than €6,000, you must pay at least this amount before applying for your visa. Evidence of this should be visible in your Letter of Acceptance. This minimum amount is an Immigration requirement. However the college you wish to attend may ask for full payment of fees.
You must provide information on any gaps since your last period of full time education. This must include the periods of time until your application to study in Ireland.
You must give full details of your employment history. We need this if you have filled any gap in education by periods of employment.
You must provide a copy of an Electronic Transfer of Funds (ETF) to the Irish Bank of the college. This must show details of the beneficiary’s name, address, bank details and the same details for sender
or
a valid receipt showing that the course fees have been lodged to an approved student fees payment service. For example, the electronic fee payment service offered by Pay to Study, formerly known as International Student Payments Service (ISPS).
You must provide evidence that you have the ability to follow your chosen course. For example, previous exam results or qualifications.
You must show that you have the capacity to do your chosen course through the medium of English. If you apply for an English language course, you must have a basic level of English before coming to Ireland. The minimum standard of English for visa purposes is set out in the English language requirements for study visas document. Please submit a Certificate from the test provider with your visa application. This must show the results of your English language test.
If you are doing a course taught in the Irish language then you must show that you have the capacity to do so. You must include a written statement from the school or college. This must set out the manner in which they have assessed your ability to speak and write in Irish.
You must show that you have enough funds to support your stay in Ireland. This should be without recourse to public funds, or the reliance on casual employment.
Read more on the financial requirements that you must meet. This includes the evidence that you must submit with your visa application.
Private Medical Insurance cover is required. Your college may arrange this on your behalf. If so, your Letter of Acceptance from the college must include details of this. If it is not arranged by the college, you must organise this yourself. Please provide evidence of this with your application.
If you have been refused a visa in the past for any country, you must provide the details
You must provide the original letter issued to you by the authorities of that country with your application
Not disclosing any previous visa refusals will result in your application being refused.
All applicants for long stay Irish study visas must complete this form.
Extra documentation for unaccompanied students under 18 years
Birth Certificate
You must submit the child’s birth certificate with their application.
Consent of parent/legal guardian
We need parental consent from both parents/legal guardians. This consent must be a notarised document. It must provide full details of the person in whose care the minor will be in during their stay in Ireland. It must confirm:
The parents/legal guardians agreement to the child coming to Ireland for study purposes, and
That the school/host family/education agency is the legal guardian of the unaccompanied child student during the child’s stay in Ireland.
Copies of the biometric page of the parents/guardians passports, or
National identity cards showing the bearer’s signature.
Where only one parent has total custody, a Court Order bestowing sole custody of this child must be submitted.
Accommodation and vetting certificate
You must submit the address of where the student will stay while in the State. This forms part of the supporting documents for the application.
Where at least one parent is joining the student for the duration of the student’s time in Ireland (while the student is under 18 years of age):
The parent must include details of their own visa application (where applicable).
If the parent does not need a visa to travel to Ireland:
The parent should include a statement that they will be staying with the student for the duration of the student’s stay in Ireland.
Where at least one parent is not joining the student for the duration of the student’s time in Ireland (while the student is under 18 years of age):
The parent must include clearance from the Garda Síochána (the Irish Police) in respect of where the student is living.
This clearance will be sought from the Garda Síochána by the school. You must submit evidence of having received clearance as part of the visa application.
No entitlement on the part of other family members to travel with or join the student in the State
The granting of a visa to a person under the age of 18 years for the purpose of study does not give any entitlement to any other family member to accompany or join the student in the State.
Return of documents
All documents accompanying your application must be originals
You should keep copies of all the documents that you provide
We will return original documents such as marriage, birth or death certificates to you. We will not return other documents such as bank statements or letters of invitation
If there are particular documents that you wish to have returned, please provide a list of these documents with the application.