Ireland Student Visa Requirements

Planning to study in Ireland? This luscious island nation features breath-taking natural landscapes, rich history and culture, and friendly people. Some of the world’s best universities also belong to Ireland. Irish universities rank highly overall and across subject rankings globally! Several of its smaller institutes, including quite a few institutes of technology, also offer quality experiential learning. Irish university certifications and awards are highly recognised all over the world! So, what do you need to study in the dream destination of the Emerald Isle? Find out everything you need to know about Ireland student visa requirements!

Ireland Visa Requirements for International Students

One of the perks of studying abroad in Ireland is its ease of entry! In fact, depending on your country of citizenship, you may not need an entry visa in the first place.

If you’re from any of the following countries, you don’t need an entry visa:

Ireland Student Visa Requirements for Other Countries

If you’re a non-EEA or non-Swiss student who isn’t from the above countries, you need a student visa. You can begin applying for the visa three months before you’re due to arrive in the country! We recommend starting on your application as soon as you secure your place at your chosen college.

Conditions You Must Meet to Study in Ireland

Both students who need an entry visa as well as those who don’t must fulfil the following requirements:

•         Be a full-time student at an Irish institution
•         Enrol in a privately-funded course, leading to a recognised certification or award for a Level 7 or higher course (under the National Framework of Qualifications)
•         If you’re a scholarship holder, proof of the details of your scholarship
•         Letter of Acceptance from your college
•         Proof of full tuition payment for your college (If the fees are below €6,000, you must cover the full payment. If the fees are above €6,000, you must cover at least this amount)
•         Irish bank statement proving you have €3,000 n your account, not including tuition fees. This is to prove that:

o   You can support yourself and your studies financially

o   You won’t be entering employment or business to financially support yourself

o   You’re not going to avail of State benefits

•         Private medical insurance (Your college may arrange this for you. If this option isn’t available, you must seek out insurance yourself)

Procedure and Documents Under Ireland’s Student Visa Requirements for International Students

The application process is online. Fill up the online form, and then print out the summary application form you get at the end. Further instructions for submitting supporting documents will be on this summary form! You’ll need to sign and date this document along with the rest of your supporting documentation. These include:

•         Two coloured copies of passport-sized photos, not older than six months
•         Current (original) passport, which must be valid for up to 12 months after your arrival date, and copies of your older passports
•         Letter of Acceptance from your college
•         Validation for any gaps in your education history (e.g. employment history)
•         Proof of full tuition fee payment to your college
•         Proof of eligibility for your course (e.g. academic transcripts and certificates)
•         English proficiency proof (minimum Ireland study visa IELTS requirements – 5.0/equivalent)
•         Bank statements or other proof showing you can support yourself financially in Ireland
•         Private medical insurance
•         Past visa refusals (including refusal letters)

If you’re younger than 18, you also must provide your original birth certificate, consent from parent/legal guardian, and accommodation information.

In some cases, you might have to provide biometrics as well. A single-entry visa costs €60.

Register as an International Student After Arriving in Ireland

Note that an entry visa isn’t the same as an official authorisation to study in Ireland as an international student. Non-EEA and non-Swiss students from both visa-required and non-required countries must register with the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB). This applies if you’re staying in Ireland for more than 3 months.

To register with your local Immigration Officer, you will need:

•         A letter of acceptance from the college you will be studying in
•         Proof that you are enrolling in a privately funded course at Level 7 or higher according to the National Framework of Qualifications
•         Proof of full payment of tuition fees for your college
•         Bank statements from an Irish bank verifying that you have €3,000 in your account to:

o   Cover your tuition and living costs

o   Verify that you don’t need to work or enter business to financially support yourself

o   Verify you don’t need to avail of State benefits

•         Private medical insurance, which your college may arrange for you, or which you may need to get yourself

Once you complete this registration, the immigration officer gives you a certificate of permission to stay and study in Ireland. This certificate is valid for one year. You can renew this permission every year, for up to seven years! The registration fee is €300.

Our Final Thoughts on Ireland Student Visa Requirements

Ireland’s flexible and straightforward visa processes make it a very accommodating country for international students! Non-EEA and non-Swiss students from specific countries may not need an entry visa to arrive in Ireland. For students who do need a visa, the application process is straightforward, if you begin preparing early. This is something we highly recommend, for all prospective international students. Many of the Ireland student visa requirements are the same items you need to register as an international student with Irish Immigration Officers. This is a necessary part of the process to get authorisation to stay and study in Ireland. As long as you begin preparing early, you can check off all the requirements and be fully prepared to begin your study adventure in Ireland!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What are the Ireland student visa fund requirements?

To prove that you’re able to financially support yourself in Ireland without needing State benefits or a job, you must have €3,000 in your Irish bank account. This amount must be in your account when applying for a student visa or registering with Immigration Officers after arriving in Ireland. Note that this amount does not include tuition fees for your college. To apply for a visa or register with Immigration Officers, you must already have paid your tuition fees in full. If the fee amount is below €6,000, you must have proof that you paid the entire amount in full. If the fee amount is more than €6,000, you must pay at least this minimum amount.

What are the Ireland study visa IELTS requirements?

The minimum score to prove your English proficiency to study in Ireland is 5.0 for IELTS Academic, and equivalent accepted test scores.

What is the Ireland study visa cost?

For a single-entry visa, you pay €60. Plus, you incur additional fees of €300 when registering with your Irish immigration officer.