How to apply for a student visa in Ireland

Famous for its stunning scenery and welcoming culture, many students turn to Ireland to fulfil their dreams of studying abroad. With historic universities and a world-class education system, it’s easy to see the attraction.

If you like the sound of becoming an international student in the country, you are likely to need a visa. This might sound complicated, but it may be simpler than you think. Our guide to applying for an Irish student visa should help you make sense of the process.

Which visa is right for you?

First, it is important to note that you do not need a visa to study in Ireland if you are a citizen of an EU/EEA member state, Switzerland, or one of a large number of specially exempted countries. To check if this applies to you, see the official list of non-visa required countries.

If you do need a visa, you can use our simple table to work out which type is best for you.

This article will show you the process of applying for an Irish long term study visa, commonly known as the student visa.

What courses can I study?

International students in Ireland can study any educational course which:

• is full-time
• provides at least 15 hours of study a week; and
• is on the Interim List of Eligible Programmes (ILEP).

What does an Irish student visa allow?

A student visa can permit you to live in Ireland for up to:

• seven years while you are in higher education (subtracting any time spent on English language courses); or
• two years while you study on only English language courses.

You will need to renew your visa each year for as long as your studies continue. If you move onto a new course after completing your first – for example, a master's degree after your bachelor's – the duration of this will be added to the time you have already spent studying in Ireland, and subject to the stated limits. This still applies if you are returning to the country after time away.

Work

Most international students in Ireland can work for up to 20 hours a week in term time and 40 hours a week during the holidays. These breaks cover two set periods: June 1 to September 30, and December 15 to January 15.

Discover your work rights as an international student in Ireland.

Other rules

An Irish student visa does not allow you to:

• receive social welfare payments from the government
• be self-employed
• change course during your first year of study
• change from a degree course to a non-degree course (such as an English language course)
• change from a master's course to a bachelor's course
• bring your family to Ireland (unless you are a PhD student with sufficient funds).

Be aware that every visa is unique, and given on a case-by-case basis. Yours may have other conditions, depending on your circumstances.

Getting ready to apply for a visa​

Before you apply for your Irish student visa, you will need:

• a current passport, valid for at least 12 months after your expected arrival date; and
• a Letter of Acceptance from your chosen education provider.

Your Letter of Acceptance

You will need to submit a copy of your acceptance letter from your chosen education provider with your application. The letter must:

• confirm that you have enrolled on your chosen course
• give details of the course
• state the total amount of fees payable; and
• state the amount you have paid so far.

Health insurance

Non-EEA international students in Ireland must have private health insurance in case of accidents, disease and hospitalisation for the duration of their studies. You will need to provide evidence that you have bought sufficient cover for your time in the country when you apply for your visa.

While you can purchase insurance yourself (and in some cases from a provider in your own country), some universities have medical plans that automatically cover their students. If this is the case for you, it will be stated in your Letter of Acceptance.

There is an exception to the health insurance requirement in some cases. Travel insurance may be accepted as an alternative for the first year of a degree course, or if you are a short-term student.

When to apply

You can apply for your Irish student visa up to three months before your planned arrival. The Irish government indicate that you should receive a decision on your visa application within eight weeks. 

Costs

The costs of an Irish student visa application are:

• EUR 60 for a single-entry visa
• EUR 100 for a multi-entry visa.

Some people do not have to pay visa fees in Ireland. You can check if this visa fee exemption applies to you.

When you submit your visa application, you will also need to include evidence that you have paid course fees of at least EUR 6,000 (or the full amount if the total fee is less). You should supply either:

• a copy of an Electronic Transfer of Funds to your education provider; or
• a valid receipt showing fees have been sent to an approved student fees payment service.

Further, you will need to show that you have enough money to support yourself during your stay in Ireland. This means you must have documents to prove that you or your sponsor have (and will have) access to the relevant amounts below.

Find out more about the documents that are accepted as proof of your financial situation. We also have helpful articles about the cost of living in Ireland and tuition fees in Ireland.

Knowledge of English

You will need to prove that you can use the English language to a required standard when you apply. The level of English ability you need depends on your course, as shown in the following table.

Proof of ability is most often provided with a certificate from an approved English language test such as IELTS (other accepted tests include PTE and TOEFL). This must have been obtained within the last two years.

Keep in mind that these are only the minimum scores required by the government. Your university may have greater requirements. If this is the case, you must show you meet them in your visa application.

Learn all about the full English language requirements.

Knowledge of Irish

If your course is taught in the Irish language, you must provide a written statement from your education provider explaining how they have assessed your ability to speak and write in Irish.

If your course is not taught in Irish, there is no requirement for you to understand the language.

Other requirements for an Irish student visa

Photographs

You will need to supply two recent colour passport photos.

Application letter

You will need to write a letter explaining why you want to study in Ireland and the dates you plan to arrive and leave. Find out more about the requirements for an application letter.

Academic evidence

You must provide documents (e.g. exam results or course transcripts) that show you have the academic ability to study your course.

You will also need to provide information about any period of time that has passed since you were last in full-time education. This can be supported by your employment history, which you must also give in full.

Under-18s

There are some extra checks required if you are under the age of 18. You can find out about the documents you will need for these on the Irish government website.

Completing your application

You must complete your student visa application online. Make sure you have your bank card ready to pay the fees associated with it.

After you apply

You can usually expect to receive a decision on your application within eight weeks of submitting it. However, all applications are different, so there is a chance that it could take longer.

Hopefully, your application will be approved. If it is not, there may still be a way forward. In most cases, you can lodge an appeal over a visa refusal. This must be done within two months of your decision being made, and may only be done once.

Find out more about the process of appealing a visa refusal.

Registering your permission

After you arrive in Ireland, you must register with the Dublin immigration office within 90 days (or as soon as they can give you an appointment, if this is not possible).

Find out how to register your permission.

Final considerations

Check the conditions and dates of your visa when you receive it. These will tell you what you can and cannot do when you are in Ireland, and for how long. If you think there has been a mistake, you must inform the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration as soon as possible for it to be corrected.

Now that you know more about how to apply for an Irish student visa, you might want to explore universities in Ireland. Alternatively, you can get to know another important process as we explain how to apply to study in Ireland.