Your journey of studying in Ireland involves a few crucial steps. From applying to an Irish University to flying to Ireland, what brings together the first and the last step of your journey is applying for a student visa for Ireland.
The following flowchart will help you understand the broad and important milestones of your journey to Ireland as a student:
For this blog, we will answer all the questions you might have about applying and receiving an Irish Student visa.
There are two types of student visa for Ireland. Depending on the duration of your course, you are eligible for the following study visas:
- For courses between 1 and 3 months you must apply for a C Study Visa.
- Courses that exceed a duration of 3 months require for you to apply for a D study visa.
When and Where Can I Apply For A Student Visa For Ireland?
You can apply for both types of visas 3 months before your arrival in Ireland. You must apply for an Irish Visa with the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service. Depending on your nationality, you will get an answer from the Irish Immigration Service between 4 to 6 weeks.
Documents Required For An Ireland Student Visa
The following documents are a compulsory to be submitted to receive a student visa for Ireland:
- All copies of Passports (new and old)
- 2 recent coloured passport size photographs
- English Proficiency Certificates
- Your letter of acceptance from the university
- Submit a signed letter of application that includes all your contact details and why you wish to study in Ireland.
- Copies of all academic certificates and transcripts for verification.
- All certificates from all years of matriculation.
- You must submit evidence of financial support. This can be in the form of bank statements, loan disbursements, scholarships to study abroad, salary receipts and other invoices. You should be able to convince the Irish Immigration Department that you can support yourself financially throughout the duration of your studies.
- In addition to that, you will also have to show that you have already paid the university fees and other costs associated with it. There should not be any incomplete transactions.
- You must also show that you understand that you will have to leave Ireland after the completion of your studies. This holds true if you are not able to find a sponsor for your visa.
What Is The Cost Of Living In Ireland For Students?
If you are planning to stay in Ireland you may have already thought about your student accommodation and housing. Depending on the type of accommodation you choose to stay in as well as the type of lifestyle you have, the cost of living in Ireland may vary. However, a student in Ireland will need funds between €7,000 and €12,000 every year to sustain in Ireland.
The visa application fee for student visa of Ireland is €60 for single journey, €100 for multi journey and €25 for transit.
Additionally, applying for an IRP costs €300. We will discuss what an IRP is later in the article.
What Are The Insurance Requirements To Get Ireland Visa For Indian Students?
Unlike the United Kingdom that offers National Health Service to all its international students for a period of their study, Ireland does not. In order to stay in Ireland, you need to have private medical insurance. This is especially for the NON-EU nationals. If the medical documents are not in English, you might need to translate all the relevant documents to English before submitting.
What Are The English Language Requirements For Ireland Student Visa?
You will have to submit your proof of English proficiency at two important stages. The first is at the time of applying for admission to the University and the second will be while applying for a student visa. If you belong to a country that does not have English as its official or primary language, you will need to prove your English proficiency through one of the following tests:
Can I Work On an Irish Student Visa?
You can work while studying in Ireland if you have a stamp 2 on your visa. You can engage in casual employment for 20 hours per week during regular semester periods. During the holiday season, you will be able to work for a period 40 hours per week. A stamp 2 in Ireland is nothing but permission for your work rights in Ireland.
Full time students may have to receive permission from their university which is automatic if they are enrolled into a degree program that is recognized by the Minister of Education & Skills in Ireland.
What’s Next After Receiving A Student Visa For Ireland?
If you are a full time student, you will have to apply for a residence permit to stay in Ireland. Earlier known as ‘GNIB Card’, the Irish Residence Permit (IRP) is a mandatory document for non Irish nationals and NON-EU nationals.
Just like applying for a BRP is a prerequisite for students in the UK, IRP plays the same role in Ireland.
Thanks for reading out blog on Top FAQs About Student Visa For Ireland , if you are interested in knowing about the best universities to apply to, scholarships available around the world and more, the following may be of interest to you:
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