Further Information
Other information to consider
Passport
Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months after the expected completion of your studies in Ireland.
If you hold any previous passport, you should also submit this with your application.
Decisions
The processing times for Student Visa Applications vary depending on the volume of applications lodged, and the time it takes for an application to reach the Visa section in Dublin from the Embassy in which it was lodged.
You should allow as much time as possible when applying for a visa but a minimum time of 8 weeks is recommended.
The Visa Section will endeavour to have your application assessed as soon as possible
Visa decisions are published weekly on our website, on the page called Visa Decisions.
You can check a decision by entering the Visa Reference Number that issues to you.
Right of Appeal
If you are refused a visa you may appeal this decision within 2 months
Appeals must be submitted in writing to:
The Visa Appeals Officer,
Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform,
13-14 Burgh Quay,
Dublin 2.
If you applied to the Visa Office in Beijing, Moscow or New Delhi, you should submit your appeal to the relevant office.
Your appeal should fully address all the reasons for which your application was refused. Any additional supporting documentation should be submitted with your appeal for consideration.
You must quote your Visa Reference Number on your appeal, along with your name and nationality.
There is no fee payable for appealing a visa refusal decision
There will be no appeal allowed if you are found to have given false or misleading information in any part of your application, or submitted false, forged or fraudulent documentation.
If You Are Granted A Student Visa
Arrival in the State
If your application for a visa has been approved, the Embassy to which you applied will affix a visa to your passport.
The dates entered on your visa indicate the dates between which you may seek to enter the State.
It is important to note that a visa is a form of pre-entry clearance to the State only, and does not guarantee that you will be permitted to enter or remain in the State.
Immigration Officers at the point of entry are entitled to question any person on arrival. If they are not satisfied with the bona-fides of any person, or their reasons for wishing to enter the State, they have the right to deny entry to any such person, despite the fact they hold a valid visa.
It is recommended that you have supporting documentation related to your course of study with you to present to the Immigration Officer on disembarkation from your flight.
Attendance at Course
You have been granted a Study Visa on the basis that you will attend school/college to partake in a course which involves at least 15 hours of organised daytime tuition each week.
It will be necessary for you to show evidence of your attendance record to the Garda National Immigration Bureau when seeking to have your permission to remain in the State extended.
If you do not show a satisfactory attendance rate at your course you will not be entitled to remain in the State.
Registration and Permission to Remain
If you intend staying in Ireland for more than 90 days, it is a requirement that you register with the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) either at 13-14 Burgh Quay, Dublin 2, or the Immigration Officer in area in which you are residing. There is a charge of €100 each time you register.
Extensions of your permission to remain in the State to pursue your studies will only be granted if the Immigration Officer is satisfied with matters such as your level of attendance at your course, evidence of your accommodation, finances and medical insurance
Permission to remain in the State is not usually granted for a period of more than a total of 18 months unless the student is attending a full time course of at least one year’s duration leading to qualifications recognised by the Minister for Education and Science -see website www.education.ie.
Re-entry Visas
The initial visa issued to you will be valid for a single entry to the State
If you have a valid reason for leaving the State for a short period of time you must apply, in advance of making any arrangements, for a Re-entry visa.
You must be able to prove you will be continuing with your studies on your return to the State.
Before a re-entry visa can be issued, you must be registered with the Garda National Immigration Bureau.
For information on how and where you can apply for a Re-entry visa please see Re-entry Visas.
It is your responsibility to ensure you have the correct visa (where relevant) for the country you intend travelling to.
NOTE: A visa must be obtained from the UK authorities prior to travelling to Northern Ireland (Northern Ireland consists of Counties Antrim, Armagh, Derry, Down, Fermanagh and Tyrone).
Entitlement to take up Casual Employment
Only students attending a full time course of education of at least one year’s duration leading to qualifications recognised by the Minister for Education and Science will be permitted to take up casual employment.
Access to employment is denied to all other students.
Casual employment is defined as up to a maximum of 20 hours part time work per week, or full time work during normal college vacation periods. Such work should not interfere with your course attendance, as failure to provide evidence of a satisfactory attendance record will result in refusal of any extension to your permission to remain. The entitlement to casual employment will cease on completion of your college course. The stamp placed in your passport by GNIB will indicate whether or not you are permitted to take up casual employment.
If you are in doubt about this you should check with GNIB before you accept any job offer.
Any breach of your visa conditions will lead to a review of your case and possible removal from the State.
Students Under 18 Years of Age
Any person who wishes to pursue a course of study in Ireland must be enrolled at a private fee-paying school or college.
The requirements outlined above will apply for all students
Parental consent from both parents(where applicable) is required.
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.
Details of the person in whose care the minor shall be must be provided with the application
The provisions of Part IVB of the Children Act 2001 will apply when
examining such applications – see website: http://acts.oireachtas.ie/en.act.2001.0024.4.html