Traveling to Ireland for Study

Citizens of certain countries who wish to pursue a course of study in Ireland must apply for a visa to enter Ireland before they travel here. (See 'Rules' for a list of those who require a visa to study in Ireland). Students from the EU/EEA do not require a student visa to study in Ireland.
If you would like to study in Ireland and require a visa, you will need to present the following to your nearest Irish embassy or consulate with your visa application.

• Copies of your educational qualifications.
• Letter of acceptance from a recognised school/college/university in Ireland confirming that you have been accepted on a course of study. This course of study must be full-time (lasting an academic year) and have a minimum of 15 hours per week study time.
• Evidence that the fees for the course have been paid in full.
• Evidence that you have enough funds to maintain yourself for at least the initial part of your stay.

Access to Employment While in Ireland on a Student Visa

Citizens from countries outside the EU/EEA (that is, the 25 EU member states and Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway) who are registered as full-time students with the Garda National Immigration Bureau are permitted to work part-time in Ireland (up to a maximum of 20 hours a week and full-time during vacation periods) to support themselves. Read more information on employment rights of part-time workers in Ireland here.
From 18th April 2005 new students given permission to remain in Ireland for study will not be given permission to work unless they are attending a full-time course of at least a year leading to a recognised qualification (recognised qualifications include those issued by the Dublin Institute of Technology, the universities, FETAC and HETAC). Full-time courses are courses of at least one year's duration. The academic year is considered to be 25 weeks (not 52 weeks) so courses of this length will qualify for inclusion on the register. However, to qualify, student must sit an English language exam on completion of the course.

Renewal of Student Visas

From 1st January 2005 students who are not on full-time courses of at least a year leading to a recognised qualification will only be allowed to extend their study visas when the total period of permissions granted (and requested) is no longer than 18 months in total.

Extending a Student Visa

If you wish to study in Ireland for less than three months you should apply for a 'C study visa'. If your course lasts longer than three months, you should apply for a 'D study visa'.
If you hold a 'C study visa' and wish to extend the period of your stay in Ireland, you should visit your local Garda station (police station) and present yourself to the Registration Officer for the area where you live. (The Registration Officer for your area will be a member of An Garda Siochana (the Irish police force). You may also be requested to apply in writing for your visa extension to the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform.
Generally speaking, the duration of a 'C study visa', (that is, a three month visa for study in Ireland) is not extended once you have arrived in Ireland. Extensions will be granted in exceptional cases only. It's very important therefore to make sure you know the duration of your course before you apply for a visa. Further information on how to apply to extend a student visa is under 'How to apply'.