Which Ireland student visa do I need?

If you’re thinking of studying in Ireland, you may need to get a student visa first. Fortunately, it’s not a very complicated process once you know what to do -- and that’s exactly what we’re here for!

In this article we take you through your options for an Ireland student visa to help you know which one you need. When you get a moment afterwards, you might want to check out our article 6 Reasons to Study Abroad in Irelandto help you make your final decision.

Let's crack on, shall we?

1. Do I need a student visa to study in Ireland?

Something that’s very important to note here is that these rules apply to The Republic of Ireland, rather than Northern Ireland. There are actually two separate states on the Island of Ireland -- the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.

Northern Ireland remains a part of the UK, while the Republic is independent. So, you’ll need to get a UK student visa to study in Northern Ireland. Check out our article Which UK student visa do I need? If you’re planning on studying in the North!

2. Types of ireland student visa

The ireland Department of Foreign Affairs awards to main types of study visa, simply named C study visa and D study visa.

Here’s the difference:

C study visas are for those who are set to study in Ireland for just 3 months or less. On the other hand, D study visas are students who wish to study a full time course for more than three months.

Oh and in case you’re wondering about the cost, the average price of an Ireland student visa is around €60 (50GBP) for a single-entry visa, and €100 (85GBP) for a multiple entry visa. We’d recommend getting the latter if possible as it’ll allow you to visit home and travel more freely!

It’s also worth noting that with a D study visa, you can apply for a Post Study Work Permit which allows you to stay in the country for 2 more years to search for a job in Ireland.

This should let you know exactly which type of visa you need to study in Ireland. Still not sure? Hit the chat function in the corner of our Homepage to get some more advice!

3. Ireland student visa requirements checklist

Before applying for your visa, which is most likely a D student visa (double check above if you’re nor sure!), here’s a checklist of all the documents, criteria and requirements you’ll need:

• Letter of acceptance from your university.
• A recognised certificate confirming your English language ability (check out our full article on English language assessment tests here!)
• Evidence that your course fees have been paid
• Proof that you have enough financial support (€7,000) to maintain yourself for the initial part of your stay
• Proof that you or a sponsor have access to at least €7,000 for each subsequent year of your studies, in addition to the course fees for each of those years
• Evidence that you have private medical insurance
• An explanation of any gaps in your educational history (if applicable)
• Confirmation that you intend to return to your country of permanent residence when you leave Ireland
• A valid passport (you need to make sure that your passport will be valid for at least 12 months from the date of your estimated arrival in Ireland)
• Passport size photographs

Also Read: Australian student visa requirements

4. How to apply for your ireland student visa

Thankfully it’s quite simple once you’ve got all the above documents in order, head to this page on the ireland government website and begin your online application. Just follow the instructions as directed and you’ll be able to negotiate the application easily.

Once you’ve filled out this application by the way, you may have to book an appointment at your nearest ireland Visa Facilitation Service centre (VFS).

Here you’ll have to do an interview and record some biometrics for security purposes. Also, remember to bring all the documents we listed above with you on the day!

While the idea of a student visa interview might seem daunting, it’s really fine!

Finally, it’s simply a matter of waiting for between 4 and 8 weeks for your visa to be processed. It’s that easy huh? Well… not exactly.. but the ireland student visa rejection rate is only around 5%. If your university is willing to accept you, and you can prove the validity of everything you say in your application, there’s really nothing to worry about!

At Edvoy, we’re all about helping you study abroad in the best places, setting you up for the best future! Come discover how we can help you. Get started with Edvoy!