All You Need to Know about Ireland Student Visa

A beautiful island country west to the United Kingdom, Ireland, has a long tradition of academic excellence. Over the centuries, the country has produced countless scholars and several Noble Laureates including physicist Erwin Schrodinger, poet W. B. Yeats, playwright George Bernard Shaw, and many more. Beside this, there are several other reasons that make studying in Ireland an unforgettable experience such as a friendly and safe environment, internationally recognized educational institutions, creative culture, and more.

Generally, foreign nationals who want to study in Ireland require a student visa. However, if you are a citizen of a European Union (EU) country, then you can study here without a study visa. In addition, citizens of a number of non-EU countries are also not required to obtain a student visa to study in Ireland. Here is the list of these non-EU countries. In case you are a citizen of any of the above listed countries, and want to study in Ireland in a course lasting more than 90 days, then you can apply for a student visa by first getting registered with Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB). Depending on the course you want to enroll in Ireland, you can apply under one of the following categories

.

Higher Education

If you want to pursue a bachelor’s or higher degree in Ireland, then you need to apply for Ireland student visa under this category. It is important to note here that for bachelor’s degree courses you need to lodge you application at Central Applications Office, while for master’s and doctoral degree programs, you need to apply directly to the institute and they will lodge your visa application on your behalf.

You need to meet the following requirements in order to get student visa under this category.

• ·         You have been accepted at an Irish educational institution to pursue a full-time study course in Ireland

• ·         You have sufficient academic abilities to pursue the course you are enrolled in

• ·         You have submitted the whole course fee and have sufficient funds to support your stay in Ireland

• ·         You have adequate medical insurance to cover your stay in Ireland

• ·         You have proof that you will leave Ireland once your course is completed

If you have obtained a student visa under this category and your study course lasts at least one year then you are not required to obtain a work permit to work in Ireland.  

English Language & Non Degree Programs

If you want to study in an English language course or Non Degree Program in Ireland then you need to apply under this category. For this category, the requirements are similar as in the Higher Education category such as being accepted at a registered institution, having sufficient funds, etc. However, under this category you can stay in Ireland for a maximum period of 3 years.

As mentioned earlier, Ireland has an innovative and creative culture that makes it an entrepreneur society, and studying here can make a great impact on your career.