Ireland Study Visa for Indian Students
If you are an Indian student and you would like to study in Ireland, you could be eligible for the Ireland Study Visa.
Ireland is home to over 35,000 international students from over 160 countries, including thousands of pupils from India.
Call us on (+353) 061 518 025 for expert assistance with the Student Visa application process. We’re here to help you in person, via the phone or online.
Studying in Ireland as an Indian Student
With world-class universities, friendly locals and truly beautiful landscapes, the Republic of Ireland is an extremely popular destination for Indian students. The Emerald Isle charms students of all ages and nationalities, offering a truly memorable experience.
There are two different forms of student visas: short-term study visas and long-term study visas. Long-term study visas will be the main focus of this page.
Ireland is the only English-speaking country in the European Union, which makes it a particularly attractive option for Indian students. Thousands of students from India are currently studying in Ireland, taking advantage of the world class educational institutions which Ireland has to offer.
Dublin, home to Trinity College Dublin, University College Dublin, Dublin City University and Dublin Institute of Technology, is routinely voted as the friendliest city in the world by Lonely Planet, making it a fantastic city to study in for Indian students.
What is the Short Term Study Visa?
As an Indian, it is possible to study in Ireland for a short period of time. Typically, a short-term Study Visa is valid for up to six months.
You could use this immigration permission to study for a semester in Ireland, or to undertake an important exam.
It can also be used to take up an internship in Ireland related to a course or future studies, or to attend a training course.
It is important to note that there is no individual visa for those who want to enter Ireland for these purposes. Instead, you will need to apply for the Short Stay C Tourist Visa. Under this visa, you will not be able to do any paid or unpaid work of any kind, and you will not be able to use any publicly funded hospitals, such as a public hospital.
If you are not sure which visa you should apply for, please do not hesitate to get in touch. Our immigration consultants are here to offer you all the help you may need.
Call us now on (+353) 061 518 025 to find out more.
What is the Long Term Study Visa?
A long-term Study Visa is for those who wish to study in Ireland for a period of more than three months. This is the visa you will need to apply for if you want to undertake university/college studies in Ireland for more than one semester.
In order to be eligible for this visa, you must have been offered a place on a full-time course at an approved educational institution. This means that the course must be on the Interim List of Eligible Programmes.
Courses on the ILEP will have met certain criteria, including the mandatory provision of learner protection. Courses included in the ILEP are:
- Higher Education Programmes leading to major and non-major awards
- Professional awards
- English language programmes
As an Indian student, you will also need to provide a Letter of Acceptance in your application for the Study Visa. This letter must show confirmation that you have enrolled on the course and that it is being offered full-time.
You will also need to have private medical insurance at the time of your registration, and you will need to prove your English language proficiency (more below).
What is the Application Process?
The application process for an Ireland Study Visa can be a lengthy one. The very first step in the process is to choose which course you want to study. The course must be on the Interim List of Eligible Programmes (ILEP) and you need to be accepted onto the course. It is imperative that the college/educational institution gives you a Letter of Acceptance.
Once you have confirmation of your enrolment on your chosen course, you can apply for the Long Stay ‘D’ Visa online.
The fee for the Study Visa (and any Long Stay ‘D’ Visa) is currently €60. You can apply for visa up to 3 months before you intend to arrive in Ireland.
When you have completed your application, a confirmation page will be displayed which you need to print out and include in your documentary evidence. You will be informed of where to send your documentary evidence at this point.
If your application is successful, you will be given a visa. However, it is important to understand that this does not give you automatic permission to enter Ireland – you will still need to report to immigration officials when you arrive at the airport.
You will need to prove to Irish immigration officials that you have a valid reason to enter Ireland. You will need to provide your most important documents, including your passport, visa and proof of enrolment on your chosen course. If the immigration official is satisfied, you will be given official permission to enter Ireland.
After you have arrived in Ireland, you must apply for permission to stay in Ireland and register at your nearest immigration office as soon as possible. You must do this before the date stamped on your passport at border control.
Usually, the appointment for registering your residency in Ireland is not a long one. You should take the key documents of your application with you to your appointment, along with your passport and visa.
You will be issued with an Irish Residence Permit (IRP) when you register. This permit costs €300.
What are the Required Documents for a Long-Term Study Visa in Ireland?
As an Indian student, you will need to provide substantial evidence to prove your eligibility for a Student Visa in Ireland.
All the evidence which you provide must be in English and in its original form. It is advised to keep copies of your documents too. Any documents in Hindi or any other language must be translated by an official translator. You will need to provide both the original documents and the translated version in your bundle of documents.
Some of the documents and information which you will need to provide includes:
- Current passport and full copy of all previous passports
- Two passport-sized colour photographs not more than six months old
- Application summary sheet from the online application
- Signed letter of application outlining your reasons for travelling to Ireland, details of any family members in Ireland or another EU states and confirmation that you will observe the conditions of your visa, as well as other details
- Letter of Acceptance from your chosen school, college or university in Ireland
- Proof of your academic ability in your chosen course. This could be, for example, past exam results
- Financial evidence demonstrating that you have the financial capability to pay for the course and for your day-to-day living in Ireland (more below)
- Criminal record certificate
- Evidence that your chosen course has at least 15 hours of study per week
- Proof that your level of English language ability meets a certain standard
- Proof that you have private medical insurance
- A written explanation for any gaps in your educational history
- A declaration that you intend to return to India once the course has finished
The specific evidence which you need to provide will depend somewhat on your personal circumstances. Our immigration consultants in Ireland can help you to prepare your evidence and your full application with our specialist application package.
Our experienced immigration legal professionals understand what it takes to formulate a successful application, and we have helped many Indian students to begin a new and exciting adventure of studies in Ireland.
To find out more about how we can help you to study in Ireland, please call us now on (+353) 061 518 025.
Financial Ireland Study Visa Requirements?
One of the key conditions for a study visa is proof that you can fulfil certain financial requirements, which differ depending on the course you are studying.
Ultimately, you need to demonstrate that you have sufficient funds to pay for the course in full and to support yourself in Ireland without the need to access public funds or rely on employment.
The main condition is that you must be able to show evidence that you have immediate access to at least €7,000, which is the estimated cost of living in Ireland as a student for one academic year.
In addition to this, you must also demonstrate that you and/or your sponsor have access to at least €7,000 for every subsequent year of your studies, as well as the course fees for each of those years.
IF the course fee is less than €6,000, the course fees must be paid in full to the college before you apply for the Study Visa, and evidence of this should be shown in your Letter of Acceptance.
The documents which you will need to provide to prove your financial capabilities depends on who is responsible for covering your finances. This could be yourself, a sponsor or certain other permitted forms of financial coverage.
You need to provide a copy of an Electronic Transfer of Funds (ETF) to the Irish bank of the educational institutional institution, showing details of the beneficiary’s name, address and bank details. The same information of the sender needs to be shown too.
Alternatively, you can provide a valid receipt showing that the course fees have been lodged to an approved student fees payment service.
What is the English Language Requirement?
You need to be able to demonstrate that you have the capacity to do your chosen course in English. Whilst English is widely spoken in India, the English language requirement still applies to Indian nationals.
Usually, this means that you must complete an approved English language test to prove your ability to understand and communicate in English to a certain level.
The certificate of your English language standard must have been issued within 2 years of the expected start date of your course. However, due to the exceptional circumstances around Covid-19, Irish immigration is currently accepting certificates dated up to three years from the expected start date of the course.
| Test Provider | Second level education |
| Cambridge English Language Assessments | Pass in:
|
| Duolingo | 75 |
| English Test for Academic and Professional Purposes (ETAPP) | B2 |
| International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic | 5.0 |
| Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic | 30 |
| Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) | 61 internet based test OR 22 revised paper-delivered test |
Bear in mind that the English language requirements for a 2nd level of education course and preparatory English are generally different to the ones mentioned above.
Last modified on February 8th, 2023 at 2:35 pm
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Frequently Asked Questions
The Immigration Advice Service is a leading immigration firm operating in Ireland and the United Kingdom.
If you want to apply for a Student Visa as an Indian student, we can help you with the entire application process. We are well versed in Student Visa applications and understand what it takes to formulate a successful application.
Through hiring our services, you can rest assured that your application will be dealt with by experienced immigration legal professionals who understand the Irish immigration system and all its complexities.
We will take the time to understand the particularities of your case and will advise you on the documents which you will need to provide with your application. Insufficient documentary evidence is the most common reason for visa refusals in Ireland. With our invaluable guidance, we will ensure that your application includes all relevant documentation.
We will also complete your Student Visa application form and submit your full application to Irish immigration. We can also advise you on the process once you arrive in Ireland, including your registration.
We are passionate about helping students from India to secure their Student Visa and begin a new and exciting life in the wonderfully welcoming country of Ireland. Our immigration consultants provide parallel service to an immigration lawyer.
Call us now on (+353) 061 518 025 to find out more about our Student Visa application package.
There is not specific application processing times for visas in Ireland. We recommend that you apply for your visa at least 10 weeks before you plan to enter Ireland.
Generally speaking, it takes around eight weeks for an application to be processed from the date it is received.
In Ireland, degree programmes are courses which lead to a recognised award. They are categorised in terms of levels, as shown below:
- NFQ Level 7 = Ordinary Bachelor Degree (3 years duration)
- NFQ Level 8 = Honours Bachelor Degree (3-4 years duration)
- NFQ Level 8 = Higher Diploma (1 year duration)
- NFQ Level 9 = Postgraduate Diploma (1 year duration)
- NFQ Level 9 = Masters Degree (1-2 years duration)
- NFQ Level 10 = Doctoral Degree (approximately 4 years duration)
The maximum duration permitted for a full-time degree course is seven years.
The tuition fees for each course vary depending on the particular course and the educational institution.
A general guideline can be found below.
Undergraduate courses for Indian students:
- Arts and humanities: €10,000 – €16,500
- Business: €10,000 – €16,000
- Engineering: €10,000 – €21,600
- Medicine: €31,000 – €50,000
- The sciences: €10,000 – €21,600
Postgraduate courses for Indian students:
- Arts and humanities: €10,500 – €20,000
- Business: €10,500 – €30,000
- Engineering: €10,500 – €19,500
- Medicine: €12,000 – €52,000
- The sciences: €10,500 – €18,000
You will be granted with Stamp 2 in your passport as a student. The alternative to this is if you are only studying for one semester in Ireland, in which case you will receive Stamp 2G.
Your immigration stamp will outline some of your immigration conditions, such as when your permitted residency in Ireland is valid to.
The Third Level Graduate Scheme is a system designed to appeal to those who wish to remain in Ireland after they have finished their studies.
It is sometimes referred to as the Ireland post study work visa, and Indian students can take advantage of it if they meet the eligibility criteria.
This scheme allows you to find employment and apply for a General Employment Permit or Critical Skills Employment Permit.
Graduates with a level 8 qualification can get a 12-month extension to their residence permission, up to a maximum time period of 7 years.
Graduates with a level 9 qualification or above can geta 24-month extension to their residence permission, up to a maximum time period of 8 years.
You will need to submit the following information if you wish to join this scheme:
- Your final award or certificate for your studies
- Your passport
- Your Irish Residence Permit
You will also need to pay a fee of €300 for the post study work visa Ireland scheme.
You cannot change your course during the first year of your studies. However, it is possible to change to another course after one year, as long as the course you wish to switch to is at the same level as the current one, or higher.
You cannot change from a full-time course to a part-time course.
No, as a stamp 2 holder, you are not entitled to social welfare payments. You will need to prove in your visa application that you have the financial means to support yourself whilst you are in Ireland.
Generally speaking, family members cannot join you in Ireland under a Student Visa. However, certain family members might be able to join you in Ireland through family reunification if you are a PhD student, or if you can prove that you can financially support your family members.