Training Visa
If you are planning a visit to Ireland to attend a training course, you may be required to apply for either a Short Stay ‘Training Visa’ or a Long Stay ‘D’ Visa.
One of IAS’ experienced immigration specialists can guide you through the entire process, providing invaluable advice, application support and more.
To enquire, call us on (+353) 061 518 025.
Attending a Training Course in Ireland
For those who wish to attend a training course in Ireland, there is the option of obtaining either a Short Stay ‘C’ Visa or a Long Stay ‘D’ Visa. This of course depends upon the length of the training course you wish to participate in.
If the course is under 90 days, a Short Stay ‘C’ Training Visa will be required. However, for those who wish to participate in training for over 90 days, the Long Stay ‘D’ Visa is necessary.
As with all Irish visas, only those from non-EU/EEA visa required countries must apply for a visa prior to travelling to Ireland.
IAS’ team of professional and enthusiastic immigration consultants in Ireland can provide you with step-by-step guidance and will assess both your eligibility and personal circumstances before proceeding, exactly the same as hiring an immigration lawyer.
To enquire about our unique services and packages, contact IAS on (+353) 061 518 025.
Which visa do I need for a short training course?
Ireland’s Short Stay ‘C’ Training Visa specifically caters to foreign non-EEA/EU nationals who wish to travel to Ireland to participate in a training course for work or who wish to take up professional development.
A key condition of this visa – as with all Irish Short Stay ‘C’ Visas – is that it only grants permission for the individual to stay in the State for a period of up to 90 days (three months).
All Short Stay Visas, including the Training Visa, are to be treated as a form of pre-clearance and simply a means of gaining permission to travel to the country; it is not to be considered a form of immigration permission to enter/stay in the country.
This decision lies with the Immigration Officers at Border Control upon your arrival to the State.
What are the conditions of a Short Stay Training Visa?
As with all Short Stay ‘C’ Visas, those from countries within the EU do not need to apply for this visa.
Nor do those from non-visa required countries, as listed on the INIS (Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service) website.
Only non-EEA nationals from visa required countries must apply for this visa prior to travelling to Ireland.
A requirement specific to the Training Visa is that the training course you wish to attend must be on a ‘company-to-company’ basis, meaning this must be arranged by a company or an organisation that you work for.
This visa will not permit you to work – either paid or unpaid – whilst in Ireland, or to rely on any public services.
How do I apply for a Short Stay Training Visa in Ireland?
To apply for a Short Stay Training Visa, you must do so from within a country where you are legally resident.
You ought to apply for this visa at least three months prior to travelling to Ireland.
The key aspects of your application which will be assessed are:
- Sufficient proof that you will leave Ireland at the end of your visit
- Proof that you, or any individual in Ireland who is sponsoring your visit, are able to financially support and accommodate you without you working or accessing public funds during your stay
- Proof of return or of further travel arrangements
- That you are not attempting to use a visa to Ireland as a way of getting around lawful entry to the UK or the rest of the EU
- Your immigration history in relation to Ireland, the UK and other countries
- Any other aspects of your application which the visa officer deems relevant
What documents must be included within my Short Stay Training Visa application?
You must provide sufficient supporting documentation when making an application for any Irish visa. Some documents specific to the Short Stay Training Visa are:
- An application letter written by you outlining the key details of your visit to Ireland such as the dates you wish to visit, the reason for your visit, how you intend to support yourself and cover the costs of the training course and where you intend on staying
- A letter from your employer/sponsoring organisation outlining the nature of the training course, how it relates to your work, the dates of the course, who will be covering the expenses of the trip and when you will be returning to work
- A letter of invite from the training company addressed to you which describes the course you are attending, the dates it is due to start and end and that you are listed as an attendee
A dedicated immigration expert at the Immigration Advice Service can both complete and submit your visa application, providing a Letter of Representation which highlights the strengths of your case.
I am attending a training course lasting over 90 days, which visa do I need?
If the training course you will be attending in Ireland is due to run for over 90 days, you must apply for a Long Stay ‘D’ Visa.
As with all Irish visas, only non-EEA/EU nationals from visa required countries must apply for this visa.
If the training course you wish to attend is nursing or midwifery training, you must instead apply via the Atypical Working Scheme.
Similarly, if the training course is accountancy work placement training, you ought to apply based on the specific rules for trainee accountants, as explained on the INIS (Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service) website.
However, for any other 90 day + training course you wish to attend, acquiring a Long Stay ‘D’ Visa would be the correct route.
What are the requirements of a Long Stay ‘D’ Visa for the Purposes of Training in Ireland?
To attend a training course in Ireland for over 90 days, it is essential that you have both enrolled and paid for the course in full prior to applying for a Long Stay Visa.
After enrolling and covering the cost of fees, you must apply for immigration permission to attend training in Ireland.
Only once you have received immigration permission to participate in this training are you able to apply for a Long Stay ‘D’ Visa.
If your application for a Long Stay Visa is accepted, it is also necessary to register for immigration permission upon arrival to Ireland.
An IAS immigration expert can take you through the entire process of applying for a Long Stay ‘D’ Visa, ensuring that you meet the criteria and provide the relevant and adequate supporting documentation.
Last modified on August 8th, 2023 at 4:09 pm
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Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, when making an application to visit Ireland for under 90 days to participate in a training course, you must provide a detailed outline of where you intend to stay and with whom.
This includes a description of each place you will stay in Ireland (if you intend to stay in more than one place) and the dates you will stay at each.
You should include any printed reservation confirmations of your accommodation, such as from hotels, hostels, B&Bs, shared or free accommodation and any other form of accommodation.
If you are staying with a host, each host you stay with must provide you a letter stating the host’s full name, their home address in Ireland, confirmation by the host that you have been invited to stay and the dates you will stay with them.
If you will be travelling to Ireland from a country that is not your home country or a country where you are a legal resident, you must provide a letter which explains your travel plan.
This must state whether you need a visa for the country you will be travelling from and, if so, it is essential that you apply for a visa for the country you will be travelling from before you apply for an Irish visa.
The costs for any Short Stay ‘C’ Visa current stand at €60 for a single entry visa and €100 for a multiple entry visa. Multiple entry visas are approved only in limited circumstances.
It is important to note that these costs only cover the visa fees alone.
To discover how one of IAS’ immigration expert can help with your Short Stay Training Visa application, contact us today on (+353) 061 518 025.
If you want to travel to Ireland to compete in a tournament, you should apply for the Performance or Tournament Visa rather than the Training Visa.
This is another Short Stay ‘C’ Visa, which means you will need to abide by the same immigration rules as you would with a Training Visa.