General Information on Visa Process
The granting of an Irish visa is, in effect, a form of pre-entrance clearance. It does not grant permission to enter Ireland. Immigration Officers have authority to grant or deny admission. Visa holders are subject to normal immigration control at the port of entry. They should therefore carry with them, for possible presentation to Immigration Officers, the originals or copies of the documents submitted with their visa applications and suitable letters from their chosen place of study.
A visa does not grant permission to stay in Ireland. The date of validity shown on the visa indicates only the date before which it must be presented to an immigration Officer.
The length of stay is decided by an Immigration Officer at the port of entry. Irish law does not provide for a permanent residence visa.
A student visa holder proposing to remain in Ireland for longer than three months is required to register with the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) in the area in which he/she resides. Registration establishes permission to reside. For the greater Dublin area, the relevant office is the Immigration registration Office, Harcourt Street, Dublin 2 (Tel: 353 1 475 5555)
Department of Foreign Affairs
The Visa Office
13-14 Burgh Quay
Dublin 2
Ireland
Tel +353 1 4780822 (open from 14.30 to 16.00 Monday to Friday)
Fax +353 1 4751201.
E-mail visa@iveagh.gov.ie
Web site www.irlgov.ie/iveagh
Please note that, although applications may be made through the Department of Foreign Affairs, the decision on visa applications will be made by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform.
Processing Time
All applications falling under the category of student visa must be referred for decision to the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform in Dublin. This process normally takes at least 4-6 weeks. We recommend that you apply for your visa as early as possible and have all your documentation in order as applications without all the required attachments will not be entertained. All applications for student visas to Ireland must be made through the Irish Embassy in your home country.
Visa Decisions
The supporting documents requested are to assist the Visa Officer in making a decision on your application. In this regard the Visa Officer will be looking for the following:
That you show a reasonable academic performance to date and will therefore be able to participate fully in the course you intend to pursue in Ireland.
That the course chosen is relevant to previous academic qualifications or work experience.
That your primary purpose in travelling to Ireland is to pursue an academic course with a view to furthering your career and that you intend to return home on completion of your course.
That you have sufficient funds available to be able to support and accommodate your self and pay for your studies in Ireland for the duration of the course. (Please note, while full time students are allowed to undertake part time work, potential earnings will not be taken into account when assessing your application.)
Any decision to refuse a visa can be appealed by writing to:
Visa Appeal Officer,
Immigration Division
Department of Justice, Equality & Law Reform
72-76 St. Stephen's Green
Dublin 2
Ireland
Only written appeals will de dealt with.
The visa reference number, decision number and nationality will facilitate processing. The success of an appeal will be enhanced if the appellant is in a position to forward additional supporting documentation in favour of the application or to submit a document previously omitted.
Permission to work Part time
Non-EEA nationals who have permission to remain in Ireland as students are entitled to take up casual employment (defined as 20 hours part time work per week or full time during vacation periods) for the duration of their permission to remain. The entitlement to take up employment ceases upon the expiry of their permission to remain and their being in casual employment will not, in itself, entitle to further permission to remain. It will continue to be a breach of their student conditions to be in full time employment, other then during vacation periods.
For more information on visa application, education in Ireland and working part time in Ireland please refer to:
http://www.educationireland.ie/