Ireland Student Visa for Indians

About Ireland Student Visa

Are you planning to study at a university in Ireland? You must apply for an Ireland student visa from India. Before we understand the process, here are some basic facts about Ireland.

Documents Required for an Ireland Student Visa

When you apply for an Ireland student visa, you need to submit a set of documents to support your application. Depending on your course duration, you can apply for two types of visas. The documents required for these are mentioned below.

Ireland Student Visa (Short-term Course)

Here's a summary of the documents required for an Ireland student visa for a short-term study course (Visit visa for Ireland).

• AVATS Application Summary Form: Print, sign, and date the completed online application form.
• Payment Receipt and Document Checklist: Include the receipt of payment and a checklist of all the required papers.
• Passport Photos: Provide recent passport-sized photographs.
• Current Passport: Your Indian passport must be valid for at least six months beyond your intended departure date from the country. Include copies of the biographic pages and any stamps/visas from previous passports. Exclude blank pages. Mention any lost or missing passports.
• Proof of Visit Purpose: For study programs up to 90 days, provide details about your study plans.
• Evidence of Obligation to Return:
  • Employed: Submit a recently signed letter from your employer on official letterhead mentioning your contact details and confirming your employment and return.
  • Self-Employed: Provide a letter from your accountant, tax consultant, or lawyer confirming your business details, your last three income tax return acknowledgements, and the most recent six-month bank statement for your business.
  • Studying: Include an original, recently signed letter from your educational institution, on an official letterhead, outlining your study details and end date.
• Financial Evidence:
  • Self-Financing: Present a recent bank statement showing sufficient funds for travel over the last six months.
  • Sponsored: Submit the sponsor’s recent bank statement for the last six months, a letter confirming the sponsorship, and a copy of their valid national ID.
  • Visa Refusals: If applicable, provide details and proof of previous visa refusals, including refusal letters.
• Additional Requirements for Visitors Under 18:
  • Letter of Consent: A letter signed by both parents detailing the person accompanying the child and consent for travel. Additional papers may be required if dual consent is not possible.
  • Birth Certificate: Provide a copy of the child’s birth certificate.
  • Parental Identity: A photocopy of the other parent or legal guardian’s passport or national identity card, clearly showing their signature.

Ireland Student Visa (Long Course)

For longer courses, you must apply for a study visa for Ireland. You need to submit the following additional documents for this visa.

• Application Letter: Describe the reasons for your visit and mention if you have any family or friends in Ireland or the UK, including their details.
• Letter of Acceptance: Submit a letter from the Higher Education Institution (HEI) detailing the course you have been accepted into, any conditions attached, the course fees, the amount you’ve paid, and if the HEI has arranged medical insurance for you.
• Evidence of Fee Payment: Provide confirmation from the HEI that you have paid the required fees. If fees exceed EUR 6000, pay at least this amount before applying for your visa. For fees below EUR 6000, pay the full amount in advance. This evidence should be included in your acceptance letter. Include electronic transfer copies or valid receipts showing the payment.
• Previous Educational Qualifications: Show proof of your academic qualifications and semester mark sheets to demonstrate your ability to follow the course. Include English language certification from an accepted test provider.
• Employment History: If applicable, provide evidence of your employment history since leaving full-time education, including recent employer letters, payslips, and resignation letters from previous jobs.
• Personal Bank Statements With Required Balance: Demonstrate that you have access to at least EUR 10,000 for living expenses for one academic year. For courses less than 6 months, show that you have EUR 700 per month or EUR 4200, whichever is lower. You must also include evidence of access to at least EUR 10,000 for each additional year of study, along with course fees. Provide signed sponsorship letters and copies of sponsors' national identity documents. Funds should be liquid and in verifiable bank accounts.
• Financial Summary Form (FSF): Complete and submit the Financial Summary Form as part of your application.
• Private Medical Insurance: Obtain travel medical insurance covering accidents, diseases, and hospitalisation. For first-year students, Ireland travel insurance may be acceptable if:
  • It covers the entire stay,
  • Provides a cover of at least EUR 25,000 for accidents, and EUR 25,000 for diseases, and
  • Covers any period of hospitalisation.
• Police Clearance Certificates (PCCs): Provide PCCs for any country where you resided in the past five years, excluding Ireland or the UK, if providing biometrics. All PCCs must be issued within six months of your visa application.

Types of Ireland Student Visa

Depending on the duration of your course, you may need a Visit visa or a Study visa for Ireland. Here's a table summarising the two Ireland student visa types.

Applying for an Ireland Student Visa

Here's the step-by-step process of applying for an Ireland Student visa:

Step 1- Complete the Online Application: Begin by filling out the application form on the AVATS website.

Step 2- Print and Sign: Once you have completed the online form, print it and sign it.

Step 3- Gather Supporting Documents: Prepare the required supporting documents as detailed above.

Step 4- Book an Appointment with VFS: Visit VFS's official website and book an appointment at the nearest visa application centre.

Step 5- Submit the Papers: Submit the documents during your scheduled meeting. Your biometric data will be collected during the appointment.

Step 6- Pay the Ireland Visa Fee: Pay the visa fees either directly to VFS at the time of booking your slot or via a bank draft in Indian Rupees, made payable to the Embassy of Ireland.

Step 7- Wait for the Outcome: Your visa application will be processed according to the stated Ireland student visa processing time.

Ireland Student Visa Fees

You can pay your Ireland Student visa fees directly to VFS Global or via a bank draft to the embassy. Here's a summary of the Ireland visa fees according to the visa types.

*Visa fee subject to exchange rate fluctuations

How to Track the Status of Ireland Student Visa for Indians?

The Irish embassy in India posts the visa decisions on its website. You can check your Ireland student visa status using the following steps:

• Visit the official website of the Ireland embassy in India.
• Click on 'Services'.
• Choose the 'Processing Times and Application Outcomes' option.
• Scroll to the 'Visa Decisions' section.
• You will find a PDF mentioning the recent visa decisions.
• Download the file and check whether your application has been processed.