Do You Need a Visa to Study in Ireland?
EU Students
No visa is required for students from EU countries.
Non-EU Students
Visa requirements for non-EU students vary depending on your nationality and the duration of your stay in Ireland.
The procedures differ based on whether your stay is short-term (under 90 days) or long-term (over 90 days), as well as whether or not your nationality requires a visa for entry.
Stamp 2 Requirement Only
Some students, if staying in Ireland for more than 90 days will need to apply for a Stamp 2 IRP Card after arrival in Ireland but it won’t be necessary to apply for a visa in advance of travel. This applies to students from the following countries:
| Andorra | Samoa | |
| Antigua & Barbuda | Hong Kong | San Marino |
| Argentina | Israel | Seychelles |
| Australia | Japan | Singapore |
| Bahamas | Kiribati | Solomon Islands |
| Barbados | Lesotho | |
| Belize | Macau (Special Admin. Region) | South Korea |
| Malaysia | Swaziland | |
| Maldives | Taiwan | |
| Brazil | Mexico | Tonga |
| Brunei | Monaco | Trinidad & Tobago |
| Canada | Nauru | Tuvalu |
| Chile | New Zealand | Ukraine |
| Costa Rica | Nicaragua | UAE |
| Guyana | Panama | UK |
| El Salvador | Paraguay | USA |
| Fiji | Saint Kitts & Nevis | Uruguay |
| Grenada | Saint Lucia | |
| Guatemala | Saint Vincent & the Grenadines | Vatican City |
This List of Countries is subject to change in line with Irish Immigration.
No visa or stamp 2 is needed if students from these countries are coming to Ireland short-term (under 90 days).
Embassy Visa Applicants
Students who are deemed to be from visa-requiring countries, must apply for a visa at an Irish Embassy abroad before traveling to Ireland. This applies to all stays of under 90 days (Study C Visa required) and over 90 days (Study D Visa required). e.g., China, Colombia, Ecuador, Honduras, Mongolia, Morocco, Peru, Turkey and more.
If your country is not on this List of Countries then you are deemed to be visa requiring and will need to apply for a visa.
Need Assistance? Find an Agent Near You
The school can proceed with your booking if you feel confident about the visa application process. However, If you need assistance with the visa process, please contact a language travel agent for support: Find an Agent Near You.
How to Apply for a Visa
The general process for applying for a student visa includes:
- Complete the application using the AVATS Online Application Service.
- Prepare the required documents for submission to your nearest Irish Embassy. You will need to prove:
- Enrollment in a privately funded course with at least 15 hours of organized tuition per week.
- Proof of payment of the requisite college fees.
- Sufficient academic ability to follow the course.
- For a Study D Visa (long-term course, 8+ months), you must show immediate access to at least €10,000.
- For a Study C Visa (short-term course, 2 to 12 weeks), you must have at least €4,620 in accessible funds.
- Private medical insurance.
- Explanation of any gaps in your educational history.
- A clear intention to return to your home country after your studies.
- A passport valid for at least six months after your course ends.
- Processing Time: Allow sufficient time for processing your visa application. It generally takes a minimum of 8 weeks, but processing times can vary depending on application volume.
- Visa Status: You can check the status of your application on the Irish Government Immigration website. If successful, you’ll receive your visa, and you can travel to Ireland anytime before the visa expires.
- Once in Ireland, your 8-month stay will begin, and you will need to apply for a Stamp 2 IRP Card.