Ireland

Information for all students

If you’re using a passport to enter Ireland, it should be valid and in date. You should also check your air or sea carrier’s terms and conditions of travel.

For journeys on the island of Ireland, British and Irish citizens do not require any travel documents when crossing the land border.

A Schengen visa or UK visa is not valid for travel to Ireland.

The Common Travel Area

If you are a British or Irish citizen, you can find more information on travelling between the UK, Isle of Man, Guernsey, Jersey or Ireland under the Common Travel Area arrangements.

Studying for up to 3 months

UK students can study and reside in Ireland without any restrictions due to the Common Travel Area.

EU/EEA students have the right to stay and study in Ireland. You do not need to register with the local immigration officer or apply for a Residence Card.

Hong Kong (SAR) Identity Document Holders do not need a visa to travel to Ireland for long or short stays.

Non-EU/EEA students will need to apply for a Visa C, which allows travel to Ireland for up to 90 days.

Your short-stay C visa allow you to complete the following activities in Ireland:

• Tourism
• Short–term studying

A visa C does not allow you to:

• Work (paid or unpaid)
• Use publicly funded services (e.g.: public hospitals)

You can check whether you require a visa on the Citizens Information website.

How to apply

The application process has 3 parts as follows: 

1. Create a visa application online - when applying for the visa select 'Short stay (C)' and under reason for travel select 'Visit Tourist'. 
2. Pay the visa application fee. 
3. Send your passport and other documents across for processing - applicants have 30 days to send these after creating an online application and these should be the original documents (unless stated otherwise). 

The visa application should be completed up to 3 months prior to the date of travel and a visa decision should be made approximately 8 weeks after applying. You should not buy travel tickets before recieving a decision on your visa application. 

Gather your documents

Students who need to apply for Visa C will need to gather the following documents:

• Visa application form
• Application letter
• Holiday, vacation or study plan (including a description of your planned visit and accommodation details)
• Proof of accommodation and documentation of whether it is free or shared
• Proof you have reserved a place on the intended course
• Travel and medical insurance
• Proof of fee payment
• Valid passport 
• 2 passport-sized colour photographs (on the back of the images you must sign your name, add your language and your visa application transaction number from AVATS)
• Finance plan (showing that you have sufficient funds to support yourself in Ireland)
• Most recent tax return document
• Letter from your employer confirming your employment
• Personal bank statement
• Details of work (if you have a job in your home country, you must show your obligation to return)
• Document providing the name, address, phone number, website and email of the educational institution. 
• Proof you will be returning home
• Any previous visa refusals

For the finance fund you will need to provide the following information: 

• Original up-to-date bank statement showing transactions from the last 6 months (must include your name, address, account number and account typ)
• If someone else is helping to fund your visit, you can find more information about this here. 

For proof you will be returning home, you can provide the following information: 

• Obligation to return home for work - provide 3 most recent payslips and a letter from employer confirming your employment duration, your vacation dates and your return-to-work date. 
• Obligation to return for studies - a letter required from your university stating the course you're studying, the number of years you've been a student, how many years/semesters you have left and that your university is expecting your return after the study trip. 

Applicants must pay the relevant application fee if applicable.

Discover the full list of documents.

Studying for more than 3 months

Students from non-EU/EEA countries must apply for a long-term study visa.

Gather your documents

In order to apply for your long-term study visa, you must gather the following documents:

• Visa application form
• Application letter
• 2 colour passport-sized photographs (no more than 6 months old and on the back of each photo you must sign your name, write your language and your visa application transaction number from ATAVS)
• Current passport, plus a full copy of all previous passports
• Proof of enrolment on a privately funded course
• Evidence accounting for any gaps in your educational history
• Proof of fee payment to college
• Evidence of academic ability to follow your chosen course
• Evidence of your level of English (or Irish)
• Proof of sufficient finances
• Private medical insurance
• Any previous visa refusals
• Summary of finances for study visa application

Please note that any translations done outside the EEA or Switzerland must also be attested/apostilled as genuine by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the country where the translation occurs.

If you submit a document that is not in English or Irish, you must also supply a full translation. Each translated document must contain:

• Confirmation from the translator that it is an accurate translation of the original document
• The date of the translation
• The translator’s full name and signature
• The translator’s contact details.

Discover the full list of documents.

How to apply

You must apply online for your visa. Please follow the below process:

1. Create a visa application online.
2. Pay the visa application fee. 
3. Send your passport and other documents across for processing - applicants have 30 days to send these after creating an online application and these should be the original documents (unless stated otherwise). 

Please note: you should not buy travel tickets before you receive a decision on your visa application.

Working for up to 3 months

UK/EU students do not need any further documentation to work in Ireland. However, you may be asked to produce a valid passport/National ID card.

Non-EU students can complete an unpaid internship for a maximum of 90 days with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment.

You should apply for a short-stay C visa, selecting 'Internship' as your reason for travel. You should also state 'Unpaid' as your answer to the question regrading 'Employment Permit/Atypical'. This visa can also be used as a training visa.

You cannot complete the following activities under this visa type while in Ireland:

• Other unpaid work (beyond your internship)
• Any paid work
• Access any public funds

Gather your documents

If documents are not written in English or Irish, they must be fully translated. Documents issued outside of the EU/EEA must be attested/apostilled as genuine by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

How to apply

Initially, you will be given an internship employment permit – you will then need to take the additional step of applying for your internship visa. Please follow the process for online applications.

Working for more than 3 months

If you are from a non-EEA/non-Swiss country, you must obtain permission before coming to work in Ireland.

Before coming to work in Ireland for more than 90 days, you must have a contract of employment. You must also apply for the relevant work permission to the Department of Justice, the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (DETE) or the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).

Once your permission has been granted, you must apply for a long-stay visa (D) before traveling to Ireland (if you require a visa).

Students travelling to Ireland for work may be eligible to apply for employment under The Internship Permit or Exchange Agreement Employment Permit. You should email the Irish Consulate for confirmation on which permit is best suited to your needs.

You (or your employer) can apply for an Internship Employment Permit. The Employment Permit will then be issued to you, with a certified copy sent to your employer. This permit authorises your employment in Ireland by the employer in the occupation and location/s specified on the permit.

Gather your documents

Student who wish to apply for a work permit should gather the following documents:

• 2 colour passport sized photographs (no more than 6 months old)
• Current passport, plus a full copy of all previous passports
• Signed letter of application
• Accommodation details
• Proof of sufficient finances
• Documentary evidence from your university
• Link to the host company or organisation
• Garda vetting
• Medical or travel insurance
• Evidence of your obligation(s) to return to your country of permanent residence
• Any previous visa refusals or other immigration issues (including deportation or overstaying)
• Criminal record check
• Employment permit provided by the Department of Enterprise
• Employment contract
• A letter from Irish employer
• Evidence of qualifications 

Discover the full list of documents.

If documents are not written in English or Irish, they must be fully translated. Documents issued outside of the EU/EEA must be attested/apostilled as genuine by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

How to apply

Place all documentation inside a strong padded envelope and send this via post to your local application office.

Some applications requires biometric information (fingerprints). In this case, students are urged to contact their local application centre for further information regarding their visa process.

Upon arrival

An internship employment permit is not a Residence Permission. To be lawfully resident in Ireland, all non-EEA nationals must also register with the Garda National Immigration Bureau. It's in your best interests to register as soon as possible following your arrival in Ireland.