NON – EU passports: Irish Visa Process

If your passport is not from one of the countries listed here, please follow the steps below to obtain your visa before traveling to Ireland:

Visa Application Process:

  • Complete the online application form at www.irishimmigration.ie
  • Make an appointment to submit documents.
  • Bring signed application form, passport, and all supporting documents to the Embassy
  • Application will be processed by the Embassy of Ireland, Bangkok
  • Processing times: 4-6 weeks from the date of complete submission

Documentary Requirements

General documents:

  • Passport, valid for a minimum of 12 months
  • Previous passport(s)
  • Signed summary of your online application form
  • 2 passport-sized colour photos (taken in the past six months)
  • Visa application fee

A signed letter of application:

  • Outlining background and reason for wanting to study in Ireland
  • Providing full contact details
  • Providing details of any family members currently in Ireland, or any other EU state
  • Giving an undertaking that you will observe the conditions of your visa
  • Explaining any gaps/changes in education/employment history
  • Details of any previous visa refusals for any country must be provided

Education History and Aims

  • Strong application letters explain the candidate’s reason for applying using past educational pursuits and employment history
  • For example, in the case of an applicant for an English language course in Ireland, a strong application might explain how improved English would specifically help the applicant’s career or meet requirements for their current job

Documentary Requirements

Evidence the applicant is enrolled in a privately funded course

Acceptance letter from college:

  • Confirming applicant has been accepted on a full-time course of a minimum of 15 hours daytime tuition
  • Outlining details of the course
  • Stating the amount of fees payable for the course and the amount that has been paid
  • If the college has taken out medical insurance on the applicant’s behalf

Fees:

  • Evidence of fees paid: Electronic fund transfer to the Irish Bank of the College
  • Amount of fees paid: minimum €6,000 (full payment if the course fee is less than €6,000)
  • Finances are the most common reason for visa refusals
  • You must show you have sufficient funds to support your stay in Ireland without recourse to public funds or reliance on casual employment

Finances:

  • Summary of Finances Form (recent requirement)
  • Evidence that you have immediate access to at least €10,000 (the estimated cost of living in Ireland for a student for one academic year), and that you and/or your sponsor have ready access to at least €10,000 for each subsequent year of your studies in addition to the course fees for those years
  • If the course is less than 6 months, you must have access to €700 per month or €4,200 (whichever is less)
  • Sponsor must show savings or ability to save sufficient finances to support the applicant
  • Clear link between sponsor and applicant must be proven (e.g., birth certificates to establish family link)
  • Students may work up to 20 hours per week during the school term and 40 hours per week during holidays
  • Applicant must provide an up-to-date bank statement covering the previous six months
  • Bank statements must be on headed paper clearly stating name and address
  • Letter from bank stating the balance in your account is not acceptable
  • Any large or irregular lodgements must be fully explained
  • If bank statement is from a deposit/savings account, you must also include a letter from your bank confirming that you can take money from the account

Sponsor

If a family member is responsible or co-responsible for costs, the applicant must list each person sponsoring them and provide clear evidence of how they are related.

The sponsor must clearly state the financial support they intend to give and show they have enough funds to maintain themselves and their family members.

Sponsor’s Financial Documents

  • 6-month bank statement
  • Employment letter (including place of employment, address of company, position held, duration of employment, annual salary including bonus, and contact phone number for employer)
  • Payslips (x 3)
  • Savings deposits (lump sum deposits must be explained fully)

Alternative Evidence of Finance

  • Education bond with a minimum value of €10,000 lodged to an approved student fees payment service
  • Evidence must be provided as to how the bond was paid
  • Still need to provide proof of having ready access to at least €10,000 for each subsequent year of your studies in addition to the course fees for those years
  • In reality, bank statements still need to be provided

English Language:

  • IELTS is recommended (English Language Testing System)
  • Applicants should provide an original certificate
  • Other acceptable certificates include internationally recognised tests such as TOEFL, PTE Academic, Duolingo, or Cambridge English Language Assessment
  • Any certificate must have been issued within 2 years of the expected commencement date of the course
  • IELTS minimum is 5.0 from an immigration perspective
  • Universities may have different requirements depending on the institution and subject (generally between 5.5–7.0 overall)

Following Arrival in Ireland:

Visa is permission to travel to Ireland; upon landing, you will receive a “landing stamp” in your passport which identifies how long you can stay before registering with ISD.

On a long-stay (D) visa, register at a Registration Office within 90 days of arrival and receive an Irish Residence Permit (IRP) card. If you apply for a multi-entry visa, you can leave the state and return during this period before getting the IRP card.

Third-Level Graduate Programme: Graduates with a level 8 or level 9 qualification (bachelor’s degree and above) from a recognised Irish awarding body can remain in Ireland for 12 months after their studies to seek suitable full-time graduate-level employment.

Required documents: a copy of the award granted, passport, medical insurance, fee

Common Issues:

  • Finances & Financial History
  • Rationale for study in Ireland
  • Applying too late
  • Insufficient documents
  • Inconsistencies/contradictions
  • False Documents

Irish Visa Process
19 February 2025
Embassy of Ireland

Key Points

Missing Documents – Impact on Processing Times

Key Point: Incomplete or missing documents are one of the primary causes of delays in visa processing. Applicants should ensure all required documentation is submitted in a timely and complete manner to avoid unnecessary setbacks. Process can take from 4-6 weeks.

Addressing Gaps in Education or Employment History

Key Point: Applicants should be prepared to explain any gaps in their educational or professional history. This is particularly important when applying for a student visa, as the visa officer may need clarification on how these gaps were managed.

Rationale for Studying in Ireland: When questioned about educational history gaps, applicants need to justify why Ireland is the next logical step in their academic or career journey. A clear, well-reasoned explanation of why they chose Ireland over other countries is necessary.

Finances – Common Reason for Refusals

Key Point: Financial documents are one of the most common reasons for visa refusal, especially when there are concerns about the authenticity of bank statements or other financial proofs.

Recommendation: Applicants are strongly encouraged to provide genuine, clear financial records. This includes demonstrating the necessary funds to support their studies and living expenses in Ireland, ensuring the financial documents reflect the true state of their financial situation.

Honesty and Transparency

Key Point: It was emphasized that honesty is critical in the visa application process. Applicants should be honest and upfront about everything, whether it’s their education, finances, or reasons for studying in Ireland. Misleading or false information could lead to visa refusal and is taken very seriously.

Justification for Studying English in Ireland

  • Key Point: Applicants who have not studied English in their country must be prepared to explain why they wish to study English in Ireland.
  • Rationale Required: They need to explain why they’ve chosen Ireland for their English studies. This could be due to Ireland’s strong reputation for quality education, the opportunity to immerse themselves in an English-speaking environment, or specific language programs that align with their academic or professional goals. They should also address why they’re choosing Ireland over similar courses in Thailand or why they want to study English there if they haven’t studied it before.

Accommodation Booking and Fees

Key Point: For short-term courses, applicants are generally expected to show proof of accommodation booking and confirmation that accommodation fees have been paid as part of their visa application – C Visa

Under 18-Year-Old Applicants – Special Considerations

Key Point: There’s extra attention on applicants under 18, so they may need to provide extra documents like parental consent and proof of who will look after them in Ireland.

Visa Refusals – What Happens Next?

Key Point: If an application is rejected, the applicant will be informed, and they may be asked to provide further documentation or explanations if it can resolve the issue. However, if the missing information is critical, the application might be rejected without any heads up.

Reapplication: Applicants who were not banned or rejected due to fraudulent intentions can reapply for a visa. In this case, it’s crucial to include the rejection letter from the previous application to show the previous issue has been addressed.