Students Visa for reaching Ireland

Know all about Irish student visa application process.

Like all other countries, Ireland requires candidates from any non-EU country to have a visa to come and study in Ireland. So Indian students, need to acquire a student visa to enter Ireland. Here is the process of applying for the Irish student visa.

1. Find out what visa you need and make an online application

Visit the website of the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service to find out about the student visa and make your online application by visiting the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service .

The summary application sheet will tell you whether you are required to be present at the visa application center for providing your biometric information and to submit your documents. If you are required to attend, the summary application sheet will direct you to this website to pay the service charge and to book you appointment.

The summary application sheet will also contain your application transaction number. It is important, as you will need it later.

2. Pay your visa fee, service charge or purchase additional services

You can pay your visa fee and service charge on the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service website. At the VFS Global visa application centers, visa fees or service charges are not accepted. However, you may pay for additional services at the VFS Global visa application centers, which are optional services.

In order to pay your visa fee and service charge, you will be required to register your details on the website. You will need to provide your application transaction number (as mentioned before), passport number and expiry date, and email address.

Purchase Additional Services

You will be given the option of selecting added value services before you complete the payment of visa fee and service charge. These services are optional and do not influence the outcome of your visa application.

Once you have completed this stage you will be asked to agree to the “terms and conditions” before proceeding to payment. Please note that the visa fee is not refundable.

3. Book your appointment

If you are required to attend a visa application center, you must book an appointment at the visa application center. Once you have completed your payment you will be given the opportunity to book your appointment on the website.

4. Print your appointment and payment confirmation receipt

Once you have completed the payment and appointment booking process, the payment receipt and appointment confirmation receipt will be sent to your email address. You must print the receipts and bring them with you to your appointment.

5. Prepare your documents for your appointment

You will need to bring a number of documents with you to the visa centre. These include:

Acceptance letter by the college
Printed and signed application summary sheet
2 Passport sized color photographs (refer to the website of the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service for photograph specifications)
Original valid passport which has sufficient space for the insertion of the visa sticker
Appointment and payment confirmation receipts
Signed letter of application including full contact details
Evidence that full fees have been paid
Evidence that you have sufficient funds to support yourself while studying in Ireland

In the case of an applicant who is a child (a person who is under 18 years of age), their birth certificate in all cases, and if the child is travelling alone or without both parents/legal guardians, signed consent from parents/guardians accompanied by copies of the consenting parent(s)/guardian(s) passport or national identity card which clearly shows their signatures

Supporting documents for the relevant visa category:

Copies of all original documents. In the case of your passport a copy of the biodata page is sufficient.
All supporting documents must be original documents and in English, or accompanied by a notarized translation.
The supporting documents that you submit are important because they provide information about your personal circumstances.
Missing documents or copies

The visa application center will not accept your application if you are missing one or more of documents listed above.

In such an event, the visa application center will highlight the missing documents to you and will give you the opportunity to provide the missing documents the same day. If you choose not to do so you can reschedule your appointment or cancel your application.

If your application is missing documents, other than documents listed above i.e. common supporting documents, the visa application center will highlight the missing documents to you before accepting your supporting documents and will give you the opportunity to:

Provide the missing documents the same day before progressing your application,

Proceed with your application on the condition that you sign a confirmation that the omission was highlighted to you by the visa application center, or

Reschedule or cancel your appointment.

If you are missing copies of original documents, the visa application center will highlight this to you and give you the opportunity to provide the missing copies the same day. You will have the option of using the photocopying services available within the visa application center at an additional cost or getting the photocopies done from elsewhere. Alternatively you can reschedule or cancel your appointment.

6. Attend your appointment

On the day of your appointment, plan to arrive 15 minutes early at the visa application center.
Bring your documents with you.
When you arrive at the visa application center you will collect a token. Wait until your token is called to make your application.
Once the visa filing process is completed you will be issued with an acknowledgment receipt.

You can apply for a visa up to 3 months before your date of travel to Ireland. We strongly advise you not to confirm your travel arrangements until you have received your visa.