Ireland Visa For Study: All You Need to Know About It!

Updated on: 18 Mar 2023

Since 2013, the number of international students going to Ireland for higher education has jumped by 45%! It’s taken the total number of non-EEA students studying full-time to 18,500.

When Should You Apply For An Ireland Study Visa?

Once you have received your enrolment letter from the college and paid your tuition, you can apply for the study visa. The earliest you can submit the visa application is 3 months before your date of travel.
If you’re wondering how many days for Ireland visa to be processed, then it varies. The Irish embassy advises having 6 to 8 weeks at hand, even though the processing time is 10 working days. They also caution against buying air tickets until the student visa is issued.

Do You Need a Visa To Work While Studying in Ireland?

You do not need a separate work permit to be employed in Ireland, if:

• You are enrolled in a full-time course that is at least a year-long and given in the Interim List of Eligible Programmes (ILEP).
• Hold the certificate of registration, i.e. IRP card. 

In such a case, your passport has a Stamp number 2, which allows you casual employment. The stamp gives you the freedom to work:

• 40 hours/week when the college is on vacation (June to Sept and 15 Dec to 15 Jan).
• 20 hours/week while a term is going on.

Note: If the course you picked is not listed in ILEP, you are not allowed to work while studying. 

How Can Indian Students Get a Work Visa in Ireland After Course Completion?

International students can easily get a work visa in Ireland after finishing their master’s degree through the Revised Third Level Graduate scheme. You are applicable to stay back in the country for up to two years and look for employment. The program allows you to work full-time, i.e. 40 hours in a week. 
You can apply for an extension to stay in the country through the scheme, if:

• You have studied a course from a recognised Irish institute.
• Have a Stamp 2 on your visa.

The visa under this scheme is non-renewable, but once you have a job offer or your two years are up, you can apply for the General Employment Permit.

Read Also:

• Ireland Universities Application Deadlines 2023
• Part-Time Work Options in the Ireland
• STEM Courses in Ireland: An Analysis
• Path to Permanent Residency in Ireland
• Cost of Living in the Ireland
• Top 10 Universities To Study In Ireland

How Can You Get a Permanent Resident Visa in Ireland? 

The path to permanent residency in Ireland begins with the General Employment Permit. If you have the permit and have been living in the country for 5 years, you apply for a permanent visa. 
A quicker method is the Critical Skills Employment Permit, which was previously called Green Card. It is given to techies like ICT professionals and engineers. Holders of this permit can apply for PR in 2 years. 

Education Loan For Ireland: The Last (But Crucial) Step to Applying For Visa

In most countries, you first get the student visa and then you pay the college tuition. In Ireland, the process is reversed. You need to pay the course fee first and only then can you apply for a valid study visa. Most banks are not aware of this pre-visa disbursement clause, which leaves you in a fix. 

How do you apply for a student visa, if you don’t have the funds to pay the university? It’s here GyanDhan comes to your aid. 
We make sure that a) your lender is aware of the policy in Ireland and b) the loan is approved and disbursed as soon as possible to give you sufficient time to apply for the visa!
Lastly, we highly recommend taking a free admission counselling session before applying. We'll not only give your recommendation on the best education loans for MS in Ireland or an MBA, but also make the process of Ireland study visa hassle-free.

• Student visa 
• Ireland 
• study abroad 

First published date: 30 Mar 2020