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Ireland Visa and Immigration Information
Find out information on the visa and immigration process for Ireland to prospective international students. Learn more about who requires a visa, how to apply and the Irish Immigration Service Delivery process.
Do I need a Visa to study in Ireland?
Students who hold an EU/EEA/UK/Swiss passport do not require a visa to study and work in Ireland. If you are unsure about whether you are an EU/EAA national, see here for a list of all EU/EAA countries. Some, but not all, non-EU/EEA students require an entry visa for Ireland. For example, students coming from the United States or Canada do not require a visa to enter Ireland, students coming from China or India do require a visa to enter Ireland. To see if you require a visa for Ireland visit here.
Non-EU/EEA/UK/Swiss students who do not require a visa will still be required to register with the Irish Immigration Service Delivery after arrival. See the section below on "Immigration Registration with the Irish Immigration Service Delivery" for more information on how to register.
Applying for a visa before arrival
Students should submit their visa applications using the AVATS facility at www.visas.inis.gov.ie. The application will only be processed when the online form is completed and the required documentation, passport photograph and appropriate fee are received by the relevant offices as indicated by the online system. There is a dedicated visa processing office in China, India, Nigeria, Russia, United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom. Non-EU/EEA/UK/Swiss students resident in these countries, please refer to your local Irish Embassy website for details of further documentation which may be required.
Please refer to the links below for visa guidelines:
The Irish Immigration Service Delivery has provided a guide to help complete the application form and it is available in seven languages.
Contact details for embassies can be found here: www.ireland.ie/en/dfa/embassies.
You should refer to the full the Irish Immigration Service Delivery guidelines relevant to your type of study. The following information summarises some of the key requirements.
• A letter from Trinity confirming that you have accepted a place on a full-time course of study. Once you have accepted an offer, you can retrieve this letter yourself by following these steps:
1. Log in to the my.tcd.ie.
2. Select My Applications from the top menu.
3. Click on generate visa letter.
4. Select your course from the drop-down list.
5. Press ‘Generate’.
The letter will be saved as PDF to your computer.
• Where the course fees are more than €6,000, you must pay at least this amount before applying for your visa. Evidence of this should be visible in your Letter of Acceptance. This minimum amount is an immigration requirement. However the college you wish to attend may ask for full payment of fees
• Evidence that you have sufficient funds to support yourself while studying in Ireland. As an international student you will not have recourse to State funds and the Irish government that you be able to show that you - or your sponsor - have immediate access to at least €10,000, the estimated cost of living in Ireland for a student for one academic year - for each year of your course. If the duration of the course is less than 6 months, you must have access to €700 per month of their stay or €4,200, whichever is the lesser. More details please visit here.
• Evidence of private medical insurance. See here for information on health insurance providers.
• Your current passport must be valid for at least 12 months after your proposed date of arrival in Ireland.
• Proof of language proficiency that meets the requirements for your course (e.g., IELTS 6.5, TOEFL 90, or PTE 63) will also satisfy the minimum requirement for your visa application. For more details, please visit here. Please note that some courses may have higher language requirements, so be sure to double-check.
• Any other documents required by the Irish Immigration Service Delivery or the Irish Embassy through which you are applying.
• Ensure that you keep copies and a record of all documents submitted. After completing the online application, you will be asked to print out a summary sheet, so make sure you have access to a printer. The summary sheet will also have details about the relevant Irish Embassy, Consulate or Visa Office to which you will be submitting your application, in addition to information on fees and the supporting documentation required from applicants.
Note: Completing the online application form is the first step in the process. The application will only be processed when the online form is completed AND the required documentation, passport photograph and appropriate fee are received by the relevant offices indicated by the on-line system. Please pay careful attention when completing your application as failure to complete your form accurately or provide required supporting documentation may result in your visa being delayed or refused.
Checking on your visa application status
Students can apply for a visa up to 3 months before arriving in Ireland.
• We advise you to apply as early as possible as visa processing can take up to 8 weeks.
• Visa applications processed through the Dublin office can take up to 12 weeks particularly during busy periods.
• You can check online for visa decisions using your visa application number at: www.irishimmigration.ie/visa-decisions.
• When your visa is approved, the Embassy to which you sent your documents will attach a visa to your passport.
Immigration at the airport
What you need at Airport Immigration Control
All non-EU/EEA citizens who do not hold an EU passport, whether visa-required or not, are subject to immigration controls at the port of entry of Dublin Airport. The Immigration Officer on duty determines whether each non-EU student is allowed to enter Ireland. If your documentation is in order, he/she will stamp your passport for up to three months (90 days). All non-EU students must register with the Irish Immigration Service Delivery within the time limit stamped on the passport. At the immigration desk, you should be prepared to present the following documents:
- Passport - with a valid visa sticker if they are visa required. Check here: www.irishimmigration.ie
- A visa letter, which can be printed from my.tcd.ie student portal by following these steps:
- 1. Log in to the portal (my.tcd.ie)
- 2. Select “My Applications” from the top menu
- 3. Click on “generate visa letter”
- 4. Select their course from the drop-down list
- 5. Click “Generate”
- Your full TCD offer letter
- Evidence of tuition fees paid, scholarship details or US Financial Aid if applicable
- US Federal Aid Recipient should use TCD loan declaration paperwork OR printed bill with sponsorship listed
- Address of where you will be staying
- Evidence of private medical health insurance (Policy document)
Note: You should keep these documents with you in your carry-on luggage as immigration border control is before baggage claim. You should also keep all these documents ready, as you will need them again when you register with the Irish Immigration Service Delivery.
You must register with the Irish Immigration Service Delivery within the time frame stamped on the passport.
Immigration Registration with the Irish Immigration Service Delivery
ALL non-EU/EEA students, (both visa-required, and non-visa required), must register with the Irish Immigration Service Delivery in order to obtain a permission to remain. The Irish Immigration Service Delivery registration must take place before the expiry date stamped on their passport by immigration officials at the airport. Countries such as USA, Canada and Australia, which though they do not require a visa to enter Ireland, are also required to register with the Irish Immigration Service Delivery after arrival.
How to Register
All non-EU students must register with the Irish Immigration Service Delivery within the time limit stamped on the passport at the airport.
The Irish Immigration Service Delivery is located on Burgh Quay, Dublin 2, approximately a 5-minute walk from the campus. You must have an appointment to visit the Irish Immigration Service Delivery Office.
To book an appointment visit: https://www.irishimmigration.ie/burgh-quay-appointments/
Students can now book and adjust their registration appointments directly through the Digital Contact Centre (DCC) self-service portal: https://portal.irishimmigration.ie/en/
In order to register with the Irish Immigration Service Delivery, students must collect the following documents to support their application.
Mandatory Supporting Documents:
- Valid passport.
- Proof of Trinity registration (from Academic Registry). Note: This document must be issued and dated within 7 days before your appointment with the Irish Immigration Service Delivery. - Proof of finances (only applies to students from non-visa-required countries): €7,000 for courses resulting in residence of greater than 8 months, €585 per month or €4,680 (in total) for courses resulting in residence of 8 months or less.
- Proof of health insurance.
- Proof that you have started your course. (Timetable from BlackBoard or TCD Portal)
- €300 fee (credit/debit card; no cash).
Full list please visit here.
**Please allow 5 working days for Irish bank statements and for documents needed from Academic Registry.
The standard registration letter can be self generated through the registartion tab on your my.tcd.ie portal.
Details on how to register with the Irish Immigration Service Delivery will be provided in September, duing orientation. Students should aim to schedule an appointment to register with the Irish Immigration Service Delivery once they complete their registration at Trinity.
*Students under the age of 18 registering with the Irish Immigration Service Delivery will have to be accompanied by a legal guardian resident in the ROI. The guardian would have to show proof of residence (an Irish passport or IRP card) and a letter from the student's parent(s) (If they are not acting as guardian) stating that this is the person they have appointed as guardian. If you don’t have anyone in Ireland who can act as your guardian, Trinity recommends using a guardianship service. You can find more information from this link: www.godsil.ie/university-guardianship.
Renewals for Non-EU/EEA/Swiss/UK Students:
- The Irish Residence Permit card is valid for one year (unless you are a single semester student). It must be renewed each year by the expiry date.
- You must pay a renewal fee of €300 every year.
- You must have private health insurance for each year of your stay. (student is required to source private medical insurance in Ireland for their second and any subsequent years.) More details for Health Insurance please visit this link.
Notes:
1. We strongly advise aubmitting you renewal appliation as early as possibly (up to 12 weeks prior to expiry) to aviod any gap period to receive your new IRP as the ISD has a large backlog.
2. To ensure a smooth processing of your renewal application, please double-check that all required documents have been uploaded correctly. In case any additional documents are needed, the ISD may reach out to you via email. Please keep an eye on your inbox as sometimes their emails may go to your SPAM folder. Failure to upload further requested documents in time may result in delays in processing your application.
3. The processing time for your application may vary depending on the volume of applications received and the workload of the ISD. You can check the estimated processing time on ISD website. If your waiting time exceeds the estimated processing time, please contact the ISD by submitting a query through the Customer Service portal: www.portal.irishimmigration.ie/en/ or reach out to us.
Students who have previously registered with the Irish Immigration Service Delivery, and who are progressing to the second or later year of a degree course and who are living in Ireland, can renew their Irish Residence Permit (IRP) card online at: https://www.irishimmigration.ie/registering-your-immigration-permission/how-to-renew-your-current-permission/.
Address:
Immigration Service Delivery
13-14 Burgh Quay, Dublin 2
D02 XK70
To contact the Immigration Service Delivery, you must submit your query through the Customer Service portal: https://www.portal.irishimmigration.ie/en/
For immigration registration queries, please contact Trinity’s International Student support hub, the Global Room at tcdglobalroom@tcd.ie
Third Level Graduate Scheme (Stamp 1G or Stay-back visa)
Did you know that as a TCD international graduate (Undergraduate, Master’s or PhD), you may be eligible to remain in Ireland for up to 24 months under the Third Level Graduate Scheme?
Introduction
The Third Level Graduate Scheme is a programme designed for non-EU, EEA, Swiss and UK graduates who have completed studies in Ireland. You might have heard it referred to as ‘Stamp 1G’, or referred to colloquially as the ‘Stay-back Visa’. It permits eligible graduates holding a level 8 or above award from a recognized Irish institution to stay in Ireland for up to 24 months after completing their studies. This should be for the purpose of seeking graduate level employment and is a prerequisite for applying for a general employment permit, a critical skills employment permit or research hosting agreement in the case of successful employment
How do I know if this Scheme is available to me?
• The Third Level Graduate Scheme is available to all Non-EU/EEA/Swiss/UK students who complete an Undergraduate, a Master's, or a Doctorate programme at Trinity College Dublin.
• You must not have already exceeded the seven-year limit on your permission as a non-EEA national student in the State.
When can I apply?
• Applications can only be made after receiving your final results confirming you have successfully completed the programme you were enrolled in. (Provisional results will not be accepted).
• You have 6 months after being notified by Trinity College Dublin about the completion of your programme to apply.
• At the time of your application, you must hold a current Stamp 2 student immigration permission and an up-to-date immigration registration card (IRP card).
• You must be physically present in Ireland to apply.
• Important! We recommend you apply as soon as you have received your final results. If you delay your application and your Stamp 2 expires, including during the processing waiting time, your application could be refused.
How long does the Scheme allow me to stay in Ireland?
• Undergraduate (Level 8) course graduates can stay for up to 12 months
• Postgraduate (Masters/PhD, Level 9/10) course graduates can stay for up to 24 months (You will be granted permission for 12 months initially. See below for how to extend your Stamp 1G a further 12 months).
What work entitlements does the Stamp 1G give me, and what are the limitations?
• You may work up to 40 hours per week.
• There is no restriction on work category or salary level.
• You may undertake a part-time course while working.
• You are not permitted to operate a business or be self-employed.
• Until obtaining the Stamp 1G permission, you are bound by the conditions of the Stamp 2 (student) permission, including limitations on working hours during term time.
What do I need when applying for the first time?
• Biometric page of your current valid passport.
• IRP card indicating your current valid Stamp 2 permission.
• Proof you have successfully completed your third level course. You can use a degree certificate/parchment, completion letter or final transcript. The final transcript is the earliest document you can obtain. For details on how to request your transcript, please visit Academic Registry.
• Important! The transcript must confirm that you have completed the qualification for which you were enrolled, including all required modules and your dissertation, in accordance with Immigration Service Delivery guidelines. For example, if you enrolled at Trinity as a Master’s student, the letter must verify that you have obtained the Master’s degree, not just a diploma.
Private Health Insurance (purchased in Ireland).
• Important! Your health insurance must cover accidents & medical incidents including hospital stays for the duration of your residence. Travel insurance will not be accepted.
€300 fee (Paid by credit card or debit card)
What do I need when I am extending my Stamp 1G for the second 12 months? (Relevant to Master's or PhD graduates):
As above:
• Biometric page of your current valid passport
• IRP card indicating your current Stamp 1G permission
• Private Health Insurance (purchased in Ireland. NOT Travel insurance).
• €300 Fee (Credit card or debit card)
Evidence you have taken appropriate steps to access suitable graduate level employment, such as letters from companies or recruitment agencies about you are looking for graduate level employment.
Where do I apply (first time application and extension)?
All applicants can apply on the ISD online system. NOTE: this link will only work from the Republic of Ireland.
Please note that immigration regulations are subject to change.
For more details about the Third Level Graduate Scheme, please visit the Irish Immigration Service Delivery website
For any inquiries regarding Third Level Graduate Scheme, please contact Trinity Immigration Officer, Zhilong Wang, at tcdglobalroom@tcd.ie. Please include 'Query regarding Third Level Graduate Scheme' in the subject line.
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