Study Visa


NOTE: If you or your spouse or De Facto spouse holds a European Union, Irish or British Passport you can use other methods of immigration to allow you to live, work and Study in the Republic of Ireland, which includes very different rules in terms of studying in Ireland. Please go back to the Information by passport page.

Study options for South African passport holders:

There are short course option for under 90 days, we really will not be covering this here - info on this can be found HERE

We will be focussing on the process if you're doing an over 90 day option (degree programme).


Entry into Ireland

 

If you are a South African Passport holder, you do not need an entry visa into Ireland.

This is because Ireland and South Africa have a special agreement that allows South Africans to enter Ireland visa free.

This entry however is subject to having sufficient paperwork at entry, this is discussed later Entry into Ireland.

At entry into Ireland you will get an entry stamp of up to 90 days. This entry stamp will be placed in the South African members passports.

If you are not a South African passport holder you will need an Entry Visa

 


Arrived in Ireland and what I need to prove when I register at Garda Immigration

 

When you have arrived in Ireland, if you are not an EU, Irish or British passport holder, you must have permission to remain if you wish to stay for more than 3 months.

For a Study Permit to be approved it needs to be a course on the Interim List of Eligible Programmes

In other words your course must be on that list to qualify for a Study Permit

You will need to provide the following with your application and entry into Ireland.

(Please remember, original documents are required and must be in English or accompanied by a notarised translation)

 

1) Have an application Summary

This is really a coverletter to summarise your application. Now, as an SA passport holder, you will be sitting in front of a Garda Immigration person not sending this application away as a visa required person would have to before coming to Ireland.

Your letter must also include a commitment from you that you will:

  • Obey the conditions of your visa in full
  • Not rely on public services (for example, public hospitals) or become a burden on the State
  • Leave Ireland before your immigration permission expires.

2) Two colour photographs signed on the back

They may take pictures anyway at Garda Immigration, but have these anyway

3) Your current passport and all previous ones

4) You must submit a Letter of Acceptance from the college.

The letter should:

  • Confirm that you have been accepted and enrolled on a course of full-time education, involving a minimum of 15 hours organised daytime tuition each week
  • Give details of the course that you will be studying
  • State the amount of fees payable for your course and State the amount that you paid
  • State if applicable, that the college has taken out medical insurance on your behalf. If they have not taken out private medical for you, you need proof of having done so yourself

Note: Where the course fees are less than €6,000, you must pay fees in full to the college before to applying for your visa.

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.

The €3000 registration fee at the University or College should also be paid and included on the letter.

5) Evidence accounting for any gaps in your education history

  • You must provide information on any gaps since your last period of full time education. This must include the periods of time until your application to study in Ireland.
  • You must give full details of your employment history. We need this if you have filled any gap in education by periods of employment.

6) Evidence of the fee paytment to the University or College

  • You must provide a copy of an Electronic Transfer of Funds (ETF) to the Irish Bank of the college. This must show details of the beneficiary’s name, address, bank details and the same details for sender
  • OR
  •  a valid receipt showing that the course fees have been lodged to an approved student fees payment service. For example, the electronic fee payment service offered by Pay to Study, formerly known as International Student Payments Service (ISPS).

7) Evidence that you have the academic ability to follow your chosen course

You must provide evidence that you have the ability to follow your chosen course. For example, previous exam results or qualifications.

8) Evidence of your level of English (or Irish)

  • You must show that you have the capacity to do your chosen course through the medium of English. If you apply for an English language course, you must have a basic level of English before coming to Ireland. The minimum standard of English for visa purposes is set out in the English language requirements for study visas document. Please submit a Certificate from the test provider with your visa application. This must show the results of your English language test.
  • If you are doing a course taught in the Irish language then you must show that you have the capacity to do so. You must include a written statement from the school or college. This must set out the manner in which they have assessed your ability to speak and write in Irish.

9) Finances (outside of the course being paid for and part-time work)

  • You must show that you have enough funds to support your stay in Ireland. This should be without recourse to public funds, or the reliance on casual employment.
  • Read more here on the financial requirements that you must meet. This includes the evidence that you must submit with your visa application.
  • You must show you have sufficient funds to support your stay in Ireland without recourse to public funds, or the reliance on casual employment.
  • You must show evidence that you have immediate access to at least €7,000. This is the estimated cost of living in Ireland for a student for one academic year.
  • You must also demonstrate that you and/or your sponsor(s) have ready access to at least €7,000 for each subsequent year of your studies in addition to course fees for each of those years.

Your finances

You must provide the following in relation to your finances.

  • You must provide an up-to-date bank statement, showing what money has been paid into and out of the account over the last six months. You must submit this whether you are covering the costs of your studies yourself or not
  • Bank statements must be on headed paper. Where original bank statements are not available, internet printouts will be accepted once every page has been notarised by the bank and the statement is accompanied by letter from the bank confirming its authenticity. Handwritten entries or details on bank statements will not be accepted
  • Your name, address, account number and account type must be visible on the statement
  • Any large or irregular lodgements (for example – student loans, lodgement of Savings Certificates, the sale of a property or any similar type sources) must be fully explained
  • If you are sending a bank statement from a deposit/savings account, you must also include a letter from your bank confirming that you can take money from that account
  • Credit cards are not accepted as evidence of finances.

In line with the rules set out above such students must have access to €3,000 for first registration at the College or University, if it is not already paid in advance. This is outside of the €7,000 for living expenses.

10)Private Medical Insurance

Private Medical Insurance cover is required. Your college may arrange this on your behalf. If so, your Letter of Acceptance from the college must include details of this. If it is not arranged by the college, you must organise this yourself. Please provide evidence of this with your application.

11) Previous Visa refusals

  • If you have been refused a visa in the past for any country, you must provide the details
  • You must provide the original letter issued to you by the authorities of that country with your application
  • Not disclosing any previous visa refusals will result in your application being refused

 

Remember, the granting of a student visa to study in Ireland does not confer the automatic right of anyone to join or visit you in Ireland (whether they are a relative or not).

If you are applying on behalf of a minor to attend a private primary or secondary school HERE

Accounting Students doing Professional Training see HERE

 

See LINK BELOW on Registering at Garda Immigration and getting appointments at Garda. There is a EUR300 fee to be paid for your residency stamp at Garda Immigration.

 


Access to employment while in Ireland on a student visa

If you are attending a course on the Interim List of Eligible Programmes (ILEP) you will have Stamp2 endorsed on your passport when you register with your local immigration officer.

You will be allowed to take up casual employment of up to 20 hours part-time work per week in term time or up to 40 hours per week during college vacation periods, that is, from June to September inclusive and from 15 December to 15 January. Your entitlement to take up employment ceases when your permission to remain expires.

 Since April 2001 non-EEA nationals with permission to remain in the State as students, on immigration Stamp 2 permission and enrolled on courses with education providers listed on the Internationalisation Register, have been afforded the opportunity to work.

This allows non-EEA Students to take up casual employment to supplement their income while studying in Ireland. During term time non-EEA Students can work up to 20 hours per week and during normal college holiday periods non-EEA Students can work on a full time basis up to 40 hours per week.

Note: Students attending courses not on the Internationalisation Register are not permitted to work and are registered with Stamp 2A permission

Some FAQ on the Irish Immigration site:

Can I work for more than 20 hours per week during term time?
No. This will breach the conditions attached to your permission. Any breach of the conditions attached to permission to remain in Ireland as a student will be taken very seriously by the immigration authorities. In the event that a student breaches the conditions of their student permission your permission to be in the State as a student may be withdrawn. Such students will be considered illegal in the State and may be required to leave the State.

Can I conduct business or be self-employed?
No. This will breach the conditions attached to your permission.

Can I work full-time in a permanent job while I am studying?
No. This will breach the conditions attached to your permission.

I have to do an internship as part of my course of study – is this allowed under the immigration rules?
Yes. Students enrolled on courses on the Degree Programme (major awards at NFQ Level 7 or equivalent and above – see Appendix 1) are allowed to undertake an internship where this forms part of their course. This is subject to the following rules.
The internship or work placement component of the course cannot exceed 50% of the duration of the course e.g. a 4 year course would permit 2 years of work placement. In addition the employment cannot be in a self employed
capacity.

Work placements as part of an academic programme must form an integral part of the course and their completion contribute to the final award.
Educational establishments must also ensure that the placements are appropriate to the nature and level of the academic programme being pursued

Note: Outside of the Degree Programme certain named exceptions may be permitted to engage in Internship programmes in relation to EU-funded programmes

 


Stamp Conditions

Your permission is limited purpose permission which allows you take up your course of studies.

It is not reckonable or taken into account in any application for long term residence or citizenship.

The immigration permission is valid for up to 12 months and is a renewable permission up to a maximum of 7 years

Any breach of the conditions attached to permission to remain in Ireland as a student will be taken very seriously by the immigration authorities.

In the event that a student breaches the conditions of their student permission your permission to be in the State as a student may be withdrawn. Such students will be considered illegal in the State and may be required to leave the State.

 


Changing courses or Education Providers

Yes it is permissible for students to change courses. Some conditions however will apply:

  • Students will not be allowed to change course during the first year of study
  • Students will only be permitted to change course to a new course of study leading to a major award or equivalent on the same level of the NFQ or a higher NFQ level;
  • It will not be permissible for Students to move from the Degree Programme to a Non Degree or Language Course.

It is not permissible for students to renew their registration early in order to change course and by so doing to extend their immigration permission.

The validity of your permission to remain is conditional on you attending the course
for which you were permitted to enter the State and/or for which your study visa was granted. The express written consent of the Minister is required if you wish to transfer to another course.

Your immigration permission has been granted for the purpose of allowing you engage in a full time educational course. You cannot transfer to a part-time course.

 

 


Family Reunification

 

Can I bring my husband, wife, civil partner or children with me?

No. In general students will continue to have no rights to Family Reunification. Some exceptions to this rule are set out below.

For visa required students your husband, wife, civil partner or child will need to make their own Visa application and this application will be judged on its own merit.

Partners, spouses and/or children will be considered as applicants in their own right but cannot advance their application for entry or residence on the basis of their relationship to another student.

Students will not be permitted to be accompanied or joined by children other than those born during their stay.

Can my children come and visit me in Ireland?

In general no, family reunification will be achieved by you visiting your children and family during academic holidays.

Are there exceptions to the rules as set out above?

Exemptions from the policy of no Family Reunification will be considered where;

  • The student is pursuing a course at PhD level (NFQ 10). In these cases the student will be required to progress academically (verified by letter from academic supervisor) and to complete their doctorate within 4 years; or
  • The student is a participant in an academic programme agreed between the Irish State and another state whereby the student and dependants are sufficiently well funded in respect of all expenses in Ireland, or where any such agreement provides an exemption; or
  • The student can demonstrate private means on an annual basis at a level that clearly allows them to support themselves and their family without recourse to public funds and without engaging in employment, and, where children are accompanying the parent, has paid an immigration levy6 set by the Government as a means of recovering the costs of the child’s education; or
  • The child is on a short visit to their parent(s) who can show special circumstances and can guarantee that the child will return home at the end of their visit. Failure to comply with this condition could result in the termination of the parent’s own permission on the basis that they had breached their immigration conditions

No entitlement on the part of other family members to accompany or join the student in the State

The granting of a visa to a person under the age of 18 years for the purpose of study does not give any entitlement to any other family member to accompany or join the student in the State.

 


 

Important links:

 

  #MapMyMove- Our coaching Services - Confused or lost and need some direction, book a session with us to help untangle the confusion and work out your route of immigration

   Register at Garda Immigration - How to register at Garda Immigration and Renewals of Residency stamps

    Approved list of study courses - for the courses you can apply for under the conditions of the Study Visa

     Study Visa - Irish Immigration

   Student visas to study in Ireland - Citizens Information

   Terms and Conditions of the Non-EU members Residency Stamps - what are you allowed to do in the state on your residency stamp?

   Irish Council for International Students

   Entry in to Ireland - To enter in to Ireland, what documents do I need and how does it work?

   Third-level Education (Tertiary) - Costs and how Irish Teriary education works

   Documents you need for Entry into Ireland

   Admin before the move

   Admin once you're in Ireland


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