Student Information and Services: Pre-departure Information - Visa Information

What is the difference between Visas and Immigration? Not everyone requires a visa but all non-EU nationals must comply with Immigration regulations. Immigration is permission to reside in a country.  It is necessary for anybody, who does not hold Irish citizenship, wishing to live in Ireland for more than 90 days, to obtain an Immigration Card. The most up to date visa and immigration information is available at or http://www.inis.gov.ie/ Please check it regularly. 

It is the student’s responsibility to ensure s/he obtains and maintains a valid passport and student visa to enter Ireland for study purposes as well as up to date registration with Immigration. 

Frequently Asked Questions –(http://www.inis.gov.ie/en/INIS/Pages/FAQ_Applying_for_a_Visa)

This information is intended to assist applicants in their dealings with the Visa Section throughout the visa application process. As such it is intended for guidance purposes only.

It will be updated from time to time as procedures and policies change, therefore applicants are advised to refer to the up to date version of these questions on the website before submitting any applications or documents.

There is substantially more information available on the website but for convenience I am highlighting some of the most frequently asked questions.

Q.1 Do I need a visa?

Citizens of the following countries do not require a visa:

Citizens of the following countries require a transit visa:

A Transit Visa does not permit the holder to leave the port/airport. You can only transit to your onward connection and you must have a valid visa (if required) for your final destination.

A Transit Visa does not permit the holder to leave the port/airport. You can only transit to your onward connection and you must have a valid visa (if required) for your final destination.

Q 2- What is a Visa?

A visa is a paper document affixed to a page of the holder's passport.

It permits a person to travel to the State during the dates stated on the visa. It does not guarantee entry to the State. An Immigration Officer at the Port of Entry has the authority to grant or deny admission, and to decide on the duration a person may remain in the State.

Q 3. How/Where do I apply for an Irish visa?

A new online visa application facility is being introduced. This will be implemented on a phased basis to all Irish Embassies, Consulates, and Visa Offices during this time.

When it is available in your country of residence, you must complete your application online, and submit your supporting documentation to the relevant office.

The link to Applying Online - Countries where Online Facility Available - Supported Countries should be checked to see if the online facility is available where you live.

If you apply online, details of the appropriate office will be shown on the Online Summary Sheet which you need to print after you complete your application. Otherwise, please refer to the Department of Foreign Affairs website, http://www.dfa.ie/ for contact details of the Irish Embassy, Consulate or Visa Office in or designated to, your country of residence.

Please note that you may be required to attend for personal interview.

The Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform currently has Visa Offices in six countries – China, Egypt, India, Nigeria, Russia and the United Kingdom. Each office has a website which you should also check as it will outline who can apply to that office, how to submit your application, the documents required, the fees payable, and the methods of payment accepted.

China http://www.embassyofireland.cn/ 

Egypt http://www.embassyofireland.org.eg/ 

India http://www.irelandinindia.com/ 

Nigeria http://www.embassyofireland.org.ng/ 

Russia http://www.embassyofireland.ru/ 

United Kingdom http://www.embassyofireland.co.uk/ 

Q.4 How long will my visa be valid for?

The dates shown on a visa are the dates between which you may seek entry to the State.

There are two types of visas – C and D.

C Visas

C visas are issued for a short-term trip only, usually for the purpose of tourism, visiting family, business meetings or conferences.

The maximum duration for which the Immigration Officer will allow you remain in the State with a C visa is 90 days.

Once this time has elapsed, your permission to remain will not be extended and you must leave the State.

Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months after your intended date of departure from Ireland. If you are resident in a country other than your country of origin, your residence permit must be valid for 3 months after your intended departure from Ireland.

D Visas

If you have been issued with a D visa you are required to register with the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB). You will be issued with a Garda Registration Card. The cost of registration is €100. (There are exemptions from this fee for certain categories of people).

It is advisable that your passport is valid for a period of at least 12 months as you will not be registered by GNIB beyond the expiry date of your passport, and you will be required to pay the fee each time you register. Further information is available at www.garda.ie 

Q. 5 How long does it take to process an application?

 In some cases, applications can be processed locally in the Irish Embassy, Consulate or Visa Office in the country in which you applied, in a very short period of time.

If your application does not fall into the category of applications that can be processed locally, it will be referred to Dublin for processing by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform.

This office endeavours to deal with all applications in the fastest possible time. Incomplete applications, lack of documentation, or submission of non-translated documents results in delays for everyone.

To allow for the possible transfer of your application to Dublin you should submit your application 8 weeks in advance of proposed date of travel.

We advise applicants not to pay for airline or other travel tickets without having been issued with a visa.

Q. 6 How do I check the progress of my application?

It is not possible at present to track the progress of your application. However, you will be notified as soon as a decision on your application has been made. Visa decisions are also published every week on our website. Go to the Visa Decisions page to view the list of visa decisions. You can check this list by using the reference number which issues to you when you submit your application.

Q. 7 I hold a valid UK visa, do I need an Irish visa to travel to the Republic of Ireland?

Yes.

Q. 8 I hold a valid Schengen Visa, do I need an Irish visa to come to the Republic of Ireland?

Yes

Q. 9 If I get a Study Visa can my spouse/children join me in Ireland?

It is not the general policy of the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform to allow family members of study visa holders to join them in Ireland

Q.10. Does this guarantee me entry to Ireland on my arrival?

The granting of a visa is in effect only a form of pre-clearance. A visa only permits you to travel to the State and seek entry during the validity period of the visa. It does not grant permission to enter or reside in the State; this permission is given by the Immigration Officer who has the authority to grant or deny such admission.

An Immigration Officer is entitled to question any person on arrival. If they are not satisfied with the bona-fides of any person, their documents, or their reasons for wishing to enter the State, they have the right to deny entry to any such person, despite the fact they hold a valid visa.

You are advised to carry supporting documentation related to the purpose of your journey in your hand luggage, for presentation to the Immigration Officer at the port of entry.

Please check http://www.inis.gov.ie/   for further information.

Q. 11 I have been issued with a D visa. Can I leave Ireland and return using this visa?

If the number of journeys indicated on your visa is '01' then you can only enter the State once on this visa. When you have registered with the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB), you can then apply for a 're-entry visa'.

If you apply for a multiple journey re-entry visa, it will be valid from the date of issue until the expiry date on the registration card issued to you by the GNIB, or the expiry date of your passport, whichever is earliest.

This will allow you to leave and re-enter the State any number of times within the dates shown on your visa.

If you apply for a single journey re-entry visa, this will only be valid for one entry to the State within the dates shown on the visa, which will be for 90 days from the date of issue. (It will not be valid for the duration of your GNIB card).

To avoid having to apply for further visas for the duration of your permission to remain, you should apply for a multiple-entry re-entry visa.

Q12 - Can I appeal this decision?

A - If you are refused a visa you may appeal this decision by writing to:

Visa Appeals Officer
Visa Section
Irish Naturalisation & Immigration Service
13/14 Burgh Quay
Dublin 2

Appeals must be in writing and posted to the Visa Appeals Officer at the above address. Faxed or emailed appeals will not be considered.

If you made your visa application to one of the visa offices in Abuja, Beijing, Cairo, London, Moscow or New Delhi, you must submit your appeal to the relevant office.

Only one appeal may be lodged in respect of any application and must be received within 2 months of the refusal date.