Student Visas
EU Students
Students with a passport issued in the European Union do not require any special permissions or a visa to travel to, study or work in Ireland.
Non-EU Students
All students from outside of the European Union who plan on staying in Ireland for over 90 days will need to apply for a Stamp 2 IRP Card while here in Ireland.
Non-EU / Visa Requiring Students
Some students from visa requiring countries will also first need to apply for a visa through an Irish Embassy abroad before getting to Ireland ( examples China, Colombia, Ecuador, Mongolia, Morocco, Peru and Turkey).
On this page you will find information for both types of applicants:
1. Stamp 2 Requirement Only
Countries that do not need to apply for a visa through an Embassy before traveling to Ireland but who will need to apply for a Stamp 2 IRP Card while in Ireland, include:
| Andorra | Honduras | Samoa |
| Antigua & Barbuda | Hong Kong (Special Admin. Region) | San Marino |
| Argentina | Israel | Seychelles |
| Australia | Japan | Singapore |
| Bahamas | Kiribati | Solomon Islands |
| Barbados | Lesotho | South Africa |
| Belize | Macau (Special Admin. Region) | South Korea |
| Botswana | Malaysia | Swaziland (Eswatini) |
| Bolivia | Maldives | Taiwan |
| Brazil | Mexico | Tonga |
| Brunei | Monaco | Trinidad & Tobago |
| Canada | Nauru | Tuvalu |
| Chile | New Zealand | Ukraine |
| Costa Rica | Nicaragua | United Arab Emirates |
| Dominica | Panama | United Kingdom (see note below) |
| El Salvador | Paraguay | United States of America |
| Fiji | Saint Kitts & Nevis | Uruguay |
| Grenada | Saint Lucia | Vanuatu |
| Guatemala | Saint Vincent & the Grenadines | Vatican City |
| Guyana |
If your country is not on this list it may be necessary for you to obtain a visa through an Embassy before you travel to Ireland.
2. Visa and Stamp 2 Requirement
Visa Requiring Countries like China, Colombia, Ecuador, Mongolia, Morocco, Peru and Turkey will need to apply for a visa through an Irish Embassy before travelling to Ireland. Check if you need to apply for a visa here.
The school can proceed with your booking if you feel confident about the visa application process. However, If you need assistance with the visa process, please consider contacting a language travel agent for personalized support: Find an Agent Near You .
- Find an Agent for Chinese Students
- Find an Agent for Colombian Students
- Find an Agent for Mongolian Students
- Find an Agent for Moroccan Students
- Find an Agent for Peruvian Students
- Find an Agent for Turkish Students
In general, here are the key steps and requirements:
How to Apply
Make an application using the AVATS Online Application Service.
Prepare all the necessary documents for Your nearest Irish Embassy. The Embassy will ask you to show/prove the following:
- You are enrolled on a privately funded course involving at least 15 hours of organised daytime tuition each week
- Equally important, You have paid the requisite fees to the college
- You have the academic ability to follow your chosen course
- If applying for a Study D visa ( long term course/ 8 month stay in Ireland) that you have immediate access to at least €10,000.
- If applying for a Study C visa ( short term course of 2 to 12 weeks) that you have at least access to €4620.
- You have private medical insurance
- You can account for any gaps in your educational history
- Furthermore, your intention is to return to your country of permanent residence following completion of your studies in Ireland
- Additionally, a passport valid for at least 6 months after the completion of your course
Allow as much time as possible when applying for a visa. Processing times for student visa applications vary depending on the volume of applications lodged but generally a minimum time of 8 weeks is recommended.
Visa decisions are published weekly on the Irish Government Immigration website. You can check the status of your application by entering the Visa Reference Number that is issued to you.
If successful you will receive a visa in your passport and you can travel to Ireland anytime before that visa expires.
Once you get to Ireland your 8 month stay will start and you will further need to apply for a Stamp 2 IRP Card while in Ireland.
Useful Links
ILEP (List of approved school courses in Ireland for study visa purposes)
Irish National Immigration Services (INIS) & Irish Residence Permit (IRP)
Contact your nearest Irish Embassy