Apply for an Irish visa and fix your career growth to new heights. Go through this piece to find all information on student visa for Ireland.
Student Visa for Ireland
Think of the island Ireland and a slideshow of beautiful landscapes, steeping mountains, quaint little villages, pristine ocean lines, and captivating countryside begins instantly. The soothing Irish folk music, happening pubs, and invigorating lifestyle seems to be never-ending, inducing visitors and tourists to stay back here forever. The abundance of history, religious fervor, musicians, storytellers, and much more leaves a mesmerizing experience on everyone. To add to this exciting drama is the treasure of prestigious universities that Ireland is home to. The distinguished scholars, high-tech facilities, excellent teaching skills, compelling environment, peaceful aura, and captivating campuses are increasingly attracting a large crowd of students from different parts of the world to pursue higher education. The friendliness and warm hospitality that Irish people are known for exhibiting contribute towards generating a large percentage of student traffic. But, studying in Ireland comes for a cost. Even though Ireland is not among the strictest countries in terms of immigration visa, but some students do have to undergo the entire procedure for obtaining a valid student visa to fulfill their dream of imparting knowledge in one of the most peaceful and calm destinations of the world. Read on further for complete information on student visa for Ireland.
Who Requires A Visa?
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Students who are citizens of an EU or EEA member state do not have to get a visa for studying in Ireland. In short, they can simply pack their bags and book a flight straight to Ireland, provided they have acquired admission in a university.
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Students belonging to Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Dominica, El Salvador, Fiji, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Hong Kong (unless you hold a British Hong Kong passport), Iceland, Israel, Japan, Kiribati, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Macao, Malawi, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Nauru, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Seychelles, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, South Korea, Swaziland, Switzerland, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tuvalu, United States of America, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Vatican City, and Venezuela can also study in Ireland without a visa.
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Students, belonging to any other country not listed above, require a visa to pursue higher studies in Ireland.
Application Form
If you belong to an EU or EEA member state, you do not have to go through the visa application procedure for Ireland. However, if you aren’t an EU or EEA citizen, it is best to contact an Irish embassy or consulate to find out whether or not you require an entry visa for studying in Ireland. As an alternate, you can also contact the Department of Foreign Affairs for complete details. Collect application forms from the Department of Foreign Affairs and submit them, along with the requisite documents, well in advance. Since the final decision of granting visa depends upon the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, you should allow the authorities at least six to eight weeks of time to process your application.
Necessary Documentations
Candidates applying for student visa have to supply certain information in the form of documents and certificates. They are listed as under:
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Valid Passport: You should possess a passport, valid for traveling at least six months after the completion of your program in Ireland. If you have possessed a previous passport, attach it along with your current passport.
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Letter of Acceptance: Submit the letter of acceptance provided by the Irish university confirming your admission to a course of study. The course you have chosen should be full-time, lasting at least an academic year, and have at least 15 hours per week of study time. The letter should include
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The course you will be studying
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The amount of fees payable
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Confirmation of the payment of the fees
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Medical insurance provided by the university, if any
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Academic Transcripts: The course you have chosen should be provided with sufficient evidence, ensuring that you have attained the necessary level of academic achievement to seek admission in the same. For this, you should provide exam results, qualifications obtained, and certificates awarded from the last institution attended.
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English Language Proficiency: You will be required to show your capability of undertaking the course chosen in English as the medium of instruction and submit necessary documents to prove your statement.
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Take the IELTS test and provide the original score certificate with the visa application
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Apart from IELTS, you can also take other internationally recognized tests, such as TOEFL, Cambridge, and ETAPP.
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The recommended band scores are 5 for IELTS, 173 (computer-based) or 500 (paper-based) for TOEFL, First Certificate in English (FCE) or higher for Cambridge, and minimum grade of B2 for ETAPP.
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Irrespective of your nationality or educational background, take the English proficiency test. In its absence, the visa application processing can be delayed and even refusal, at times.
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Submitting false or fraudulent certificates can also have your visa and study permit canceled.
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Any of the language proficiency certificates must be issued within 2 years of the expected commencement date of the course.
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Evidence of Sufficient Funds: It is mandatory to provide proof of managing your cost of living in Ireland. You will need to:
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Provide evidence of at least 7000 Euros to lead a living in Ireland for the first academic year
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Provide evidence of accessing at least 7000 Euros for each subsequent year of study, apart from the course fees for each academic year. This can be provided by either you or your sponsor.
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Confirmation in writing that you intend to leave Ireland and return to your home country on completion of your study program.
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Any gaps in the educational history must be explained clearly to the visa officer.
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