When studying in Ireland, you will need to obtain an Irish visa. The type of Irish visa you need will vary depending on the requirements and method of study.
Therefore, by planning your study period and study plan before obtaining an Irish visa, you can find the perfect Irish visa for you.
Let’s look at the Irish visa requirements on this page.
Types of Irish visas
For studying in Ireland, a visa is not required if your stay is less than three months.
Studying in Ireland for more than three months is generally done on a tourist visa, working holiday visa, or student visa, but the type of visa you need depends on your purpose.
The following are the types of Irish visas that immigrants typically aim to obtain.
| visa | Application | School attendance period | Length of stay | work |
| No visa application required | Unnecessary | Within 3 months | Up to 3 months (extendable under certain conditions) | Not possible　　　　 |
| Student visa | Apply locally | From 3 months | There are differences between language study abroad and university study abroad (explained later). | Possible under certain conditions |
| Working Holiday Visa | Application required | Up to 1 year | up to 1 year | Possible |
Irish Visas: Student Visas
An Irish student visa is required for students attending government-approved language schools in Ireland for 15 hours or more per week, or for students attending vocational schools or universities for one year or more, with a minimum of 15 hours of study per week.
With an Irish student visa, you are permitted to work up to 20 hours per week during your studies and full-time during holiday periods.
Therefore, it becomes possible to study abroad while earning money for living expenses and tuition fees.
However, the conditions vary depending on the case, so please check the conditions clearly stated on the visa yourself.
You do not need to obtain an Irish student visa in your origin country; you can apply for it after arriving in Ireland.
To study the language in Ireland, you need to commit to a minimum of 25 weeks of study, and you will be granted an 8-month student visa consisting of 6 months (study) + 2 months (holiday).
Furthermore, if you plan to attend university in Ireland, you will initially be granted a one-year student visa, which you will then renew annually.
Irish student visas are extendable.
What are the requirements and documents needed to apply for a student visa in Ireland?
The requirements and documents needed to apply for an Irish student visa are as follows:
Irish student visa: Application requirements
- If you attend a course of 15 hours or more per week for 25 weeks or more.
- Students attending school for 25 weeks or more are required to take the English proficiency test.
- You must have insurance that covers the duration of your stay.
- Having sufficient funds (3,000 EUR is required)
Irish student visa: Required documents
When applying for a student visa after entering Ireland, the following documents are required.
- Passport
- Proof of residence (address in Ireland)
- Bank statement (two copies issued within the last month)
- Admission letter from the school you will be attending
- Proof of insurance coverage (must cover the entire stay)
- Application fee: 300 EUR (cash not accepted)
- telephone number
Insurance requirements when applying for an Irish student visa
When studying in Ireland on a student visa, it is mandatory to have travel insurance or other forms of insurance.
When applying for an Irish student visa, you will need to prove that you have insurance that covers you from the day you depart your origin country until the day you return to Ireland.
Insurance premiums vary depending on the insurance company and plan, as well as whether you contract with a local company, but they are generally around 1,000 to 1,500 EUR per year.
Application fees for an Irish student visa
The application fee for an Irish student visa is 300 EUR.
To apply for an Irish student visa, you must go to the local immigration office upon arrival in Ireland and pay a 300 EUR application fee during the foreigner registration process.
Please note that cash payments are not accepted, so please have a credit card ready.
Applying for a student visa in Ireland requires having insurance that covers the entire duration of your stay, so be sure to purchase insurance.
What you can study with an Irish student visa
Studying in Ireland offers a variety of options to suit your plans, including language study, vocational school studies, and full-time university and graduate school programs.
Language study abroad
When studying abroad in Ireland, the type of visa you need will vary depending on the length of your stay.
If you plan to study the language in Ireland, you will need to attend a course of at least 15 hours per week for 25 weeks, and a student visa of up to 8 months will be issued.
Ireland has a large number of international students from neighboring European countries.
Therefore, it is one of the lesser-known language study destinations for most people.
In the General English course, you can learn the four English skills (reading, writing, speaking, and listening) in a well-balanced manner.
Furthermore, for intermediate and advanced levels, Cambridge exam preparation courses and business English courses are recommended.
Studying abroad for a specialized field
In Ireland, specialized study abroad programs allow you to learn about a wide range of fields, from business and hospitality to design and tourism, focusing on areas that interest you.
Furthermore, you can also gain knowledge and experience that will be useful in your future career.
Ireland has both public and private vocational schools, and students studying in Ireland for vocational training will attend one of these schools.
University/Graduate School Study Abroad
Ireland is known for its high educational standards, boasting a total of seven national universities and 14 public colleges, and its tuition fees are said to be lower compared to neighboring countries.
Ireland has a thriving IT industry, and many IT companies have established their European headquarters there.
Therefore, universities and courses in these fields tend to have a strong focus on IT and software.
Irish Visa: About the Working Holiday Visa
The Irish Working Holiday Visa is a visa designed to allow individuals to experience Irish culture and lifestyle while working during their stay to supplement their income.
Therefore, with a Working Holiday Visa, you can stay in Ireland and work for up to one year. Studying is also permitted without limit (for one year) during the Working Holiday period, and you can work in a wide range of occupations.
In Ireland, working on a Working Holiday Visa allows you to work up to 39 hours per week, with no other restrictions.
Irish working holiday visas cannot be renewed.
Please note that travelers will need to register as foreigners at the immigration office after entering Ireland.
Ireland Working Holiday Visa: Application Process
Ireland has a quota of 800 working holiday visas, and applications are usually accepted in two periods, in January and July.
Applications submitted at other times are generally not accepted.
Therefore, if you are considering a working holiday in Ireland, you should apply online during the application period in January or July. If you are selected as one of the 800 available spots, you can then begin the application process.
Please note that application periods may change without notice, so please refer to official information from the Irish Embassy or Immigration Bureau.
What are the requirements and documents needed to apply for a Working Holiday Visa in Ireland?
The requirements and documents needed to apply for an Irish Working Holiday Visa are as follows:
Requirements for applying for an Irish Working Holiday Visa
The requirements for applying for an Irish Working Holiday Visa are mainly
- You must have a return flight ticket or sufficient funds to purchase one.
- You must have medical insurance that covers the duration of your stay.
- You must reside in your origin country.
- The purpose is to spend a holiday in Ireland.
- Applicants for the Working Holiday Visa must be between 18 and 30 years old (under 31 years old).
- You must possess a valid passport.
- You have not previously come to Ireland on a working holiday visa.
- You must not bring your spouse or children (dependents) with you.  Â
- Being healthy and having no criminal record
- You must have medical insurance that covers the duration of your stay.
- Having funds for a return flight ticket.
Required documents for applying for an Irish Working Holiday Visa
The following documents are required for applying for an Irish Working Holiday Visa. Please send the following documents to the embassy.
- Application approval email
- Application form and two passport-sized photos
- A certificate of no criminal record (if your total stay, including past stays, exceeds two years)
- Passport (original): Must be valid for the duration of your stay plus 6 months.
- Copy of passport
- English resume
- English graduation certificate or certificate of enrollment (graduation certificate of highest level of education)
- English bank statement: A document that proves that the applicant has enough funds in their name.
- Medical insurance policy or certificate of guarantee (original in English and one A4 copy)
- Airline tickets: Original and A4 copy
- Additional documents: Details will only be provided to those whose applications are approved.
- Return envelope (Letter Pack): 520 yen size
Application fees for an Irish Working Holiday Visa
Please note that during your working holiday in Ireland, you are required to have insurance that covers the entire duration of your stay.
Insurance premiums vary depending on the insurance company and coverage, but they are generally around 1,000 to 1,500 EUR per year.
Language school during working holiday in Ireland
Depending on your Irish working holiday plans and your English proficiency, attending school will likely allow you to enjoy your Irish working holiday more.
Furthermore, since English proficiency is often considered a requirement when looking for a job, most people attend a language school first before beginning their job search.
With a working holiday visa in Ireland, you can attend language school for up to one year.
Costs of a Working Holiday in Ireland
The following is an estimate of the costs for a one-year working holiday in Ireland.
| Cost of a working holiday in Ireland: 1 year | |
| Visa application fee | 1109 EUR |
| Insurance premiums | Approximately 1,000 to 1,500 EUR per year |
| Enrollment fee | Please inquire |
| Teaching material cost | Please inquire |
| Tuition Fee | Language school: 200-300 EUR per week x number of weeks attended |
| Accommodation costs | Shared house: 7,200 EUR – 9,600 EUR Homestay: 9,600 EUR – 12,000 EUR |
| living expenses | 18,000 EUR to 24,000 EUR |
| Total (if attending school for one year) | 36,000 EUR to 52,000 EUR |
Irish Visa: Short-term study in Ireland without visa application
International citizens staying in Ireland for a period of three months or less are exempt from visa requirements.
While employment is not permitted, tourism and short-term study abroad programs of up to three months are allowed.
If you wish to stay for more than 90 days, you will need to register as a foreigner.
Read Also: Top 5 Fully Funded Scholarships in Ireland for International Students
Regarding visa extensions in Ireland
If you wish to extend your Irish visa, please refer to the table below to determine which visa type you are eligible to change from.
| To a Working Holiday Visa | Student visa | Tourist visa | |
| From a Working Holiday Visa | ✕ | 〇 | Please inquire |
| From student visa | 〇 | ○ (Conditional) | Please inquire |
| From tourist visa | 〇 | 〇 | Please inquire |
In Ireland, it is not permitted to extend a working holiday visa.
Therefore, the following methods are common when extending your studies in Ireland.
- From Working Holiday Visa to Student Visa
You need to decide on a school to attend during your working holiday period and leave Ireland at least once before your working holiday visa expires.
Please see above for student visa requirements.
- Student visa extension
The basic process for extending a student visa involves choosing a new school and renewing your foreigner registration with the immigration bureau.
Additionally, you will need your academic transcripts from the school you are currently attending (or have attended) under your current student visa, so please prepare them.
- Graduation certificate from the school I attended
- Proof of attendance rate from the school you attended (an attendance rate of 85% or higher is required)
- Results of the certification exam taken at the end of the course (e.g., IELTS, Cambridge English exams): TOEIC is not accepted.
