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Ireland Student Visa 2026

Your complete guide
to the Ireland student visa

From choosing the right visa category to landing in Dublin with your IRP card — every step explained for Indian students, without the jargon.

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Visa TypeLong Stay 'D' (Student)
Processing Time4–8 weeks (apply 3 months early)
Cost€60 single-entry · €100 multi-entry
Work Rights (Degree)20 hrs/wk term · 40 hrs/wk holiday
After StudyStamp 1G (1–2 yr post-study visa)
Refusal Rate (India)~12–18% (avoidable with prep)
GlobalGrad Success Rate98% across 10,000+ students
The Basics

Which visa do
you need?

Most Indian students applying to Irish universities need a Long Stay 'D' Student Visa. This is the standard entry visa for courses longer than 90 days. There are a few variants depending on your course level — here's how they differ.

The visa is just the entry permission. Once you land, you register with the Irish Registration Office and receive a Stamp 2 — your actual immigration permission to stay and study. Both are required.

If your course is shorter than 3 months, you would technically only need a Short Stay 'C' Visa, but virtually no full-time master's or degree programs at Irish universities fall into this category.

You need this Long Stay 'D' — Degree / Masters
For full-time undergraduate or postgraduate programs at Irish HEIs. Valid for the duration of your course. Work rights: 20 hrs/week during term, 40 hrs/week during official holidays. Leads to Stamp 2 on arrival, then Stamp 1G after graduation.
Also common Long Stay 'D' — English Language Course
For full-time English language courses lasting more than 90 days. No work rights. Some students use this as a bridging year before their main postgraduate application. Different financial requirements apply.
Less common Short Stay 'C' — Study Visit
For courses or summer schools under 90 days. Rarely relevant for Indian students pursuing Irish degrees. No work rights, no Stamp 2, no path to Stamp 1G.
Application Timeline

From offer letter to landing in Ireland

The process has 7 steps. Each one feeds the next — missing a step or rushing it is the most common cause of delays and refusals.

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Step 1 · Months before: 5–6

Receive Unconditional Offer Letter

You cannot apply for a visa without an unconditional offer from an Irish HEI. A conditional offer (pending results) is not sufficient — wait for the full unconditional letter. Ensure it includes your course name, start date, duration, and total tuition fees.

GlobalGrad tip: Always double-check the offer letter states "unconditional". Some universities issue conditional offers by default — email your admissions officer to confirm your conditions have been met and request the unconditional version in writing.
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Step 2 · Months before: 4–5

Pay Tuition Deposit & Get Fee Receipt

Most Irish universities require a deposit of €500–€5,000 to secure your place and release the formal acceptance letter (CAS equivalent). Pay this as early as possible — your CAS/acceptance document is required for your visa application.

Important: Ensure your fee payment receipt shows your name, student ID, university name, course name, and amount paid. A bank transfer receipt alone is usually not sufficient — request an official receipt from the university finance office.
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Step 3 · Months before: 4–5 — CRITICAL STEP

Prepare Financial Evidence (Bank Statements)

This is the most common refusal point. You must demonstrate funds covering tuition + living costs. For most programs, this means showing €25,000–€35,000 in your or your parents' accounts, held for a minimum of 6 months (called "seasoning").

Fresh deposits are a major red flag — INIS looks for money that has been sitting in the account steadily, not transferred in just before the application.

What works: Salary credits over 6+ months, existing savings, fixed deposits. What does not work: sudden large transfers, loans deposited as personal savings, unrelated business transactions mixed in.
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Step 4 · Months before: 3

Gather All Documents

Compile your complete document package. See the full checklist in the Documents section below. At this stage, get all originals and certified translations ready. Check every document for expiry — passports must have 6+ months validity beyond your intended stay.

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Step 5 · Months before: 3

Submit Online Application via INIS

Apply through the INIS online visa application portal at inis.gov.ie. Create your account, complete the form carefully, upload scanned documents, and pay the visa fee (€60 single-entry or €100 multi-entry). After submission you will receive a reference number — keep it safe.

Multi-entry vs single-entry: If you plan to travel home during your studies (for holidays, family events, etc.), apply for multi-entry. The extra €40 is well worth it — returning to India on a single-entry visa means you cannot re-enter Ireland without a new visa.
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Step 6 · Processing: 4–8 weeks

Await Decision from INIS

Processing times vary: 4–6 weeks is typical, but the May–July peak period before September intake can extend this to 10–12 weeks. Do not book flights until you have your visa in hand. INIS will email your decision — check your spam folder daily during this period.

If called for interview: Some Indian applicants are called to the Irish Embassy in New Delhi or Consulate in Mumbai. Attend promptly. Bring all original documents. Common questions: why Ireland, why this course, how are you funding it, what do you plan to do after graduation. Answer honestly and specifically.
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Step 7 · On Arrival

Land in Ireland & Register with IRP

On arrival at the airport, present your visa, passport, offer letter and financial evidence to the immigration officer. You will be granted entry and given a stamp. Within 90 days of arrival, you must register with the Irish Registration Office (IRP) to receive your Stamp 2 and IRP card.

IRP registration fee: €300 per person — bring cash or card. Book your IRP appointment online as soon as you arrive. Appointments fill up fast at the start of each academic year. See the After Arrival section below for the full post-arrival checklist.
Documents Checklist

Everything you need to apply

These are the standard documents for an Indian student applying for a Long Stay 'D' Student Visa. Missing even one can result in a refusal or a request for further information (RFI) that delays processing by weeks.

🪪 Identity & Travel Always required
Valid passportMust be valid for the entire duration of your course + 6 months. Copies of all used pages including previous visas.
Passport-size photographsRecent (within 6 months), white background, biometric format.
Completed visa application formPrinted and signed after submission on inis.gov.ie.
Visa fee payment receipt€60 single-entry or €100 multi-entry. Keep the transaction reference.
🎓 Academic Documents Always required
Unconditional offer letterFrom your Irish university. Must state course name, start date, duration, tuition fees.
Tuition deposit receiptOfficial university receipt showing amount paid and your student ID.
Academic transcriptsAll previous degrees — certified copies and official translations if not in English.
Degree certificatesBachelor's degree certificate. If awaiting results, provide a predicted grades letter from your current institution.
English proficiency testIELTS, PTE or TOEFL scores if required by your university (most waive for Indian students educated in English).
🏦 Financial Evidence Most scrutinised
6-month bank statements (personal or parents')Showing sufficient funds — minimum €25,000 for most programs. Must be bank-stamped or official e-statements. Statements must be dated within 4 weeks of application.
Proof of financial sponsorIf parents are funding you: letter of sponsorship, their occupation proof (salary slips or business documents), IT returns for 2–3 years.
Salary slips (if self-funded)Last 3–6 months. Especially relevant if you have prior work experience and are funding yourself.
Scholarship letters (if applicable)If you have received any scholarship, include the official award letter with the amount and terms clearly stated.
Fixed deposit or investment statementsIf part of your funding comes from FDs, mutual funds, or other investments — include statements showing maturity value and ownership.
🏠 Personal & Supporting Strengthens application
Accommodation confirmationUniversity housing offer or a rental agreement / booking confirmation in Ireland. Shows INIS you have a plan.
Travel insuranceCovering the duration of your studies is increasingly requested — not always mandatory but good practice.
Statement of purpose / cover letter1–2 page letter explaining why you chose this course, this university, why Ireland, and what you plan to do after graduation. Be specific — generic letters are a red flag.
Ties to home countryEvidence you intend to return (family property documents, letters from employer if on study leave, assets in India). Helps counter concerns about overstaying.
Previous visa refusals (if any)Must be declared honestly. Undisclosed refusals are grounds for permanent ban. Include refusal letters and your explanation.

💰 Financial Requirements — The Numbers

INIS does not publish a fixed minimum — but these are the real-world thresholds our team has seen applied consistently for Indian students in 2024–2026:

Minimum funds to show
€25,000–€35,000
Tuition year 1 + €10,000 living costs
Seasoning requirement
6 months minimum
Money must have been in account for 6+ months
Living cost benchmark
€10,000/yr
INIS minimum living cost benchmark (actual: €15–20k)
Statement date requirement
Within 4 weeks
Bank statements must be dated within 4 weeks of application
Avoid These Mistakes

The 8 most common refusal reasons — and how to fix them

Every refusal we have seen in 10 years falls into one of these categories. Read every one — they are all avoidable.

1

Insufficient or freshly deposited funds

Bank balance is too low, or a large sum was recently transferred in to inflate the balance just before applying.

Start building statements 6+ months before applying. Never make sudden large transfers.
2

Weak ties to home country

INIS is not satisfied you will return to India after your studies. No property, no family obligations, no previous employment history.

Include property documents, letter from current employer (if on study leave), family assets.
3

Course doesn't match qualifications

Your bachelor's degree is in a completely unrelated field to your chosen master's program with no explanation provided.

Write a strong statement of purpose explaining the career reason for the change of discipline.
4

Incomplete or inconsistent documents

Missing documents, unsigned forms, documents that contradict each other, or bank statements from different dates.

Use a checklist. Cross-check every date, name and figure across all documents before submission.
5

Generic or unconvincing cover letter

"I want to study in Ireland because it is a great country" — INIS visa officers read thousands of these. It signals a weak application.

Be specific: name your course modules, your career goal, why this university, why Ireland over UK or Canada.
6

Previous visa refusal not declared

Any undisclosed refusal — UK, Canada, USA, Schengen — is treated as deliberate deception and can result in permanent ban.

Always declare every refusal honestly. Include the refusal letter and a strong explanation of what changed.
7

Applying too late

Applications submitted less than 6 weeks before course start. Even if approved, processing delays mean you miss orientation.

Apply 12–14 weeks before your course start date. September intake: apply by June 1 at the latest.
8

Choosing a low-quality or unrecognised provider

Some private colleges in Ireland are not on the ILEP (Interim List of Eligible Programmes). Visas for these are routinely refused.

Only apply to universities on the HEA list. Every university GlobalGrad works with is ILEP-listed.
Once You Land

Your first 90 days in Ireland — what to do and when

Getting your visa is step one. These are the four things you must do immediately after arriving to stay legal and set yourself up properly.

1

Book IRP Appointment

Register at inisonline.jahs.ie to book your IRP (Irish Residence Permit) appointment. Do this within days of arriving — slots fill up fast at the start of term.

⏱ Within 90 days of arrival
2

Get Your IRP Card (Stamp 2)

Attend your IRP appointment with: passport, offer letter, proof of address in Ireland, proof of payment of tuition fees, and €300 cash or card. You will receive your Stamp 2 IRP card.

⏱ Before the 90-day deadline
3

Open Irish Bank Account

Open a current account with AIB, Bank of Ireland, or a digital bank like Revolut or N26. You need an Irish bank account to receive wages from part-time work. Bring your IRP card, passport and proof of address.

⏱ First 2–3 weeks
4

Get Your PPSN

Your PPS Number (Personal Public Service Number) is your Irish tax and social security number — needed before you can start any part-time work. Apply at your local Intreo Centre with your IRP card and proof of address.

⏱ Before starting any work
Free Visa Guidance

Don't leave your visa
to chance

Our team has guided 10,000+ Indian students through the Ireland visa process since 2015. We review your specific financial documents, write your cover letter with you, and flag any issues before you submit — not after you get refused.

The 98% visa success rate is not luck. It's preparation.

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FAQ

Common visa questions answered

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The Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) typically processes student visas in 4–8 weeks. Peak periods (May–July for September intake) can extend this to 10–12 weeks. Apply at least 3 months before your course start date.
You must show funds covering tuition fees for the first year plus living costs of approximately €10,000. For a course costing €15,000, you need to show roughly €25,000 in your or your parents' bank account, held for a minimum of 6 months (seasoning requirement).
Yes. Degree-level students (NFQ Level 8 and above) can work up to 20 hours per week during term time and 40 hours per week during official college holidays (June–September and Christmas/Easter). Part-time work income does not count toward your visa financial requirements.
The refusal rate for Indian students applying for Irish student visas was approximately 12–18% in 2023–2024. The most common reasons are insufficient financial evidence, weak ties to home country, incomplete documents, and applying for a course that does not match prior qualifications.
Yes. You can appeal within 2 months of the refusal notice. Submit a letter addressing each refusal reason with additional supporting documents. GlobalGrad Ireland has successfully appealed visa refusals — contact us immediately if you receive a refusal.
Most Indian applicants apply via the online VFS Global portal and do not require an in-person interview. However, some applications are called for interview at the Irish Embassy in New Delhi or the Consulate in Mumbai. If called, attend promptly — declining is treated as a refusal.
A student visa (Type D) is the entry visa stamped in your passport that lets you travel to Ireland. Student permission (also called Stamp 2) is the immigration permission granted on arrival and registered with IRP. You need both — the visa to enter, the IRP registration to stay legally.