Study In Ireland

Ireland Student Visas

Future Link Visa Consultants specialize in Irishimmigration and visa services helping candidates and businesses alike to obtain the visas and work permits they need. To find out whether you qualify for an Irish student visa, visit the online assessment area today.

Studying in Ireland is an more and more popular option for overseas students and with a broad range of educational establishments including nine universities and fourteen technology institutes, Ireland has a lot to offer. Although Irish study visas are issued as a temporary Irish immigration service the potential is offered for a study visa applicant to work towards permanent residency. In Ireland, the graduate programme extends an applicant's stay in Ireland, allowing them to seek employment.

Why Ireland ?

Irish student visas may be granted for the duration of the student’s course in Ireland although it is important to ensure that you apply for the right type of study visa. In Ireland, study visas are issued in two categories, the ‘C visa’, and the ‘D visa’. The former is designed for those who will be studying in Ireland on a very short-term course of less than three months; the latter is for those who need to study in Ireland for three months or more.

Study visas are not intended as a route to living and working in Ireland per se, however, they do permit the applicant to engage in a limited amount of work in Ireland to supplement their income. Students may work part time in Ireland for a maximum of 20 hours per week. However, visa applicants will be expected to be able to support themselves and any dependents during their time in Ireland and this must not be based upon the ability to work once they arrive in Ireland.

One of the key benefits of an Irish studyvisa is that students graduating from Irish institutions may be able to participate in the graduate programme. The graduate scheme applies to all students who successfully obtain a tertiary qualification from an Irish institution and allows the candidate to remain in Ireland for an additional six months during which time they may seek full time employment. If a candidate secures a position of employment they may be able to remain in Ireland through an Irish work permit or by making a green card application.

How To Apply ?

The key requirement of an Irish study visa application is that the candidate must be in possession of a confirmed offer of acceptance from an Irish university or college. The candidate must be able to provide a letter of acceptance as part of their application which shows that they have been awarded a place on a full time course of study at a recognised educational institution in Ireland. The course must comprise at least 15 hours of study per week and in addition candidates must be able to show that the course fees have been paid in full.

Another important factor in applying for an Irish studentpermit is that candidates must have demonstrable proficiency in the English language. Officially, English is the second language of Ireland behind Gaelic; however, English is far more widely used and in most cases will be the language through which university studies are taught. As a result candidates must have a sufficient grasp of English to enable them to complete their course of study.

Finally, as outlined above candidates must be able to financially support themselves and any dependents throughout their time in Ireland and they must be able to show that they have adequate medical insurance in place. Although the graduate scheme may lead to the candidate and his or her dependents remaining in Ireland beyond the study visa grant, Irish study visas are nonetheless issued as temporary visas for Ireland. As a result, in the first instance applicants must be able to show that it is their intention to return to their country of residence.

Irish Student Visa – Family immigration

The immediate family members of the main study visaapplicant may reside in Ireland for the same amount of time as that granted to the main applicant. A study visa may result in the applicant living in Ireland for a period of several years or perhaps indefinitely. As a result the spouse or partner, and dependent children may also relocate to Ireland. Dependents will be permitted to work where the applicant’s course has a duration of more than one year.

The Future Link Visa Consultants online assessment area makes it easy to get your Irish student visa application started. Just complete one of our straightforward forms today and a specialist Irish immigration consultant will contact you.