Visa Information

Visa & Eligibility Information

International learners who require immigration permission to study in Ireland must enrol on a full-time eligible programme and comply with Irish immigration and attendance requirements.

For programmes longer than 90 days, non-EU/EEA learners must be enrolled on a programme that meets Irish immigration and quality assurance criteria. This includes requirements relating to:

• minimum study hours and course duration

• assessment and academic progression

• attendance and participation

• learner responsibilities under immigration permission

Learners are advised to ensure that their chosen programme is appropriate to their individual immigration status before booking. Further information and individual guidance are available from the GCI admissions team prior to enrolment.

Visa Information

If you want to study in Ireland and are a non EEA/non Swiss national, you will need to have:

• A letter of enrolment
• Paid your fees.

Depending on your nationality, you may also apply for a visa. If you are planning to stay longer than 90 days you will also have to register.

You may need a visa for Ireland based on your nationality and the reason for your visit.

The visa information is very important and it is given separately to students from outside of the EEA (European Economic Area which includes EU countries, Iceland, Norway, Lichtenstein and also Switzerland). 

If your home country is outside of the EEA, you may need to apply for a visa while here or before travelling to Ireland. Getting a visa to Ireland shouldn't be difficult as it is an easy country to gain access to. Visa requiring and all non EEA students must have adequate health insurance to cover their stay in Ireland and is available for purchase from the school. Long stay non-EEA students are required to sit an international examination while they are in GCI as part of their visa conditions.

If you need a visa and you intend to stay for longer than 90 days, you must apply for a long stay D-Visa.

If you come to Ireland using a short stay C-Visa, you will not be allowed to stay longer than 90 days or register with immigration. You will have to leave the country and reapply.

Guidelines on visa regulations and policies can be found on the ISD website. 

The immigration permission to attend one of our 25-week English-language courses is for 8 months.

• The student must take a recognised examination at the end of the course you choose (students who do not comply with this requirement will not be permitted to obtain further immigration permission). Grades are recorded. 
• Our course is listed on the Interim List of Eligible Programmes (ILEP) as required by INIS (Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service).
• INIS has published an overview of conditions for language programme students listing immigration requirements for such students.

In advance of arrival you must:

• Book and pay for the full English programme before departure for Ireland.
• Have a Letter of Acceptance from the school confirming that you have been accepted and enrolled on a course of full-time education, involving a minimum of 15 hours organised daytime tuition each week.
• Have a minimum of 4 weeks accommodation organised in advance.
• Have medical insurance organised in advance. You can book your medical insurance with us.

When you arrive at the airport, Immigration usually stamp your passport with a visa for one month.

To validate your visa after arrival in Ireland, you need to:

First-time registration for all residents in the Republic of Ireland will be carried out by Immigration Service Delivery (ISD). We hold a specific meeting to support you with this process in your first week on Monday at 11.00. The meeting will explain in detail all the key areas including: 

• Registering with ISD - it is a requirement for non-EEA students who intend studying in Ireland for more than 90 days to register with ISD (online portal) 
• Creating your online account with ISD and make an appointment for registration
• Opening a bank account and deposit €6,665 in that bank account (we help you with the procedures).
• Documentation review - letters from the bank, the school and proof of medical insurance.
• ISD Fee -  The Irish Residence Permit (IRP)card costs €300.
• Attending your first time registration appointment in person in Dublin 13-14 Burgh Quay, Dublin 2, DO2 XK70 

All of this information was correct at the time that this was written. More information on the visa process in Ireland is available from the following website Department of Justice.

Documents required at registration of permission can be found here on the required documents page.