Ireland student visa — step by step

Long Stay 'D' Study Visa (called the "long term study visa" by Immigration Service Delivery) — applied for online through AVATS, and registered in Ireland after arrival as Stamp 2 student permission

As published at irishimmigration.ie/preclearance-and-entry-visas-fees/: Single entry €60, Multi entry €100 (Transit €25). ISD states the fee is an administration fee that "cannot be refunded if your application is refused or withdrawn", and that "you may be required to pay additional charges" for document submission — in India that means the VFS Global visa application centre service charge, which is set by VFS and is not published by ISD.

India-specific, as published by the Embassy of Ireland New Delhi Visa Office (processing-times table, marked "Update: 31 May 2026"): Study — 4-8 weeks for a first-instance decision; 6 calendar months for an appeal decision. ISD's national guidance states applicants "can expect a decision within approximately 8 weeks from the date their application was received at the visa office, embassy or consulate". NDVO notes these are working days from receipt at the Embassy to decision at the Embassy and do NOT include time to get a VFS appointment or VFS-to-Embassy document transit; times are not guaranteed. NDVO also warns that applications submitted less than 3 weeks before the course start date "cannot be guaranteed a decision".

As published at irishimmigration.ie (student finances page, last updated 30 June 2025): for all academic courses beginning after 1 July 2023 you must show evidence of "immediate access to at least €10,000" — described as the estimated cost of living in Ireland for a student for one academic year — and you must also demonstrate that you and/or your sponsor(s) have "ready access to at least €10,000 for each subsequent year of your studies" in addition to course fees for each of those years. If the course is less than 8 months, you must have access to €833 per month of stay or €6,665, whichever is the lesser. Evidence = 6 months of bank statements on headed paper (yours and any sponsor's); credit cards are not accepted. Degree-programme students (NFQ Level 7-10 on the ILEP) may instead use an approved education bond with a minimum value of €10,000. The New Delhi checklist adds that "Gold valuations, chit funds and volatile funds (crypto or market-linked funds) are not accepted" and that funds "should be liquid and in verifiable bank accounts".

Work rights come from the Stamp 2 registration in Ireland, not from the visa sticker. As published by ISD: a Stamp 2 holder "can work in casual employment for a maximum of 20 hours per week during school term and 40 hours per week during holidays", and "must not engage in any other business or trade". ISD's student FAQ defines the vacation periods as June, July, August and September, and 15 December to 15 January. Stamp 2A holders (courses not on the ILEP) are not permitted to work. After graduating, the Third Level Graduate Programme (Stamp 1G) allows 40 hours a week without an employment permit while seeking graduate-level work.

There is no routine in-person consular interview for an Irish study visa, but two things are effectively compulsory for Indian applicants. (1) Biometrics: ISD states that if you are "resident living in China, Hong Kong, India, Nigeria or Pakistan you are required to provide your fingerprints each time you apply for a visa to Ireland." Capture happens in person at an Irish visa application centre (VAC) operated by VFS Global, at the time you submit your documents; four fingers and thumb of each hand are electronically scanned. Refusing to give biometrics means the application "will be deemed incomplete and will be refused." Applicants are told to wait until cut/injured fingers have healed and until henna has fully faded, or the application will not be accepted. (2) Possible telephone interview: the New Delhi Visa Office states that where an application cannot be approved on initial assessment, "you, or your sponsor, may be contacted by telephone to assess the credibility of your application and address any inconsistencies", and advises applicants to save the Embassy number (011 49403200) and answer calls. Fingerprints and a photograph are also taken again in Ireland at the ISD registration appointment.