Student visa for Ireland
For students applying to study in Ireland through Hands On, the official university representative in Thailand, Hands On offers free assistance in the student visa application process.
- Check if you need a visa
You do not need an Irish visa to travel to Ireland if:
- you have a valid Irish Residence Permit, or
- you have a Travel Document which was issued by Ireland, or
- you have a document called “Residence card of a family member of a Union citizen” issued, by any country, under 10 of Directive 2004/38/EC (the “Free Movement Directive”). Please contact the authority who issued the document for advice if the document you have comes within the definition of the Directive, as implemented by that particular Member State.
For all other situations, regardless of where you live, or the nationality of your family member, your needing an Irish visa is based on:
- your nationality (if you are not a refugee); or
- the country which issued your travel document (if you are a refugee).
You can check if you need a study visa on Immigration Service Delivery (ISD), which is formerly known as the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS).
- When you can apply
You can apply for a study visa if you are planning to come to Ireland to undertake a course of study for more than 3 months.
You are advised to familiarise yourself with our Policy on Non-EEA National studying in Ireland and ensure that you fulfil the requirement of our policy before you make your visa application.
You can apply for a study visa up to 3 months before your date of travel to Ireland.
If you are visiting another State prior to travelling to Ireland, you must have the relevant visa for that State in your passport before applying for an Irish visa.
- How to apply
You must apply online for a visa.
When you have completed the online application process, you must follow the instructions on the summary application form that is created by the online system. The summary form will contain information on where you are to submit your supporting documentation.
The summary form which you must print, sign and date must be submitted with your supporting documentation.
You may be required to provide your Biometrics information as part of the application process.
A guide to supporting documentation is set out below.
