Irish Long Stay 'D' Visas

Non-EU/EEA citizens who are planning to study in Ireland for a period longer than 3 months will need to apply for a Study Visa. International students who are looking to apply for this Ireland Long Stay visa will need to be enrolled in a full-time program that is listed on the Interim List of Eligible Programmes. In addition to enrollment, students will also need to meet the following requirements:

• The applicant must submit an acceptance letter from their accredited higher education institution in Ireland
• The applicant must submit their past academic records (ex: certifications, qualifications, exam results, etc)
• The student’s academic course must be full-time with at least 15 hours of study per week
• The applicant meets the English language requirements (unless coming to Ireland to improve their English skills)
• The applicant submits a receipt of full payment of the cost of tuition
• The applicant meets the financial requirements by having at least €7,000 for their first year of study
• The applicant has obtained private medical insurance
• The applicant proves that they have sufficient ties back to their home country
• If the student is studying a specific course that is not related to their past educational history, the student must provide a written explanation

Volunteers who are non-EEA nationals and working for a qualified organization in Ireland can apply for an Irish Volunteer Visa. This visa allows volunteers to stay in the country for up to one year and work in the following sectors:

• Arts, tradition, and culture
• Community service and welfare
• Health services
• Religious and spiritual activities
• Sport and recreation
• Youth and education services

Volunteers can change their volunteer organization every 12 months and apply for a one-year extension if they wish to remain in Ireland longer. It should be noted that volunteers are not permitted to engage in paid work while on this visa, nor are they allowed to have access to state benefits, change their immigration status, sponsor family relatives to come to Ireland, or stay in the country for a period longer than 2 years.

To apply for a Volunteer Visa, applicants must be able to meet the following visa requirements:

• The volunteer is at least 18 years old
• The applicant is a person of good moral character
• The volunteer is not an EU/EEA or Swiss national
• The applicant is volunteering at an approved organization
• The applicant is qualified for the volunteer role
• The volunteering organization must financially support the volunteer throughout their stay in Ireland
• The volunteer has the appropriate clearance to work with children or vulnerable individuals (where applicable)
• The volunteer must have an insurance policy covering expenses for medical-related treatments from an authorized Irish company

Ministers of Religion who would like to work for an eligible religious body or faith community in Ireland can apply for an Irish Minister of Religion visa. This visa is valid for up to 3 years and can be extended for an additional 3-year stay. To apply for an Irish Minister of Religion Visa, the religious worker must have preclearance and letter of invitation from a faith community or religious body in Ireland where the minister intends to work. This letter must contain the following information:

• Proof that the minister has a demonstrable need
• Evidence that the minister is qualified to execute his or her duties and responsibilities
• Proof that the minister has a clean police record
• Evidence that the minister has the appropriate clearance to work with children and vulnerable adults
• Evidence that the religious body or faith community in Ireland has child protection policies in place
• Proof that the religious body or faith community in Ireland can financially support the minister during their stay

In addition to the letter of invitation, the minister of religion will also need to submit the following documents:

• Any evidence demonstrating that the sponsoring organization will financially support the minister during his or her stay in Ireland
• The sponsor’s audited financial accounts from the past 6 months
• Bank statements from the past 6 months from the religious worker
• Proof of the religious worker’s qualifications
• Any evidence showing that the religious worker has been a Minister of Religion for at least 3 years
• Police clearance from the religious worker
• Any information regarding past visa refusals or deportations from the religious worker (if applicable)
• Proof that the religious worker has medical and/or travel insurance

Applications for Ireland Long Stay Visas can be made online through the AVATS online Irish visa application service. After submission of the visa application, the applicant will then need to print out the summary form shown at the end.

To complete the application, the applicant will then need to send this signed summary form along with the necessary supporting documents to the designated visa office (a local Irish Embassy or Consulate or an international visa application agency).

Relevant documents necessary for the visa application need to be sent to the designated visa office within 30 days of the AVATS application submission in order to be considered. If the visa application is approved, the foreign national will then be able to travel to Ireland. Upon arrival in Ireland, the foreign nationals will then need to pass Border Control and request permission to stay in Ireland.

If the foreign national is approved for entry, the immigration officer will then stamp his or her passport and allow entry. After passing immigration control, the visa holder will then need to register their presence with the local immigration office and apply for an Irish residence permit. To do this, applicants will need to book an appointment at their nearest immigration office at least 10 weeks ahead of time.

Documents required for an Irish Long Stay Visa will depend on the type of visa being applied for. In general, most visa applications will require the following documents:

• The signed application form summary (After you have completed your online application, you will need to print and sign this form)
• 2 passport-sized pictures that are shot to Ireland visa photo standards
• A valid passport
• Copies of previous passports
• An application letter that is written by the foreign national stating the reason for travel to Ireland. This letter should include details about the specific visa being applied for and any information regarding any family relatives who are currently in Ireland
• Evidence demonstrating that the foreign national has sufficient funds that will allow him or her to support themselves financially while in Ireland
• Any information regarding the applicant’s past refusals of visas (if applicable)
• Evidence that the private medical insurance

The foreign national applying for an Irish Long Stay Visa will need to pay the following visa fees:

• Multiple entry visa fee: €100
• Preclearance fees: €60 (if applicable)
• Consular fees (if applicable)

Applicants will also be responsible for the cost of any other fees related to their visa application. It should be noted that regardless of the outcome, all fees are non-refundable as they cover the cost of processing.