Irish Long Stay 'D' Visas: Apply from the UK

Irish Study Visas allow non-EEA citizens to study in Ireland for periods longer than 3 months. To qualify for this Ireland Long Stay Visa, students must be enrolled in a full-time program listed on the Interim List of Eligible Programmes. In addition, students must also be able to meet the following visa requirements:

• The applicant must provide an acceptance letter from their school, college, or university in Ireland
• The applicant must provide proof of their course academic records (ex, past certifications, qualifications, exam results, etc)
• The applicant’s course must be full-time with at least 15 hours of study per week
• The applicant must be able to meet the English language requirements (unless coming to Ireland to improve their English skills)
• The applicant must provide a receipt of full payment of their tuition fees
• The applicant must be able to meet the financial requirements by having at least €7,000 for their first year of study
• The applicant must have private medical insurance
• The applicant must prove sufficient ties back to their home country
• The applicant must provide an explanation of why they are studying a specific course if it is not related to their previous educational history

Irish Volunteer Visas allow non-EEA citizens who volunteer for a qualified organization in Ireland to stay in the country for up to 1 year. Volunteer workers are permitted to change their organization every 12 months and can even apply for a 1-year extension. Volunteers may 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

However, volunteers are not permitted to engage in any paid work, have access to state benefits, change their immigration status, bring their family members with them to Ireland, or stay in the country for more than 2 years.

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

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

Ministers of Religion who work for an eligible religious body or faith community can apply for this visa which is valid for up to 3 years and can be extended for an additional 3 years.

It should be noted that an Irish Minister of Religion Visa requires preclearance and a letter of invitation from the faith community or religious body where the minister intends to work. The invitation letter must include the following:

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

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

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

You can apply for an Ireland Long Stay Visa online through AVATS, the online Irish visa application service. After submitting your visa application, you will need to print out the summary form shown at the end and submit it along with the necessary relevant documents to the designated visa office. This could be a local Irish Embassy or Consulate or an international visa application agency.

All documents related to the visa application will need to be sent within 30 days of application submission on the AVATS system. If your application is approved, you can then travel to Ireland where you will need to pass Border Control and request permission to stay.

If approved, the immigration officer will then stamp your passport and you will be allowed entry. Once past immigration control, you will need to register your presence with the local immigration office and apply for an Irish residence permit. Applicants can book an appointment at their nearest immigration office 10 weeks ahead of time.

The specific documents that will need to be submitted for an Ireland Long Stay Visa will depend on the type of visa being applied for. In general, all long–stay visa applications will need to include the following documents:

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

Applying for an Ireland Long Stay Visa will include the following costs:

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

In addition, applicants will be responsible for any fees relating to the type of Long Stay D Visa they are applying to. All visa fees are non-refundable as they cover the cost of the application processing.