Visas

You will not need an entry visa for Ireland if you are a citizen of a European Union country. Non-EU Applicants must apply for a visa to the Embassy of Ireland or the Consulate in their home country. It is the responsibility of the applicant to organise a study visa prior to arrival in Ireland. If the applicant is offered a place at the Institute, they must submit all required documentation in order to apply for a study visa. It is important to remember that this process can take several months and you should allow for this when you are planning your admission date.

You will need to supply the following documentation when applying for a visa to your local Irish Embassy:

• Valid passport number
• Date of issue and expiry of passport
• Date, place and mode of arrival in Ireland
• Letter from LIT indicating that you have been offered a place.
• Letter from LIT indicating that the fees have been paid in full
• Except China & India – See note below
• Evidence of sufficient funds to cover living and other expenses for the proposed stay
• Recent passport photographs
• Visa application fee (non-refundable)

Full details of visa requirements and process are available on the Irish Naturalisation & Immigration Service website

Exceptions to Advance Fee payment Conditions:

China

For full details see http://www.embassyofireland.cn/Ireland/Visa_Information/Study.php

Privileged Status:
In light of higher than average approval rates in certain provinces of the People's Republic of China, the Visa Office, Beijing has decided to offer Privileged Status to certain applications. Privileged Status applications may be lodged without the need to have full school fees paid in advance.

Where Privileged Status is claimed:

• The school letter must indicate the amount of fees paid by way of deposit, if any, and the balance due on receipt of the visa approval.
• Approvals will be notified to the agent or student, but no visa will be issued until proof of fees paid as outlined above is submitted to the Visa Office.
• Any abuse by particular agents or schools which significantly alters the approval rate for a province will result in the privilege being withdrawn from them.
• Applications from other areas must provide evidence that all fees have been paid prior to the visa application being submitted to the Visa Office.

Below is a list of provinces of the People's Republic of China to which Privileged Status applies.

India

For full details see http://www.irelandinindia.com/home/index.aspx?id=52458

Approval in Principle Scheme

Under this scheme, applicants for a study visa from India, who have been accepted on to a HETAC (the Higher Education and Training Awards Council in Ireland) approved course, can apply for a study visa without having to pay the requisite college fees in advance.

Fees need only be paid when the visa application has been approved. Once evidence of the Electronic Fee Transfer has been submitted to the visa office New Delhi the visa will issue.

Please check with your Irish Education provider as to whether or not your course is HETAC approved.

This is also detailed on the Internalisation Register of the Department of Education in Ireland

Applicants under this scheme should apply at least 5 weeks in advance of their date of course commencement to allow time for the Electronic Fee Transfer to take place.

Electronic Fund Transfer is the only acceptable method of fee payment recognised by the Irish Visa Office, New Delhi.