Guide to Student Visas for Masters in Ireland

Once you have enrolled into an Irish university, you need to check whether you need to apply for an Irish student visa. Whether or not you need a student visa depends on your nationality.

• If you are an EU/EEA (and Swiss) national, you do not need a formal visa to study in Ireland. You also do not need a resident permit as long as you have student status.
• If you are a non-EU/EEA national, you will need to apply for a student visa to study in Ireland

This guide talks about the process of applying for a student visa in Ireland as an international student and the post-study work opportunities that the country offers.

If you are a non-EU national looking to pursue a Masters in Ireland, you need a formal student visa to enter the country.

There are different long and short term study visas in Ireland. You’ll need to apply for the long term study visa for courses more than 3 months long (which will be the case for most Masters courses).

Ireland student visa requirements

You can apply for an Irish visa through the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service through the Irish consulate/embassy in your country. You’ll need to pay a €60 visa processing fee at the time of application. You’ll need the following documents for an Irish student visa application:

• A valid passport
• Proof of enrolment in an Irish higher education institute
• Proof that you have paid the university course fee
• Proof of financial means (bank statements and confirmation of scholarship are accepted)
• Proof of English language proficiency
• Health insurance

To learn more about Irish visa requirements and possible exemptions for citizens of different countries, check the Irish Immigration Service's website.

Registering your Ireland student visa

Once your student visa application has been approved and you’ve arrived in the Ireland, you’ll need to register with one of the following:

• The Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) if you’ll be living in Dublin
• The Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) if you’ll be living outside Dublin

Once you have registered, you’ll be awarded an Irish Residence Permit (IRP). The fee for an IRP is €300.

If you are an EU/EEA (or Swiss) national, you are free to stay on in the country and seek work.

Students belonging to the Third Level Graduate Scheme (non-EU or EEA) can work in Ireland for up to 24 months after graduating from an Irish university. During this period you can work full-time (up to 40 hours per week) without needing any additional permit.

In order to participate in this scheme you will need to renew your Irish Residence Permit for a further year. This will normally cost another €300.

You will also need a letter from your university, confirming that you have graduated successfully from your Masters degree.

Once the initial 12 month period of your Third Level Graduate Scheme is complete, it’ll be renewed for a further 12 months if you can show that you’ve been looking for graduate employment. You can use this time to apply for a more permanent permit to work in Ireland (such as an Irish Green Card).

This is subject to having found suitable graduate employment and is not automatically guaranteed in all cases.

You can find more information on how to apply for a Masters course in Ireland and how to find the right funding on our website.

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