Ireland guide · verified 2026-07-04
Ireland Student Visa: Process, Documents and Funds
Student visa
Indian students need a long-stay 'D' study visa before travelling to Ireland. It is entry clearance only, after arrival, anyone staying more than 90 days must separately register with immigration and obtain an Irish Residence Permit (IRP) card, which is the actual proof of permission to remain.
Visa type
MandatoryLong-stay 'D' study visa
Required for Indian nationals on full-time courses of more than 90 days. Applied for before travel, through the Irish visa system (via the relevant Irish Embassy/visa application centre for India).
Visa fee
Mandatory€60 single-entry / €100 multiple-entry
This is the standard Irish visa fee schedule used for both short-stay 'C' and long-stay 'D' visas; confirm the current figure and any VFS/application-centre service charge before the appointment.
Registration after arrival
MandatoryMandatory in-person registration + IRP card, fee €300
Must register within the permitted window after arrival if staying beyond 90 days. Dublin-based students register at the ISD Registration Office (Burgh Quay) by online appointment; students outside Dublin register at their local Garda station immigration office.
Confirm the two money gates before applying
MandatoryAssemble evidence for BOTH: (1) the €10,000 living-cost requirement (for courses ≥8 months; €833/month for 6 to 8 month courses), shown via bank statements or an approved education-loan sanction letter, funds genuinely accessible (not a last-minute lump-sum deposit); and (2) since 30 June 2025, documented proof the institution has received at least €6,000 of tuition (or the full fee, if lower), the offer/acceptance letter should explicitly reflect this payment.
These are two separate, additive requirements. Meeting the living-cost threshold alone will not satisfy the newer tuition-prepayment rule, and vice versa.Get private medical insurance in place before applying
MandatoryPrivate medical insurance covering the study period is legally required as part of the study-visa/registration process for all non-EEA students, the visa/registration cannot proceed without proof of cover. A university group scheme (with the enrolment letter as proof) or an individual private policy both work, confirm what the specific university and the visa office will accept as valid proof. A student who later cancels this cover while still registered is in breach of their immigration conditions.
Cost: Roughly €200/year is a commonly cited ballpark for basic student cover, get a current quote, since insurer pricing varies.Submit the visa application with the full document set
MandatoryCore documents typically include: passport, visa application form and photos, the university offer/acceptance letter (showing course, duration, and, critically, the tuition-payment confirmation), proof of the €10,000+ living funds, private medical insurance proof, English test certificate, academic transcripts/certificates, and a statement of purpose. Apply through the relevant Irish visa channel/application centre for India and pay the visa fee.
Cost: €60, €100 visa fee + any application-centre service feeTravel on the D visa, then register with immigration within the required window after arrival
MandatoryThe D visa lets the student enter Ireland; it does not by itself authorise a stay beyond 90 days. Non-EEA students must register in person, Dublin students book online at the ISD Registration Office (Burgh Quay); students elsewhere register at their local Garda station immigration office, bringing passport, visa, proof of enrolment, proof of funds, and medical insurance. Registration produces the Irish Residence Permit (IRP) card carrying a 'Stamp 2' (or 'Stamp 2A' for some non-degree/language courses), which is the actual legal basis to remain and study.
Cost: €300 IRP registration fee, paid by card at the appointmentYou get: IRP card (Stamp 2), the document that actually proves the right to stay and study.- Renewing your registration permission (Republic of Ireland), Immigration Service Delivery (Department of Justice)
- Immigration permission / stamps, explained, Immigration Service Delivery (Department of Justice)
- Registration of non-EEA nationals in Ireland, Citizens Information (state-run public information service)
Immigration Service Delivery now requires proof that the Irish institution has RECEIVED at least €6,000 of tuition fees (or the full course fee, if it is below €6,000) before it will grant the study visa, in addition to the pre-existing €10,000 living-costs requirement. This was announced with roughly 90 days' notice and catches out counsellors and families still working from the older 'just show €10,000' picture. Confirm the university's fee-payment confirmation letter explicitly states the amount received.
As in most European systems, the visa gets the student into the country; the IRP registration afterwards is the actual, renewable permission to remain, treat registration as a hard mandatory step, not paperwork to get to later.
Sources
- Student visas to study in Ireland, Citizens Information (state-run public information service)
- Information on Student Finances, Immigration Service Delivery (Department of Justice)
- Reminder on Student Finance requirements from 30 June 2025, Immigration Service Delivery (Department of Justice)
- Renewing your registration permission (Republic of Ireland), Immigration Service Delivery (Department of Justice)
- Private Medical Insurance, requirement for study, Immigration Service Delivery (Department of Justice)
Where this fits
This is one step of the full Ireland journey: admission, tests, application, visa, money, arrival and stay-back, every figure cited to an official source.
More on Ireland
Bramica is independent and takes no commission from any university, recruiter or agency. This page is information, not immigration advice. Rules, fees and thresholds change; confirm the current requirement on the official source before acting on it.