Getting Your Visa

Indian students need a D-type long-stay study visa for courses longer than 3 months. The application is submitted online via AVATS (the Irish visa portal), with biometrics at VFS Global centres in India. There are 7 VFS centres in India: New Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Chandigarh. The Irish student visa fee is €60 for single-entry and €100 for multi-entry. EEC handles the complete application — online form, document upload, VFS appointment booking, and post-decision support.

Ireland student visa approval rate for Indian students is typically 85 to 90% — among the highest globally. The most common rejection reasons are: insufficient funds documentation, weak Statement of Purpose (SOP), inconsistent education history, and gap year not explained. EEC pre-screens your case and prepares each document to embassy standards. Our Ireland visa team has handled 1,000+ Irish student visas with a high success rate.

Typical processing time is 4 to 8 weeks from biometrics submission, though it can extend to 10 to 12 weeks during peak season (June to August for September intake). We recommend applying 12 to 16 weeks before your course start date. Decisions are sent via email — if approved, you submit your passport to VFS for visa vignette. There is no embassy interview for Irish student visas (unlike US or Canada).

Core documents: confirmed offer letter from an Irish institution, evidence of paid tuition fees, proof of €10,000+ funds for living costs (1 year), academic transcripts (10th, 12th, Bachelors), English proficiency (IELTS/PTE/Duolingo), Statement of Purpose (1 page minimum), passport (6 months validity), passport-size photos, medical insurance, accommodation proof (or evidence of arrangement), and visa application fee payment. EEC provides a customised document checklist for your specific case.

You must show evidence of €10,000 per year for living expenses in addition to paid tuition fees. Funds should be in your name or your sponsor (parents/guardian) with affidavit. Acceptable forms: savings bank account statements (last 6 months), fixed deposits, sanctioned education loan letter from bank (preferred), provident fund, mutual funds. Sources must be traceable — sudden large deposits raise red flags. EEC builds a funds plan that meets embassy standards.

Your initial visa is granted for the duration of your course (or up to 3 years for Bachelors). For renewal, register with Immigration Service Delivery (formerly INIS) within 90 days of arrival and receive an Irish Residence Permit (IRP) card valid for 1 to 2 years. Renewals are routine for ongoing students. After graduation, you transition to Stamp 1G (Third Level Graduate Programme) — 1 year for Level 8 (Honours Bachelor) or 2 years for Level 9 (Master) and Level 10 (PhD). EEC alumni in Ireland help newly arriving students with immigration appointments.

EEC provides Ireland student visa counselling and documentation support FREE as part of our complete Ireland study abroad service. There is no fee for visa filing, SOP review, or document checks. You pay only the official visa fee to the Irish embassy (€100) and biometrics fee to VFS (around ₹2,000). Free counselling at any of our 26 Gujarat centres, plus virtual sessions for students across India.