Coming To Ireland

IRELAND FOR TOURISTS

You'll need to check Ireland's visa and passport requirements before you begin your visit. Of course we’ll say céad míle fáilte (one hundred thousands welcomes) when you arrive in Ireland. But just after that, we’ll probably ask you for your passport. Politely, of course. There are different requirements for different nationalities so here’s what you need to know.

Passports

To enter the Republic or Northern Ireland, you need a valid passport. While e-passports are commonly used now, they are not a necessity to enter Ireland. UK citizens do not require a passport to enter Ireland but carriers by air or sea require some form of identification with a photograph (usually either a passport or driving license with photo). ALWAYS check what form of ID is required with your individual airline, ferry company or travel agent before travelling.

Check the Irish Embassy in your country for further information

EU citizens are required to have a passport or national identity card; while citizens of all other countries must have a valid passport. ALWAYS check what form of ID is required with your individual airline, ferry company or travel agent before travelling.

Visas

Citizens of the EEA member states (the 27 countries of the European Union EU, together with Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein) and many other countries including USA, Australia, Canada and New Zealand do not require visas to gain entry to Republic or Northern Ireland. The full list of countries whose citizens do NOT require a visa can be found here.

Citizens of all other countries should contact their local Irish Embassy/Consulate prior to travelling to the Republic of Ireland, and visitors to Northern Ireland should contact their local British Embassy/High Commission or Consular Office. Irish visa information can be found on the Department of Foreign Affairs website and citizens information website, and information on the UK (for visiting Northern Ireland) can be found on the Home Office website.

From July 2012 extending for a period of four years, tourists from 14 nations that previously did require a visa to holiday in the Republic will not need a separate Irish visa if they have a short-term UK visa. Check here for a list of the countries able to avail of this visa waiver scheme.

IRELAND FOR STUDENTS

This section sets out some of the visa conditions and immigration rules for English language and non-degree programme non-EEA students in Ireland, as defined by the New Immigration Regime for Full Time Non-EEA Students introduced in July 2011.

If you are applying for a student visa to do an English language course in Ireland, it is very important to ensure  that it is a recognised English language school.

The main conditions of being a Full Time Language and Non-Degree Programme Non EEA student are:

• The maximum time a student may stay in Ireland for the purpose of attending courses at language/non degree level is limited to three years;
• The conditions below must be compiled with
• You must have a Letter of Acceptance from the college, confirming you have been accepted and enrolled on a course of full-time day-time education involving a minimum of 15 hours organised daytime tuition each week between the hours of 8am and 6pm
• You must have proof that fees have been paid to the college. Where your fees are below €6,000, the full amount of the fees must be paid in advance.
• You must have access to €3,000 at first registration. This is in addition to your course fees.
• You must comply with Medical Insurance requirements.

IRELAND FOR WORKERS

Students from the EEA - All nationals from the European Economic Area (EEA) are free to take up employment in Ireland while studying.

Students from outside the EEA - At present, students attending a full time course of at least one year's duration leading to a qualification recognised by the Minister for Education and Science are entitled to take up casual employment (defined as up to 20 hours part time work per week or full time work during normal college vacation periods). The course of study must be listed on the internationalisation register of recognised courses maintained on behalf of the Department of Education. Access to employment is denied to all other students.

Important points to note:

Unless you are attending a recognised course, you will not be allowed to access employment during your stay in Ireland.

The right to work lapses automatically once the period of study is completed, except for a 12 month extension available to third level graduates.

When applying for your student entry visa, you will need to show that you have sufficient funds to cover the entire period of your course, without having to rely on income from a part-time job.

In the workplace

Everyone who has permission to work in Ireland has the same rights in the workplace, regardless of their nationality or immigration status. This means that you have a right to a legal contract, to lawful hours of work, to a salary at or above the minimum wage and other entitlements as set out in Irish law, including holiday leave, sick leave, parental leave and the right to join a union.

Opportunities available for researchers

New arrangements to facilitate recruitment of qualified researchers from abroad to carry out research in Ireland were introduced in October 2007. Under the new arrangements approved research organisations can recruit researchers from outside the European Economic Area (i.e. the EU Member States as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway) to carry out research in Ireland without the need for a Green Card or Work Permit.

Accredited research organisations can now enter into a hosting agreement with a third country researcher to carry out defined research. Once a hosting agreement is in place, the researcher will be admitted into the State for the purpose of carrying out the research, subject to normal immigration requirements

Details of the Scheme for Accreditation of Research Organisations and further information regarding hosting agreements is available from the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Innovation.

International Students

International students engaged in full-time study of at least one year’s duration (on a course leading to a qualification which is recognised by the Irish Department of Education and Skills currently do not need a work permit to work in Ireland.

Note: Students attending programmes not on the Internationalisation Register are not permitted to work.

• Degree programme students can get casual work where they are:
• Registered with GNIB.
• Enrolled on a programme listed on the Internationalisation Register.
• Attending a full time programme of education at or above NFQ Level
• Undertaking a minimum of 15 hours day time study
• Getting tuition, between the hours of 8am and 6pm per week for a minimum of 25 weeks per annum
• On a programme of at least one year’s duration.

Internship

Students enrolled on courses on the Degree Programme are allowed to undertake an internship where this forms part of their programme. This is subject to the following rules.

Post Study Pathways for International Students

It may be possible to stay in Ireland after you complete your studies for the purpose of seeking employment under the Irish Third Level Graduate Scheme. This scheme exists to allow legally resident non-EU third level graduates to remain in Ireland in order to look for employment or apply for a green card/work permit.

  

One Year Permission under the Third Level Graduate Scheme Permission

To be eligible for a one year permission under the third level graduate scheme, a student is required to have:

• studied in Ireland and completed a qualification at NFQ Level 8-10
• an award granted by a recognised Irish awarding body, for example Dublin Institute of Technology, Irish universities, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Institutes of Technology with delegated authority).