Ireland Student Visa from USA

There are a number of documents you will need to submit as part of your Student Visa application. These documents include:

• Your application form, signed and dated
• Application letter, which includes:
  • your full name and postal address listing, the reason you want to come to Ireland, and the dates you plan to arrive and leave. In the letter, you must also confirm that you will comply with the requirements of the visa, refrain from relying on any public services and leave the country before the end of your permission. You should also indicate if you already have any family members living in Ireland or the EU.
• Two color passport-sized photographs taken in the last 6 months, with your name and visa application reference number on the back
• Your current passport and a full copy of all other or previous passports
• Evidence of your enrolment on an eligible course – letter of acceptance from the college or Irish university. The letter should confirm:
  • that you have been accepted and enrolled on a full-time course (involving a minimum of 15 hours of instruction each week), details of the course, the amount of fees payable for your course, and the amount that you have paid.
  • If your course fees are below €6,000, these must be fully paid off before you submit your visa application. If they are more than €6,000, you must pay at least €6,000 of the total fees before you submit your application.
• Evidence accounting for any gaps in your education history, including full details of your employment history if you have filled any gaps in education by periods of employment

• Evidence of fee payment to the college. You must provide a copy of Electronic Transfer of Funds to the Irish Bank of the college or a valid receipt demonstrating that they have been paid
• Evidence of suitable academic ability for your course, i.e. exam results or qualifications
• Evidence of your level of English (or Irish) – must show that you can do your chosen course through the medium of English
• If you have been refused a visa in the past for any country, you must provide the details and provide the original letter issued to you
• Summary of finances for study visa application: all applicants for a long-stay Irish study visa must complete a financial summary form (FSF). All finances declared in the form must be backed up with documentary evidence.

You must provide original documents in either English or Irish.

If you have translated documents, each document must come with a confirmation that it is an accurate translation of the document in question, the state of the translation, the translator’s full name and signature, and the translator’s contact details.

Any State issued official documents, such as Birth Certificates, that were issued by a State outside of the EEA or Switzerland, must be attested as genuine by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the State that issued that document, for it to be accepted as evidence for Irish visa purposes. Official State documents that are issued by a State within the EEA or Switzerland do not require to be attested as genuine.

All letters submitted by a business, company, or other organization should be on an official headed paper and provide full contact information.

Overview

You must show that you have enough funds for your stay in Ireland. Funds should be acquired without relying on Irish public benefits or employment whilst in Ireland.

For all academic courses due to begin after 1 July 2023, you must demonstrate that you or your sponsor has at least €10,000 for every academic year you’ll spend in Ireland.

If the duration of your course is less than 6 months you must have access to €700 per month of your stay or €4,200 whichever is lesser.

Evidence of your finances must be provided via a recent bank statement, showing all transactions over the last six months.

Bank statements must be on headed paper, or internet printouts that have been notarised by the bank with a statement confirming its authenticity. Any large or irregular lodgements, such as student loans, must be fully explained in your statement. You should also include a letter from your bank stating that you’re able to withdraw money from your account if you’re submitting a bank statement from a deposit or savings account.

Credit cards cannot be used as evidence of finances.

In the case that you’re being supported (fully or partly) by a family member or friend, you must supply the name and relationship details (including evidence of your relationship) of each person supporting you.

Your sponsor must also provide clear details of the financial support they intend to give you, including how much financial support they intend to give and that they are capable of doing so while still managing to maintain themselves and other family members.

Student Bond System

There is a pilot program available to enable students to provide alternative proof of finances other than bank statements; this is an education bond worth at least €10,000. This bond must be registered with an approved student fees payment service, such as Transfermate (formerly Pay to Study).

To be eligible, the bond should be held by the applicant all the way through the visa application to the time where you will register with the Irish immigration authorities. You will be able to cash in the bond after your arrival in Ireland or if you end up not travelling to study in Ireland for any reason.

In order to be eligible for this, you will have to show a receipt showing proof of payment for the bond to the ISD. Note, however, that you may also be required to show additional proof of finances in addition to this.