Citizens of certain countries who wish to pursue a course of study in Ireland must  apply for a visa to enter Ireland before they travel here. Students from the  EU/EEA  do not require a student visa to study in Ireland.
 If you would like to study in Ireland and require a visa, you will need to present  the  following to your nearest Irish embassy or consulate with your visa  application.

 Copies of your educational qualifications.
 Letter of acceptance from a recognised school/college/university in Ireland  confirming  that you have been accepted on a course of study. This course of  study  must be full  time and have a minimum of 15 hours per week  study time.
 Evidence that the fees for the course have been paid in full.
 Evidence that you have enough funds to maintain yourself for at least the initial  part of  your stay.
 Access to employment while in Ireland on a student visa.

 From 18th April 2005 new students given permisssion to remain in Ireland for  study will not be given permission to work unless they are attending a full-time  course of at  least a year leading to a recognised qualification (recognised  qualifications include  those issued by the Dublin Institute of Technology, the  universities, FETAC and  HETAC). This change will not affect students who have  permission to remain on the 18th April 2005. These students can continue to  work part-time and study in Ireland  for the remaining period of their visa. (See  ' Renewal of student visas' below).

 Requirements

 Renewal of student visas
 From 1st January 2005 students who are not on full-time courses of at least a  year leading to a recognised qualification will only be allowed to extend their study  visas when the total period of permissions granted is no longer than 18 months in  total. If  the student had permission to remain before 1st January 2005 this 18- month period  is calculated from 1st January 2005.

 Extending a student visa
 If you wish to study in Ireland for less than three months you should apply for a 'C  study visa'. If your course lasts longer than three months, you should apply for a  'D  study visa'.

 If you hold a 'C study visa' and wish to extend the period of your stay in Ireland,  you should visit your local Garda station (police station) and present yourself to  the Registration Officer for the area where you live. (The Registration Officer for  your area will be a member of An Garda Siochana (the Irish police force). You  may also be requested to apply in writing for your visa extension to the  Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform.

Generally speaking, the duration of a 'C study visa', (that is, a three month visa for  study in Ireland) is not extended once you have arrived in Ireland. Extensions will  be granted in exceptional cases only. It's very important therefore to make sure  you know the duration of your course before you apply for a visa. Further  information on how to apply to extend a student visa is under 'How to apply'  below.

 Rules
 People who do not require visas to visit Ireland
 You do not require a visa to visit Ireland if you are a citizen of an EU/EEA  member State.

 You do not need a visa to visit Ireland if you are from one of the countries
  listed  below.

 You require a visa if you are from a country not listed below.

 Andorra, Antigua, Argentina, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia,  Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Dominica, El  Salvador, Fiji, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Hong Kong, Iceland,  Israel, Japan, Kiribati, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Malawi, Malaysia, Mauritius,  Mexico,  Monaco, Nauru, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Macau, Maldives, Norway,  Panama,  Saint, Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines,  San Marino  Seychelles, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, South  Korea, Swaziland, Switzerland, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tuvala, United  States, Uruguay, Vanuata,  Vatican City, Venezuela, Western Samoa.
 You do not need an entry visa if you hold a British Hong Kong passport and have  a right of abode in Great Britain.

 Travellers from British Dependent Territories (Colonies)
 You do not require a visa if you are from British Dependent Territories  (Colonies), which are:

 (1)   Anguilla
 (2)   Bermuda
 (3)   British Antarctic Territory (South Georgia, South Sandwich Islands)
 (4)   British Indian Ocean Territory (Chagos Archipelago, Peros Banos, Diego          Garcia, Danger Island)
 (5)   Cayman Islands
 (6)   Falkland Islands and Dependencies
 (7)   Gibraltar
 (8)   Montserrat
 (9)   Pitcairn (Henderson, Ducie and Oneno Islands)
 (10) St. Helena and Dependencies (Ascension Island, Tristan Da Cunha)
 (11) The Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia
 (12) Turks and Caicos Island
 (13) British Virgin Islands

 Rates
 Standard non-refundable visa application processing fees are:
 Single-journey visa: 60 euro

 Multiple-journey visa: 100 visa

 Certain applicants are not required to pay a fee. They include non-EU Spouses of  EU citizens and nationals of the countries listed below:

 (1)   Bosnia
 (2)   Bulgaria
 (3)   Ecuador
 (4)   Indonesia
 (5)   Ivory Coast
 (6)   Jamaica
 (7)   Kirghizstan
 (8)   Morocco
 (9)   Peru
 (10) Sri Lanka
 (11) Tanzania
 (12) Tunisia
 (13) Uganda
 (14) Serbia and Montenegro
 (15) Zambia

 How to apply
 Send your application for a student visa (pdf) to the Irish embassy or Consulate in  or accredited to the country in which you normally live. If there is no Irish  Embassy or  Consulate in your country, send your visa application to your nearest  Irish embassy  or Consulate or the Visa Office, Department of Foreign Affairs,  13-14 Burgh Quay,  Dublin 2.

 Extending a student visa for Ireland
 The police registration officer in the area in Ireland where you live can advise you  on any application forms you will need to complete to extend your student visa.  Your application to extend your visa should contain the following information:

 details of and proof of payment of course/study fees
 details of the course of study
 information on where you will live
 evidence that you are self-sufficient
 copy of your passport with your original study visa
 visa reference number and your nationality
 details of attendance if this is a further education course
 Where to apply
 Your nearest Irish embassy or Consulate or:

 Visa Office,
 Department of Foreign Affairs,
 13-14 Burgh Qua,y
 Dublin 2.
 Republic of Ireland
 Tel: (01) 633 1000, intl: +353 1 633 1000 (Mon-Fri 2:30p.m. - 4:00pm)
 E-mail: visa@iveagh.gov.ie

 Garda National Immigration Bureau,
 13/14 Burgh Quay,
 Dublin 2.
 Tel: (01) 666 9100, from abroad: +00 353 1 666 9100.