Ireland · Student
Long Term Study Visa (D)
Long Term Study Visa (D) (D) is issued by Immigration Service Delivery. VisaAI tracks 17 official requirements for it, each traced to the government page that states it.
Last verified against the official source on .
VisaAI is not a government body and does not issue visas. It cannot decide, predict or guarantee the outcome of an application, and this page is not legal or immigration advice.
Requirements change. Confirm every item on Immigration Service Delivery’s own page before you apply.
Each requirement below is written in plain English by VisaAI. The indented text beneath it is quoted from Immigration Service Delivery’s own page, so you can check what we say against what they say. Where a quotation shows “ ... ”, text has been left out.
Conditions you must meet
- Study in Ireland for more than 3 months
If you wish to come to Ireland to study for more than 3 months, you need to apply for a long term study visa.
- Meet the policy on non-EEA nationals studying in IrelandISD's own sentence is garbled ('you must make that you meet'); quoted as written. The policy is a separate document and not a registered source.
You should first read our Policy on Non-EEA Nationals studying in Ireland. You must make that you meet the policy requirements before you make your visa application.
- Apply up to 3 months before you travel
You should apply for a long term study visa up to 3 months before your date of travel to Ireland.
- Apply from your home country or country of legal residence
You must apply from your home country or where you are a legal resident.
- Hold any visa needed for a state you transit before Ireland, before applying
If you are visiting another state prior to travelling to Ireland, you must have the relevant visa for that state in your passport before applying for an Irish visa.
- Enough funds to support your stay without public funds or casual employmentThe amount is on a separate financial-requirements page ISD links to, which is not a registered source.
You must show that you have enough funds to support your stay in Ireland. This should be achieved without the need to access public funds or rely on casual employment.
- Disclose every previous visa refusal, from any country
If you have been refused a visa in the past for any country, you must provide the details in your current application.
Official forms
- Summary of Finances form
All applicants for long stay Irish study visas must complete this form.
Documents you must provide
- Current passport, valid at least 12 months after your planned arrivalTwelve months, against six for the short stay 'C' visa. Quoted from each page rather than assumed to match.
Send us your current passport. This must be valid for at least twelve months after the date you plan to arrive in Ireland.
- Photocopy of every page of all previous passportsExcerpt ends where ISD's own sentence runs into a link.
Include a photocopy of each page from all previous passports, if availa
- Two passport photographs under 6 months old, signed and numbered on the back
Include two passport-sized colour photographs with your application. These must not be more than 6 months old. On the back of each photo: Sign your name in your own handwriting and language Write your Visa Application Transaction Number from AVATS
- Proof the course fees were paid — in full under €6,000, or at least €6,000 above thatEUR 6,000 fees thresholdISD states plainly that this minimum is an immigration requirement, not just a college one — and warns the college may still demand full payment.
Note: Where the course fees are less than €6,000, you must pay fees in full to the college before to applying for your visa. Where the course fees are more than €6,000, you must pay at least this amount before applying for your visa. Evidence of this should be visible in your Letter of Acceptance. This minimum amount is an immigration requirement.
- An electronic transfer of funds to the college, or a receipt from an approved fee payment service
You must provide a copy of an Electronic Transfer of Funds (ETF) to the Irish bank account of the college. This must show: the beneficiary college’s name, address and bank details your name, address and bank details
- Private medical insuranceRequired WITH the application here, unlike the short stay 'C' visa where ISD asks for it at the border instead.
Private Medical Insurance cover is required. Your college may arrange this on your behalf. If so, your Letter of Acceptance from the college must include details of this. If it is not arranged by the college, you must organise this yourself. You must provide evidence of this with your application.
- Evidence you can follow the chosen course
You must provide evidence that you have the ability to follow your chosen course. Examples of this are previous exam results or qualifications.
- Full details of your employment history
You must give full details of your employment history. We need this to see where you have filled any gaps in your education with periods of employment.
Steps in the process
- Create the application online in AVATS
Use the Automated Visa Application and Tracking System (AVATS) to apply for your visa online
Official sources
- How to apply for long term study visa — Requirements, Immigration Service Delivery