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Student Visas
STUDY & WORK IN IRELAND!
How to Work & Study in Ireland:
Since the 1st October 2015, the Irish Government have introduced new regulations outlining how long students from outside the EU/EEA area may study English in Ireland and also during what periods they may work. Student who choose Ireland as a study destination and who arrive after 1st October 2015 will be granted an eight-month visa which consists of 25 weeks study and permitting 8 weeks of holiday.
Students can work up to a maximum of 20 hours per week during the eight month period, and if their eight week holiday period falls in June, July,August, September or between 15th December- 15th January, they will also be permitted to work up to 40 hours during these periods. As a visa student in Ireland, you must register as a full-time student with the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB – the Gardai are the Irish police-force). You must study for a minimum of 15 hours per week during daytime hours and have at least 85% attendance at the end of your study programme. It is also mandatory to sit an external proficiency exam such as TIE, Cambridge FCE, CAE, IELTS etc, if you wish to renew your visa for a second time. However, all students will be required to acknowledge that it is their responsibility to undertake the external exam (Berlitz Dublin will provide exam preparation as part of each General English course and can make bookings/reservations with the external exam centres).
For further information see: www.inis.gov.ie. Our centre team can assist you with the visa process including how to open an Irish bank account, applying for a PPS number (tax number for employment purposes), medical insurance and the process for the actual registration process in the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) offices at 13/14 Burgh Quay, Dublin 2.
EU/EEA Students:
Please note that students from the EU/EEA and some other countries (listed in the below) do not require a pre-approved visa to study English in Ireland. If your Country is not listed on this table you will need to pre-apply for a Student Visa to your nearest Irish Embassy or Consulate (and preferably in your home country).
DID YOU KNOW?
International Students are legally allowed to work while they study in Ireland, but some restrictions apply.
Documents Required for Irish Visa Application:
If you require a visa to study in Ireland, here is a list of the documents that you need to present to your nearest Irish Embassy or Consulate with your visa application.
An Offer Letter from Berlitz Dublin confirming that you have been accepted on a full-time course of study lasting an academic year on a Course, approved by the Minister for Education and Science (please contact us for more details) for the purposes of securing a study visa by students from outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland:
Documentary Evidence i.e. a receipt from Berlitz Dublin that the fees for the course have been paid in full. (Should your study visa not be granted, Berlitz Dublin will return your fees in full except for Eur150 which we retain for administration fees. (IMPORTANT: In the event of a refusal of a visa, Berlitz Dublin requires a copy of the formal refusal letter in order to process the refund!)
You must produce evidence that you have sufficient finances to maintain yourself for at least the initial part of your stay in Ireland i.e. a bank account statement showing €3,000. Copies of your educational qualifications if any. Evidence that you have Private Medical Insurance. Berlitz Dublin can arrange medical insurance for you. (Students who require Private Medical Insurance should notify us when applying. This is not “government insurance”, and covers the student against medical expenses for the duration of their stay in Ireland).
Check if you require a visa for entering Ireland:
Citizens of an EU/EEA member State or from any Country listed below do not require a pre-approved visa to study in Ireland. For further information visit www.inis.gov.ie.
Andorra | Guatemala | Paraguay |
Antigua | Guyana | Panama |
Barbuda | Honduras | Saint Kitts and Nevis |
Argentina | Hong Kong* | Paraguay |
Australia | Iceland | Samoa |
Bahamas | Israel | Saint Lucia |
Barbados | Japan | Saint Vincent & the Grenadines |
Belize | Kiribati | San Marino |
Bolivia | Lesotho | Seychelles |
Botswana | Liechtenstein | Singapore |
Brazil | Malaysia | Solomon Islands |
Brunei | Mexico | South Africa |
Canada | Maldives | South Korea |
Chile | Macau (Special Admin. Region) | Swaziland |
Costa Rica | Monaco | Switzerland |
Croatia | Nauru | Tonga |
Dominica | New Zealand | Trinidad and Tobago |
El Salvador | Nicaragua, | Tuvala |
Fiji | Norway | Taiwan |
Grenada | Uruguay | Vanuata |
Greece | United States of America | Vatican City |
Visa Applications and Visa Refusals (Work & Study):
Students from outside the European Area, may be required to obtain a visa to enter Ireland. At least 8 weeks should be allowed for visa applications. Cancellations are not permitted after the visa supporting documentation has been issued by the school. Students who fail to obtain their visas will be refunded all fees paid, less a school processing fee of €150 euro.
Written proof of the visa refusal must be supplied to the School by email to [email protected]. Fees will be returned within 20 working days of the visa refusal being received and verified by Berlitz Dublin. The refund will be lodged directly into the student’s back account.
P.P.S Number
Usually, non-EU/EEA students are unable to apply for a PPS number ( which is a tax number for employment) until after they have secured employment in Ireland. At that point, your employer will have to supply you with a letter of employment. Take this to the PPS Section, Social Welfare Office at 22 Kings Inn Street, Dublin 1 together with proof of your living address (bank statement, utility bill, etc) and a copy of your passport.
Medical Insurance
It is mandatory for all non EU/EEA students from outside the European Economic Area to have evidence of medical insurance when arriving at Dublin Airport & registering with Irish Immigration (GNIB). This insurance policy covers students for medical costs in Irish hospitals and also medical repatriation back to their home country, in the event of a serious accident . The insurance provider provides support directly to the student in the event of an accident. The student is issued with a policy document with all the relevant contact details, on arrival in Ireland at the school Reception. The policy is valid in Ireland only but does cover the student for up to 14 days travel (14 days max) to any country within Europe or the European Economic Area. A copy of the policy document and cover available is available on request from [email protected]
Berlitz Dublin Attendance Policy for Non-EU/Non-EEA Students
Attendance at class is compulsory. There is a specific policy for dealing with non-attendance. Under the rules of your Student Visa you are obliged to attend 85% of your Course and we implement this rule strictly.
The policy for non-attendees at Berlitz Dublin is:
a) A qualified doctor’s certificate is required from students for non-attendance on medical grounds;
b) Failure to attend classes for more than one week results in a student’s name being removed from the Class list, along with telephone and/or email contact from the School seeking a valid reason for non-attendance.
c) After another week has elapsed with no contact from the student, an Official letter is sent to the student’s address. If the student concerned fails to contact the School within seven days of the issue date of this letter and/or fails to provide a Medical Certificate for non-attendance, they will be issued with a final warning letter. After one month from this date, if no contact is received from the student, an expulsion letter will be issued. A copy of this letter will be forwarded to the Garda National Immigration Bureau.
d) Teachers record attendance in class every morning at 09.45am and then again at 11.15 am (after the break). Attendance is also recorded in the afternoon sessions at 2pm and after the break at 3.30pm. All students should maintain at least an 85% attendance record at all times. Students arriving more than 15 minutes late will be marked on the attendance register as a latecomer. The same rule applies to students who leave class early. They will be recorded on the class register as having left early. Consistent abuse of Berlitz Dublin’s attendance policy may lead to serious repercussions, such as expulsion.
e) No credit is given for individual days missed. Holiday leave is granted at the discretion of the Director of Studies and must be applied in advance of starting the course, and applies only to students who are on a Student Visa programme.
f) Permission for holidays outside the previously requested holidays will only be given in unusual circumstances.