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All study destinations·Ireland, Long stay D study visa
Study visa check

Check your Ireland study visa application before you apply

A course of more than 90 days needs a long stay D study visa. The Irish Immigration Service lists each document a study application must contain, from fees paid in advance to an account of every gap in your education.

Visa OfficerImmigration Service Delivery, Department of JusticeLong stay D study visa

What the Visa Officer is deciding

Whether the course is real and paid for, whether you have immediate access to at least €10,000 for living costs, whether you can follow the course in English, and whether every period since your last study is accounted for.

Why applications fail

Fees not paid before applying, funds that arrived just before the statement date, or a gap in education with no explanation. A refusal can be appealed within two months.

01
Long stay D study visa: letter of acceptance

Letter of acceptance and the course

You must submit a letter of acceptance from the college running the course.

What the officer assesses: Whether the college's letter confirms full-time study of at least 15 hours of organised daytime tuition a week, describes the course, and states the fees payable and paid.

The letter of acceptance carries most of the application. It has to confirm you are accepted and enrolled on a full-time course with at least 15 hours of daytime tuition each week, give the course details, and state the fees due and the fees you have paid.

Where this comes from 2 official sources
  • You must submit a letter of acceptance from the college running the course.

    How to apply for a long stay D study visa, Letter of Acceptance

    dated 23 September 2024 · checked against the page on 19 October 2026

  • Confirm that you have been accepted and enrolled on a course of full-time education, involving a minimum of 15 hours organised daytime tuition each week

    How to apply for a long stay D study visa, Letter of Acceptance

    dated 23 September 2024 · checked against the page on 19 October 2026

Evidence that addresses it

  • The letter of acceptance from the college, confirming enrolment, the course, the weekly hours, the fees due and the fees paid
  • Details of medical insurance the college has arranged, if it has
02
Long stay D study visa: course fees paid

Course fees paid before applying

Where the course fees are less than €6,000, you must pay fees in full to the college before to applying for your visa.

What the officer assesses: Whether the fees are paid to the college before you apply: in full under €6,000, at least €6,000 otherwise, and shown by a transfer to the college's Irish account or a recognised student fee payment service.

Ireland requires the fees to be paid before you apply, not after a visa is granted. Under €6,000 the whole fee; over €6,000 at least that amount. The payment has to be shown by an electronic transfer to the college's Irish bank account, or a receipt from a recognised student fee payment service.

Where this comes from 2 official sources
  • 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.

    How to apply for a long stay D study visa, Proof of fee payment

    dated 23 September 2024 · checked against the page on 19 October 2026

  • 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.

    How to apply for a long stay D study visa, Proof of fee payment

    dated 23 September 2024 · checked against the page on 19 October 2026

Evidence that addresses it

  • The electronic transfer to the college's Irish bank account, showing the college's and your names and bank details
  • Or a receipt from a recognised student fees payment service
  • The letter of acceptance stating the fees paid
03
Long stay D study visa: finances

Finances for living costs

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.

What the officer assesses: Whether you have immediate access to at least €10,000 for the first year (or €833 a month, at most €6,665, for a course of 8 months or less), on top of fees, and whether you or your sponsor can do the same for each later year.

The figure is fixed for study: immediate access to at least €10,000 for living costs for a year, separate from the fees. Six months of statements must show the money and its history, large or irregular lodgements must be explained, and a sponsor must show the support is available and that they can still maintain their own family.

Where this comes from 3 official sources
  • For all academic courses due to begin after 1 July 2023, you must show evidence that you have immediate access to at least €10,000. This is the estimated cost of living in Ireland for a student for one academic year.

    Information on student finances, Financial requirements

    dated 30 June 2025 · checked against the page on 19 October 2026

  • You must also demonstrate that you and/or your sponsor(s) have ready access to at least €10,000 for each subsequent year of your studies in addition to course fees for each of those years.

    Information on student finances, Financial requirements

    dated 30 June 2025 · checked against the page on 19 October 2026

  • 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.

    How to apply for a long stay D study visa, Finances

    dated 23 September 2024 · checked against the page on 19 October 2026

Evidence that addresses it

  • Bank statements on headed paper for the last six months, with name, address, account number and type
  • A bank letter confirming access to a savings or deposit account
  • For each sponsor: proof of the relationship, an employer letter and 3 payslips or business registration, and their own six months of statements
  • An explanation of any large or irregular lodgement
  • For degree students only: an education bond of at least €10,000, as an alternative to statements
04
Long stay D study visa: gaps in your educational history

Gaps in education and why this course

You must provide information on any gaps since your last period of full-time education.

What the officer assesses: Whether every period since your last full-time education is accounted for, and whether a course that does not follow from your education or work is explained with valid reasons.

Every gap since your last full-time study has to be accounted for, with your full employment history, up to the date you apply. If the new course does not follow naturally from what you studied or did before, your application letter has to give valid reasons for the change and support them with documents.

Where this comes from 2 official sources
  • You must provide information on any gaps since your last period of full-time education. This must include the periods of time up to your application to study in Ireland.

    How to apply for a long stay D study visa, Account for Gaps in your Educational History

    dated 23 September 2024 · checked against the page on 19 October 2026

  • The reason why the educational course you now wish to study does not naturally follow on or relate to your educational or employment history. You must give valid reasons for this change and support it with documentary evidence, if available.

    How to apply for a long stay D study visa, Application letter

    dated 23 September 2024 · checked against the page on 19 October 2026

Evidence that addresses it

  • A full account of every period since your last full-time education
  • Your employment history, with employer letters for the periods worked
  • Your application letter explaining why this course, especially if it is a change of direction
05
Long stay D study visa: English and academic ability

English language and academic ability

You must show that you have the ability to do your chosen course through the English (or Irish) language.

What the officer assesses: Whether a test certificate shows English at the level the course needs, and whether your previous results show you can follow the course.

Two separate things: that you can study in English (or Irish), shown by a certificate from the test provider, and that you can follow the course academically, shown by your previous exam results or qualifications.

Where this comes from 2 official sources
  • You must show that you have the ability to do your chosen course through the English (or Irish) language.

    How to apply for a long stay D study visa, Evidence of English (or Irish) Language Ability

    dated 23 September 2024 · checked against the page on 19 October 2026

  • You must provide evidence that you have the ability to follow your chosen course. Examples of this are previous exam results or qualifications.

    How to apply for a long stay D study visa, Evidence of Academic Ability

    dated 23 September 2024 · checked against the page on 19 October 2026

Evidence that addresses it

  • The English (or Irish) language test certificate, from the test provider
  • Previous exam results and qualifications
06
Long stay D study visa: private medical insurance

Private medical insurance

Private Medical Insurance cover is required.

What the officer assesses: Whether private medical insurance is in place, arranged by the college and stated in the letter of acceptance, or arranged by you and evidenced.

Private medical insurance is a requirement, not a recommendation. The college may arrange it, in which case the letter of acceptance must say so; otherwise you arrange it and send the evidence.

Where this comes from 1 official source
  • 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.

    How to apply for a long stay D study visa, Private Medical Insurance

    dated 23 September 2024 · checked against the page on 19 October 2026

Evidence that addresses it

  • The letter of acceptance stating the college's medical insurance, or your own policy document
07
Long stay D study visa: previous visa refusals

Previous visa refusals not disclosed

Not disclosing any previous visa refusals will result in your application being refused.

What the officer assesses: Whether every previous refusal, for any country, is declared with the original refusal letter.

As for a visit visa, leaving out a refusal for any country means the application is refused. Declare each one and send the original letter.

Where this comes from 1 official source
  • If you have been refused a visa in the past for any country, you must provide the details in your current application. You must also provide the original letter issued to you by the authorities of that country. Not disclosing any previous visa refusals will result in your application being refused.

    How to apply for a long stay D study visa, Previous Visa Refusals

    dated 23 September 2024 · checked against the page on 19 October 2026

Evidence that addresses it

  • The original refusal letter for every previous refusal, for any country
08
Long stay D study visa: false or misleading information

False or misleading information or documents

Do not include false or misleading information or documents in your application. If you do, your application may be refused.

What the officer assesses: Whether anything submitted is untrue or not genuine.

The same warning as for visit visas: false or misleading information can lead to a refusal and, in some circumstances, no appeal and a block on Irish visas for five years.

Where this comes from 1 official source
  • NOTE: Do not include false or misleading information or documents in your application. If you do, your application may be refused. In some circumstances, you may not be allowed to appeal the visa decision and may be blocked from getting an Irish visa for 5 years.

    How to apply for a long stay D study visa, Send your supporting documents

    dated 23 September 2024 · checked against the page on 19 October 2026

A course of more than 90 days needs a long stay D study visa, and you register after you arrive. A course of 90 days or less is a short stay C visa. The Irish Immigration Service lists each document a study application must contain, and the Letter of Refusal says which were missing or not accepted.

Free check

Where does your study application stand?

Six questions, read against the requirements above. Nothing you choose leaves this page.

  1. 1 Where are you with your place on the course?

    The school’s confirmation (a CAS, a letter of acceptance or an I-20) comes before the visa, and the visa is checked against it.

  2. 2 Have you paid the course fees?

    Fees paid reduce the money you have to show, and in Ireland and most Canadian cases they must be paid before you apply.

  3. 3 How will you pay for your living costs?

    Every destination checks that the money is there and that its source makes sense.

  4. 4 How will you show your English?

    The UK and Ireland set a level for the visa itself; Canada and the US rely on the school’s own entry requirement.

  5. 5 How does this course follow your last study?

    Officers ask why this course, now, and a gap or a change of subject has to be explained.

  6. 6 What is your visa history?

    A previous refusal for any country has to be declared and answered.

Answer all 6 questions to see the result. Nothing you choose leaves this page.

Study visa reviews

Have your documents read against these requirements

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