Immigration rules for full-time non-EEA students
Introduction
Since 1 January 2011 there are new immigration rules for full-time non-EEA students who are coming to study in Ireland. Non-EEA students are not allowed to come to Ireland to do a part-time or distance learning course. There are separate arrangements for non-EEA nationals already studying in Ireland who will be affected by these changes – see ‘Students registered before 1 January 2011’ below. You can find detailed information and the latest notices for non-EEA students the website of the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service.
Students travelling from a country that requires a visa to enter Ireland, must apply for a student visa. All non-EEA students, including those who do not require a visa, must register with their local immigration officer to get permission to remain in Ireland. Since 1 April 2011 they must have €3,000 when they first register with their local immigration officer.
New rules from 1 January 2011
Since 1 January 2011 non-EEA nationals coming to study in Ireland must be enrolled in a full-time course in one of the following 2 categories:
Degree Programme
The Degree Programme applies to non-EEA students enrolled to do a degree at Level 7 or above on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ). The maximum time they can study in Ireland at this level is 7 years. There are exceptions to this limit for students doing a Ph.D or a course such as medicine and for students in special circumstances such as illness.
Students doing a Level 7 or higher course must have a certain standard of English. They must also prove that they are progressing in the course, for example, passing exams. Students may not move from the Degree Programme to the Language and Non-Degree Programme. Details for this programme, such as the requirement to have medical insurance (pdf) and other immigration requirements are listed in the Guidelines for Degree Programme Students (pdf) published on the website of the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS).
Third Level Graduate Scheme: When they graduate, students may get an extension of their permission to remain in Ireland under the Third Level Graduate Scheme. Under this scheme graduates with a level 7 qualification may get a 6-month extension to their residence permission. Graduates with qualifications at levels 8-10 may get a 12-month extension to their permission.
Language and Non-Degree Programme
This Programme applies to students enrolled one of the following:
- An English language course which has a maximum duration of one year. Students may enrol in separate language courses up to a maximum of 3 years.
- A further education non-degree course which is at least a level 5 course on the National Framework of Qualifications.
The language and further education courses must be included in the Internationalisation Register administered by National Qualifications Authority of Ireland. The maximum time a student on a Language and Non-Degree Programme course can remain in Ireland is 3 years. Details for this programme, such as the requirement to have medical insurance and other immigration requirements, are listed in the Guidelines for Language and Non-Degree Programme Students (pdf) published on the website of the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service.
Students registered before 1 January 2011
The arrangements for non-EEA students who have been in Ireland since before 1 January 2011 (pdf) are as follows:
Degree Programme
- Those who have spent less than 7 years studying in Ireland will be allowed to re-register as a student annually for up to 7 years.
- Those who have been studying in Ireland for 7 years, and who are starting the second or subsequent year of a level 7 or higher course, will be allowed to complete their course. They then may be allowed to enrol in a level 9 or level 10 course.
Language and Non-Degree Programme
- Those who have spent less than 3 years studying in Ireland may be allowed to continue any language or non-degree course for up to the maximum of 3 years. They can also register for another language or non-degree course at level 5 or 6, provided they do not exceed the 3-year maximum.
- Those who have been studying in Ireland for more than 3 years, will only be allowed to renew their registration if they are starting the second year of a level 5 or level 6 course. Once they have completed 3 years, they will not be permitted to start a new course at level 5 or level 6.
Timed out students
Temporary 6-month extension: a non-EEA national, who was registered as a Degree Programme student for 7 years or on the Language and Non-Degree Programme for 3 years and whose permission to remain expired between 1 January and 30 September 2011, may have been allowed a temporary 6-month extension of this permission, if they did not qualify to re-register as a student. This extension may only have been granted if they had evidence of 80% attendance at class.
Final and special extensions: Non-EEA students whose permission to remain in Ireland expires after 1 October 2011 may be eligible for a 3-month extension of their residence permission if they meet the qualifying criteria. Certain non-EEA nationals who first registered as students in Ireland between 1 January 2004 and 31 December 2005 may qualify for a final 3-month extension. In addition, certain categories of non-EEA students who first registered before 1 January 2004 may qualify for a special 3-month extension.
During the extension of their residence permission they are allowed work full time and to apply for an employment permit, if they have an offer of long-term employment. At the end of the permission extension, the non-EEA student will have to leave Ireland unless they have obtained a different type of permission to remain in Ireland.
Other conditions
Changing course
Students may not change course during the first year of study. After that they may be allowed to change to another course, provided it is at the same or a higher level. They may not change from a full-time to a part-time course.
Work
Non-EEA students with Stamp 2 permission to remain are allowed to take up casual employment. They can work up to 20 hours a week during term time and up to 40 hours a week in the holidays. Students with stamp 2A permission are not allowed to work. This student work concession is being reviewed in 2011 and may be changed in the future.
Social welfare
Non-EEA students are not entitled to social welfare payments. One of the conditions of their residence permission is that they have enough money to support themselves and live in Ireland without claiming State benefits.
Family reunification
As a general rule non-EEA students coming to Ireland have no right to bring their family with them. Spouses, partners and children of non-EEA nationals can apply to enter and live in Ireland in their own right, but they cannot apply on the basis of their relationship to a non-EEA student. There are some exceptions to this rule, for example, for Ph.D. students or for students who can prove they have sufficient funds to support their family.
In addition there are transitional arrangements for the children of non-EEA students currently in Ireland (pdf).
Short-stay language courses and semesters
As well as the 2 programmes above there are special arrangements for non-EEA students coming to Ireland to do a short English language course (pdf). The course must be for less than 90 days. There are also specific immigration requirements for non-EEA students coming to study for a semester (pdf).
Language
Related Documents
- Residence rights of non-EEA nationals in Ireland
Description of the various forms of residence rights which allow non-EEA nationals to live in Ireland. - Moving to Ireland for third-level education
Third level educational system in Ireland and the way in which places at universities and colleges are allocated. - Student visas to study in Ireland
People from certain countries who wish to study in Ireland require visas. Find out more.
Contact Us
If you have a question relating to this topic you can contact the Citizens Information Phone Service on 0761 07 4000 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 9pm) or you can visit your local Citizens Information Centre.