Visas and immigration

The citizens of many countries do not need an entry visa before coming to Ireland. The Department of Foreign Affairs website lists those countries whose citizens do not need an entry visa.

It is advisable to contact your nearest Irish embassy or consulate before travelling to check whether you need a visa and whether you need to comply with any other requirements. The Department of Foreign Affairs contains a list of Irish embassies, consulates and missions.

Even if you do not need a visa, you should have certain documents to show the immigration officer at the point of entry into the country:

• your passport;
• your Trinity College acceptance letter
• your return airline ticket (helpful but not strictly necessary)

If your documents are in order you will receive a passport stamp indicating the time period during which you should visit the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) in Dublin to receive your permission to stay and registration certificate. The time allowed between entering the country and registering with the GNIB usually varies between 7 days and 1 month.

Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB

Map of Garda National Immigration Bureau

The GNIB is located 5 minutes walk from Trinity College at Burgh Quay (see address details below). All non-nationals who are not citizens of an EU state, the European Economic Area or Switzerland, must register with the GNIB to receive a registration certificate.

To register, a student needs to present the following documents:

• A valid up to date passport;
• A letter from the Student Fees Office (address details below) stating full tuition fees have been paid;
• For non-EU visiting and exchange students, a letter from the International Admissions and Study Abroad desk stating you are a registered student at Trinity College. Registered undergraduate full degree students and postgraduate students can obtain this letter from the Students Record Office (address details below).

• If you are studying in Ireland for up to six months you will be required to demonstrate you have access to a minimum of €500.00 per month of your stay or €3,000.00, whichever is the lesser (i.e. if you will be here for four months, you will need to show you have access to €2,000.00).  If you are studying for a period equal to or greater than six months and up to one year, you will be required to demonstrate you have access to a minimum of €3,000.00.  Further information can be found at http://www.inis.gov.ie/en/INIS/Pages/WP11000003.

  You will be required to provide an up to date bank statement from an Irish bank (in your own name) showing these funds.  It will need to have an official stamp on it which can be requested from the branch you open your account with.  A receipt from an ATM machine will not suffice.  Bank statements from non-Irish banks will not be accepted.

• Application fee of €300 payable by credit /debit card or bank giro (not cash).
• Evidence that you have private medical insurance.

An immigration officer interviews all visa applicants and if all your documents are in order the process is usually straightforward; however the officer is entitled to seek further documentation.

Address Details

Garda National Immigration Bureau

13–14 Burgh Quay, Dublin 2
Tel. +353 1 666 9100; Email: gnib_dv@garda.ie  

Website: www.garda.ie/gnib

Opening hours for students are as follows;

Monday's from: 9.00am to 2.00 pm

Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from: 9.00 am to 10.00 pm

Friday's from: 9.00 am to 4.00 pm.

Trinity College Student Fees Office

3rd Floor, 5 College Green, Dublin 2
Tel. +353 1 896 1611; e-mail: stufees@tcd.ie
Monday to Friday, 10.00 to 12.30 and 14.00 to 16.00

Trinity College Student Records Office

Regent House, Trinity College, Dublin 2
Tel. +353 1 896 2037 / 2038; e-mail: srecords@tcd.ie
Monday, Wednesday, Friday, 10.00 to 12.45, 14.00 to 16.00
Tuesday and Thursday, 10.00 to 16.00, (lunch hour opening during term time only)

Irish embassies abroad and foreign embassies accredited to Ireland

Consult the Department of Foreign Affairs to locate your nearest Irish embassy or consulate and find a list of foreign embassies accredited to Ireland.