Visas and Immigration

For International Students (non-EU): After you have booked your flight tickets, you send your Arrival and Accommodation reservation form to DkIT. You can do this yourself, or with the help of your agent. The International Office will arrange for you to be collected from Dublin Airport and brought to your accommodation by taxi. You will receive a SIM card on arrival, so that you can make a phone-call to your family.

For full details on the visa application process please visit www.irishimmigration.ie/coming-to-study-in-ireland/what-are-my-study-visa-options/how-to-apply-for-long-term-study-visa/ 

• Download a list of Visa & Non-Visa Required Nationalities for studying in Ireland.

The granting of a student visa to study in Ireland does not confer the automatic right of anyone to join or visit you in Ireland (whether they are a relative or not).

• It is not permissible for Students who come to Ireland on a Degree Programme to enrol in a Non-Degree or Language Course. Students may be permitted to undertake a foundation language course, if required, where this has been arranged in advance and has been clearly stated in any application for a visa. Similarly, students who complete a Degree Programme cannot subsequently enrol on a Language/Non Degree Programme.
• Students must register on a full-time programme to receive a student visa. It is not permissible for a student to come to Ireland to study part-time, or by distance learning.
• Although students are allowed to work part-time while studying (up to a maximum of 20 hours per week), the primary purpose for a student to be in Ireland is to study on a full-time programme. Any student who wishes to work part-time must apply for and receive a PPS number.

All nationwide online renewals of permissions are processed using the Immigration Service Delivery (ISD) online renewal portal.

Applicants will not need to attend the Burgh Quay Registration Office in person to renew permission. Please note that all applications for renewal are accepted up to 12 weeks prior to expiry to allow sufficient time for processing.

In addition to the standard documentation, students in receipt of a scholarship which either part funds or fully funds both their course fees and living costs must provide a letter, issued to them by the relevant organisation confirming they are the recipient of a scholarship.

What do I need to bring with me to my appointment?

• Your passport (or other equivalent document, issued by or on behalf of an authority recognised by the Government [of Ireland]),
• A printed and completed copy of the address form attached to your appointment confirmation email (this is the address your Irish residence permission (IRP card) will be sent to),
• Printed copy of your DkIT offer letter
• The registration fee is €300 (per adult person) if applicable, which can be paid by credit or debit card only.

If you need a visa to come to Ireland, you do not need proof of finance after you arrive here. Your ability to support yourself on arrival in the State is checked during the visa application process.

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.

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.

For further information, please visit www.irishimmigration.ie/coming-to-study-in-ireland/what-are-my-study-options/a-fee-paying-private-primary-or-secondary-school/information-on-student-finances/ 

If you did not need a visa to come to Ireland, you must also prove that you can support yourself financially after you arrive here. You do this by showing at the time of arrival in the state you had direct access to:

• €7,000 for courses resulting in residence of greater than 8 months

For more information please visit www.irishimmigration.ie/coming-to-study-in-ireland/what-are-my-study-options/a-fee-paying-private-primary-or-secondary-school/information-on-student-finances/

Third Level Graduate Programme

This programme allows legally resident Irish educated non-EEA graduates who hold a level 8 or level 9 award from a recognised Irish awarding body to remain in Ireland after their studies for a period of twelve months. There are two stay back options available to students:

12 Month Stay Back:

• Graduates with an award at Level 8 on the National Framework of Qualifications will be granted a twelve-month permission to a maximum of seven years’ student permission overall (time spent on Stamp 2 as a student and on Stamp 1G under this programme cannot exceed an aggregate time of seven years in total).

24 Month Stayback

• Graduates with an award at Level 9 or above on the National Framework of Qualifications who qualify for the Programme will be granted permission for 12 months initially.

This will be renewed for a further period of twelve months (subject to the overall eight year limit on student conditions not being exceeded) where the graduate satisfies the immigration authorities that he or she has taken appropriate steps to access suitable graduate level employment (for example, attendance at job interviews, signing up with graduate employment agencies).

For further information, please visit www.irishimmigration.ie

To learn about all the supports available to International students at DkIT, please visit www.dkit.ie/international-students/supports-for-international-students/

For International Students (non-EU): After you have booked your flight tickets, you send your Arrival and Accommodation reservation form to DkIT. You can do this yourself, or with the help of your agent. The International Office will arrange for you to be collected from Dublin Airport and brought to your accommodation by taxi. You will receive a SIM card on arrival, so that you can make a phone-call to your family.

For all NON-EU International Students arriving for the first time at DkIT, the International Office will help organize your accommodation. There are also possibilities to rent private housing (listing is available), and also to stay with Host Families. New students are encouraged to stay in one of the halls-of-residence in their first year to settle in and get to know other students.

The general ways to look for jobs are from DkIT Career Service Noticeboard, which publishes updated part-time job information. Local newspapers The Argus and Dundalk Democrat, may have listings also. Newspaper can be purchased weekly in the College Shop, or are available in the Institute Library to read.

You may get job contacts from other international students in your accommodation, or class.

International students are allowed to work 20 hours per week during the semester and 40 hours per week during holidays. You will have to obtain a Personal Public Service number (PPS) if you get a part-time job and give it to your employer.

Yes. We host International Welcome Days twice yearly (in September and January) on the Thursday and Friday before semester commences. It is really desirable that you book your flights to ensure arrival in time for Welcome Days. These Days are an important opportunity to meet other new students and DkIT students from the International Student Society (ESN), learn about important student services and supports, meet with your Head of Department, get registered as a DkIT student, have a campus tour, and open a bank account.
If you miss the Welcome Days, the International Office staff will provide you with orientation information on your first day with us. Where possible, try to be here arrive in time for our official Welcome Days.

The Bachelor (Ordinary) Degree normally takes 3 years of study. The Bachelor (Honours) Degree normally takes 4 years of study (with the exception of Bachelor of Arts in Accounting and Finance Programme, which is a 3-year Honours Degree).

Yes. There is a scholarship scheme available to students studying particular programmes at DkIT. For information on Fees & Scholarships for international students please visit the scholarships section.

The process is similar to original registration, except that bank statements are not normally required. The fee for visa renewal is €300. The renewal period will be determined after a check on your course attendance. If your records show that you have less than 85% attendance, you will only be granted a 3-month extension on your visa. This extension is provided in order to give you the chance to get your attendance above 85%. If you manage to do this successfully you will be granted a visa for the remainder of the academic year. If this is the case you will have to pay another €300 at this stage.

All of our International Staff will support you with any questions you have, or if you have a problem and need to be pointed in the right direction to a service provider in another office of DkIT. Ms. Summer Wu in the International Office will guide you through orientation (if you miss Welcome Days), and is available, where necessary, for emergency out-of-hours office support, at evenings and weekends.

Institute Support services include Health Unit (Doctor and Nurse on campus), Counselling service for emotional support and well-being, Chaplaincy Service, Clubs and Societies, Careers Service, Exams Office, Disability Office, International Student Society (ESN International), Clubs and Societies etc.

View all supports for International Students

There are many shipping companies that will transport goods for you. For more information visit www.emeraldglobalmovers.com

Remember to drive on the left! When driving in Ireland, note the following speed limits: urban areas (50 kmh), periphery of towns: (60 kmh), national primary routes (100 kmh), motorways (120 kmh). Irish laws are strict in relation to drink-driving and speeding offences. Spot checks are frequent and can incur 2 penalty points on your driver's licence for speeding. For regulations around a driving licence check out http://www.quoteme.ie/driving-in-ireland.