Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 July 2025
617. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the average waiting time for approval of long-stay (D) student visa applications from India, Nigeria, Brazil and China, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37205/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can advise the Deputy that there are currently seven overseas Visa Offices in addition to the Visa Office in Dublin. They are located in Abuja, Beijing, London, Moscow, Ankara, Abu Dhabi and New Delhi. In addition, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade process certain visa applications in Irish Embassies abroad under delegated sanction from my Department.
I can advise the Deputy that Brazilian nationals are not visa required for Ireland. Indian, Nigerian and Chinese nationals are visa required and must have a valid Irish entry visa before they seek to enter the State. The vast majority of long term type D student visa applications made by Indian, Nigerian and Chinese nationals are processed by the overseas Visa Offices in New Delhi, Abuja and Beijing. Table 1 below details the target processing times for long term study visa applications submitted to these offices.
Table 1. Processing times for visa applications in the requested overseas Visa Offices
|
Visa Category |
Abuja (1) |
Beijing |
New Delhi |
|
Study |
28 April 2025 |
40 days |
40 days |
(1) The date published on the website of the Abuja Visa Office is the from which applications being processed have been received in the visa office.
Processing times for all applications are influenced by a number of factors. The time it can take varies depending on the type and complexity of application; individual circumstances; peak application periods; such as holidays or the start of the school year; and, crucially, the quality and completeness of the application lodged.
The Overseas Visa Office’s publish any changes to their target processing times on their websites which can be accessed at the following link: www.irishimmigration.ie/visa-decisions/#decisions
I understand that extended wait times can be frustrating for applicants, and I want to assure anyone who has made an application for a visa that my Department is doing everything possible to progress these applications as quickly as possible. In recent months, additional resources and staff have been assigned to my Department’s Visa Division which I expect will reduce the waiting times for all applications.
