Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 27 June 2013
201. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if a non-EU person may avail of a student visa to complete second level education here; if so, the costs and criteria; if that person's parents may accompany them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31272/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder current immigration rules unaccompanied non-EEA children may be permitted to come to Ireland to complete second level studies provided they fulfil certain criteria. Non-EEA students seeking to complete second level education in Ireland are only permitted to enrol in a fee paying school. The placement of unaccompanied children in non fee paying schools continues to be prohibited. These rules apply equally to visa required and non visa required non-EEA nationals. Visa applications from visa required students will also be subject to the normal visa rules.
In addition to the requirement to enrol in a fee paying school there are a number of documents required in support of a visa application for visa required nationals and also at the port of entry for all students. These include: A letter from the fee paying school stating that the student fees have been paid (the amount should be stated) and that the student is enrolled as a pupil of the school; the address where the student will be staying (i.e. in the case of a boarding student that the school is providing all necessary accommodation and where the child is a day pupil living with a family, the name and address of the responsible adults with whom they are staying); notarised documentation from the parents/legal guardians of the unaccompanied child student confirming their agreement to the child coming to Ireland for study purposes and also confirming that the school/host family/education agency are the legal guardians of the unaccompanied child student during the child’s stay in Ireland; copies of the parents/legal guardians passports; where the child is residing with a host family other than relatives, Garda clearance in respect of that family will be required. Documentary proof of this will be required. The granting of a visa to a person under the age of 18 years for the purpose of study does not give any entitlement to any other family member to accompany or join the student in the State.
