Pre-Arrival Information

If you are a non-EU student planning to study at ATU, there are several immigration and visa requirements you should be aware of before travelling to Ireland.

Your requirements will depend on your nationality, the length of your course and the type of course you are studying.

Before you arrive – Please visit the Irish Immigration Service webpage for more information

After you arrive – Please visit the Irish Immigration Service webpage for more information

Please note, visa approval does not automatically guarantee entry to Ireland. You should travel with all relevant documentation and be prepared to demonstrate the purpose of your visit and your eligibility to study in Ireland.

You will be asked some basic questions by the Immigration Officer in relation to your stay. You must be able to present to the Immigration Officer any documents necessary to explain the purpose of your visit. It is your responsibility to ensure you have everything with you. At a minimum, this includes:

• Your passport
• Visa (if necessary)
• Boarding card

Other useful documents may include:

• A travel itinerary
• Proof of sufficient funds
• Proof of health insurance that covers the duration of your intended stay
• Details of your accommodation
• Invitations or letters that help to explain the purpose of your visit

We advise the following:

• Keep all important documents easily accessible for immigration on arrival, including your visa, programme acceptance/receipt letter, medical insurance and proof of funds
• Have your flight details and airline tickets readily available
• Keep a written copy of your accommodation address in case your phone battery runs out or you cannot access your phone
• Save or write down important phone numbers and addresses, including emergency contacts, your accommodation and relevant ATU contact details

Even if you have a valid visa for Ireland, you may be refused entry by the Immigration Officer if he/she is not satisfied by your documents or explanations.

Please visit the Irish Immigration Service webpage for more information

When you arrive in Ireland on a study visa, you will go through immigration control before entering the country. An Immigration Officer will check your documents and may ask you questions about your trip and your studies

Make sure you have these documents easily accessible:

• Valid passport
• Irish study visa – check that the details and dates are correct
• Boarding pass
• ATU offer/acceptance letter or confirmation of enrolment
• Proof of payment of tuition fees
• Proof of accommodation in Ireland
• Proof of medical insurance
• Proof of sufficient funds, if requested
• Any other documents that supported your visa application

The Immigration Officer may ask questions about where you will study, what course you are taking, where you will stay and how you will support yourself financially. You should be able to clearly explain the purpose of your visit.

Having an Irish visa does not automatically guarantee entry to Ireland. The final decision to allow you to enter is made by the Immigration Officer at the border.

If you are allowed to enter, the officer will place a landing stamp in your passport. This confirms your temporary immigration permission and will show how long you are permitted to remain in Ireland.

For students staying in Ireland for more than 90 days, you will then need to register your immigration permission with Immigration Service Delivery (ISD) within the required timeframe. More information on this can be found on the Immigration and Registration After Arrival section of this webpage.

All non-EU students are required to have private health/medical insurance when coming to Ireland to study.

Non-EU students must provide details of their private medical insurance policy in advance of applying for a study visa to Ireland, and if a visa is not required, you may have to produce it to Irish Immigration when you enter the country and register for your IRP.

Non-EU students will be required to submit proof of their private medical insurance when registering online with immigration.

ATU Global has prepared a summary of some options for medical insurance providers in Ireland. You can check the following websites to buy health insurance:

Irish Life Health: www.irishlifehealth.ie

VHI Healthcare: www.vhi.ie/home

Laya Healthcare: www.layahealthcare.ie

Study and Protect: www.studyandprotect.com

We recommend choosing insurance that meets both Irish immigration requirements and your individual healthcare needs. If you have a pre-existing condition, check that your policy provides appropriate cover throughout your studies.

Important:

• Ensure your policy is valid for the full duration of your stay in Ireland
• Check whether you need a letter of cover for your visa or immigration registration
• Read your policy carefully to understand what is and isn’t covered before purchasing

We recommend bringing the following items with you, in addition to anything else you feel you may need. Keep your airline’s luggage weight and size restrictions in mind when packing. Remember, many of these items can also be easily purchased in Ireland if you prefer to travel light.

• Light raincoat with a warm lining
• Warm winter jacket for colder weather
• Lightweight jacket or windbreaker for milder weather
• Comfortable walking shoes
• Pyjamas
• Shorts (one or two pairs) for warmer weather
• Hat, scarf and gloves
• Umbrella
• Multi-country travel adapter
• Electric blanket and/or hot water bottle

ATU are delighted to offer a free airport collection service from Dublin Airport for new international students arriving in Ireland.

Students wishing to use this service must book in advance using the links below. Please note that bookings are required and no exceptions can be made.

Please select from the bus options below to book your place:

Galway City campuses booking form

Donegal Letterkenny campus booking form

Sligo campuses booking form

ATU campuses are well served by public transport, including bus, rail and local transport services.

For public transport information, including timetables and links to transport providers, please visit the ATU campuses information webpage

The easiest way to get directions to your ATU campus is to use a mapping service such as Google Maps.

For campus addresses and campus-specific information, please visit the ATU Campuses Information webpage

If you are a non-EU/EEA student planning to stay in Ireland for more than 90 days, you must register your immigration permission and obtain an Irish Residence Permit (IRP).

You can book your IRP registration appointment once you have:

• Arrived in Ireland
• Completed your registration with ATU
• Secured a local Irish address, including the correct Eircode, where your IRP card can be delivered

You can also set up your account before travelling to Ireland:

• Visit the ISD Digital Contact Centre
• Create an account using your passport details.
• Allow 24 hours for identity verification

Once you have completed your ATU student registration and have an Irish address, you can book your IRP appointment.

We do recommend setting up your ISD account before you travel so you are ready to book your appointment as soon as you meet the requirements.

If you experience any issues with your IRP registration or ISD account, please contact the ISD Support Team at immigrationportalsupport@justice.ie

Please note that you will receive lots of additional information on all of the above during the ATU International Student Induction Sessions.

International students studying in Ireland may be permitted to work while completing their studies, subject to the conditions of their immigration permission.

Students holding Stamp 2 permission can work:

• Up to 20 hours per week during term time
• Up to 40 hours per week during the designated holiday periods: June, July, August and September, and from 15th December to 15th January
• Students must not engage in self-employment or run a business under Stamp 2.

Working while studying should supplement your income rather than be relied upon to fund your studies. Students must demonstrate that they have sufficient funds to support themselves in Ireland without relying on casual employment.

Students should also ensure they understand their employment rights, including applicable pay and working conditions. For more information, please visit the Citizens Information webpage

The official currency of the Republic of Ireland is the euro (€).

If you are an international student, you may want to open an Irish bank account after arriving in Ireland. This can make it easier to manage your day-to-day expenses, receive payments and pay bills.

When opening an account, you will generally need to provide:

• Passport – as proof of identity
• Proof of your Irish address – such as a bank statement, utility bill or other accepted official correspondence
• Proof of student status – some student accounts may require a student ID or confirmation that you are enrolled in a university course
• IRP, where applicable – your bank may request additional immigration documentation depending on your circumstances.

Requirements vary between banks, so check with your chosen bank before applying. For example, AIB states that it requires proof of identity and current address and has additional documentation options for third-level students.

If you have just arrived in Ireland and don’t yet have a utility bill in your name, ask your bank what alternative proof of address they accept. Some banks have specific options for students.

For more information on banking in Ireland, you can visit the websites of some of the main banks:

AIB (Allied Irish Bank) – www.aib.ie

Bank of Ireland – www.bankofireland.com

Revolut – www.revolut.com

PTSB – www.ptsb.ie

Students should check individual bank requirements before opening an account, as documentation and eligibility requirements can vary.

Please note that you will receive lots of additional information on all of the above during the ATU International Student Induction Sessions.

A Personal Public Service Number (PPSN) is a unique reference number used when accessing certain Irish public services and dealing with organisations such as Revenue.

If you are an international student, you may need a PPSN for reasons such as starting employment in Ireland. You should apply when you have a genuine reason for needing one.

You will generally need to provide:

• Proof of identity, such as your passport
• Proof of address in Ireland
• Evidence of why you need a PPSN, such as employment-related documentation

For the most up-to-date application requirements and process, check the official Department of Social Protection guidance

Please note that you will receive lots of additional information on all of the above during the ATU International Student Induction Sessions.

ATU campuses are well served by public transport, including bus, rail and local transport services.

For public transport information, including timetables and links to transport providers, please visit the ATU campuses information webpage

Vodafone is offering free SIM cards to new international students

Each SIM card comes preloaded with €5 of free credit. After that, simply top up by €20 to receive:

• Unlimited 5G Data
• Unlimited Vodafone to Vodafone minutes and texts
• 100 minutes to any network
• 100 texts to any network
• 100 international minutes
• Rewards through Vodafone Happy programme
• 40GB data roaming across Europe

*Please note that Vodafone is an independent third-party service provider and is not affiliated with ATU in any way. ATU does not accept any responsibility for the use of these services. Any contract or agreement entered will be solely between you and Vodafone.

ATU’s Student Health Service offers medical services free of charge, whether that is accessed on-campus or through a community-based GP service.

For more information, please visit ATU’s Student Health Service webpage

It is a good idea to save these important numbers on your phone.

Please note that Ireland’s international dialling code is +353. When calling an Irish number from outside Ireland or using a non-Irish SIM card, remove the first 0 from the Irish phone number. For example, 087 123 4567 becomes +353 87 123 4567.

Emergency Services – 112 or 999. For urgent medical emergencies, fire or Garda assistance. Both numbers are free to call.

Gardaí (Police) – 112 or 999. Use these numbers only in an emergency. For non-emergency or day-to-day matters, contact your local Garda station using its local telephone number.

HSE Live – 1800 700 700. For general health information and advice.

Poisons Information Line – 01 809 2166. Available 8am–10pm, 7 days a week.

Samaritans – 116 123. Free, confidential emotional support, available 24/7.

Text About It – text HELLO to 50808. Free, 24/7 text-based mental health support.

Ireland is generally a safe place to live and study, but it is important to take sensible precautions and know where to get help if something goes wrong.

Know the emergency numbers

• 112 or 999 – Call in an emergency when there is a danger to life, serious injury, a crime in progress, or someone is in immediate danger. These numbers can be used to contact the Gardaí (police), ambulance, fire service or Coast Guard
• 1800 666 111 – Garda Confidential, for providing information about crime confidentially
• Save your local Garda station’s number in your phone for non-emergency matters. You can find your local station through the Garda station directory webpage

Stay safe at home

• Always lock doors and windows when leaving your accommodation
• Don’t give your keys or access codes to people you don’t know or trust
• Check that smoke alarms and other safety equipment are working
• If you live in shared accommodation, agree on basic security arrangements with your housemates
• Keep important documents, money and valuables somewhere secure

Staying safe when out

• Be aware of your surroundings, particularly when walking alone at night
• Stick to well-lit, populated routes where possible
• Keep your phone and valuables secure in busy areas and on public transport
• If you are going out with friends, let someone know where you are going and how you plan to get home

Road and transport safety

• Ireland drives on the left-hand side of the road. Take extra care when crossing roads and remember that traffic may approach from a different direction than you are used to
• If cycling, always wear a helmet and use appropriate lights and reflective clothing, particularly in poor weather or at night
• When using public transport or taxis, keep your belongings with you and check that you are getting into the correct vehicle

Protect yourself from scams

• International students can sometimes be targeted by scams involving accommodation, banking, employment, immigration or payments
• Never send money simply because someone says you must pay immediately
• Be particularly careful with accommodation listings that seem unusually cheap or ask for payment before you have properly verified the property and landlord
• Never share your online banking password, PIN or one-time security codes
• Be cautious about unexpected calls, texts or emails asking for personal or financial information
• If something feels suspicious, stop and verify it through the organisation’s official website or contact details

Be prepared for Irish weather

Irish weather can change quickly. During periods of heavy rain, strong winds, cold weather or poor visibility:

• Check the weather forecast before travelling
• Dress appropriately and carry waterproof clothing
• Take care on slippery surfaces
• Allow extra time for journeys
• Follow official weather and travel advice

Most importantly, trust your instincts. If something doesn’t feel right, remove yourself from the situation and seek help. In an immediate emergency, call 112 or 999 and clearly tell the operator what service you need and where you are.

The ATU Student Hub is your go to place for important student information, including timetables, exam results and much more.

Visit the ATU Student Hub

Before you arrive at induction, log on to myATU.ie with your ATU login and complete the onboarding section. It is a short step by step guide to help you prepare for the start of your studies.

Visit myATU website

The ATU library provides students with the resources, study spaces and academic support they need throughout their studies. Library services are available across ATU’s campuses, with both physical and online resources available to students.

Visit the ATU Library webpage

At ATU, we’re committed to supporting you throughout your student journey. Whether you need help with your health and wellbeing, academic skills, disability support, financial concerns, career planning, or settling into university life, our student support services are here to help.

Visit the ATU Student Supports webpage

We have invested heavily in our learning facilities and academic supports to ensure our students are fully supported throughout their academic journey. 

Visit the ATU Academic Supports webpage

The ATU Students’ Union (ATUSU) is a democratic organisation run by students, for students. They organise lots of fun events throughout the year, and are also a valuable source of support.

Visit the ATU Students Union webpage

Joining a club or society is a great way to meet people with similar interests, try out something new or pursue your passion.

We encourage students to join at least one club or society, and with a huge variety to choose from, ATU has something for everyone.

Visit the ATU Clubs and Societies webpage

Sport and physical activity play an important role in campus life at ATU. Our belief is that sport is for everyone and we have something to suit all abilities and interests.

Visit the ATU Sport webpage

Galway and Mayo campuses: international.galwaymayo@atu.ie

Donegal campus: international.donegal@atu.ie

Sligo campus: international.sligo@atu.ie

St Angelas: international.stangelas@atu.ie

A full list of ATU contact details can be found on the ATU Contact Us webpage