Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

376. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the visa requirements for children under 18 years of age coming from Nigeria to study in private secondary schools. [45490/18]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that it is open to any visa required national to apply for a visa for any purpose. Each application is considered on its individual merits, with the Visa Officer having regard to all of the information available. The onus rests at all times with the applicant to satisfy the Visa Officer that the particular visa sought should be granted.

Guidelines on how to apply for a study visa are available on the INIS website at . Additional information is required where the applicant is under the age of 18 years. This includes but is not limited to the birth certificate of the child, accommodation details, Garda vetting documents, proof of guardianship while in Ireland, parental consent documents, evidence that the chid is enrolled in a fee paying school and that the requisite fees have been paid.

Nigerian resident nationals should apply through the online visa application system which may be accessed through the INIS website (). Applicants must submit supporting documents and provide biometric information at the visa application centre in Abuja or Lagos. Applications are processed in the Visa Office at the Irish Embassy in Abuja.

Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to the INIS of my Department by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up to date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Questions process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in cases where the response from the INIS is, in the Deputy’s view, inadequate or too long awaited.

In addition, applicants may themselves e-mail queries directly to .