John Lahart (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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348. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality to outline the current rules governing the migration of South African citizens to Ireland, specifically in relation to eligibility and requirements for obtaining work visas; pathways available for transitioning from work visas to permanent residency; any bilateral or special arrangements in place between Ireland and South Africa regarding migration; average processing times and application procedures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33235/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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I can advise the Deputy that on 10 July 2024 a visa requirement was introduced for nationals of South Africa, thereby aligning our approach with that applied by Schengen countries, and by the UK.

My Department established a dedicated “South Africa desk” to process applications from residents of South Africa. It also established Visa Application Centres, located throughout South Africa, with an outsourced visa service provider. This is to ensure the facilitation of legitimate travel with processes that are robust, effective, and fair.

Since July 2024 over 11,700 applications of all types have been received by the South African Desk and over 7,900 decisions have issued, with an overall grant rate of 89%.

I can advise the Deputy that, while the target processing times for employment visa applications submitted to the South Africa Visa Desk had been 6 to 8 weeks, these targets are not currently being met. The application longest on hand has been waiting approximately 14 weeks for a decision. Work is ongoing to improve the current processing times with additional resources being allocated to this work.

My Department publishes guidance for applicants and weekly decision reports, at the following webpage:

www.irishimmigration.ie/south-africa-visa-desk/.

Applicants are advised that unforeseen delays can arise, which are outside the control of the Department. Processing times for all applications are influenced by a number of factors and 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. Any non-EU/EEA nationals who wish to remain in Ireland for longer than 90 days must register and apply for further permission to remain in the State before their initial permission to remain expires. Full details of the Registration process can be found at the link below:

.I can inform the Deputy that there are no bilateral or special migration arrangements in place between Ireland and South Africa. All non-EEA nationals are required to register a permission to remain in the State as set out in Section 9 of the Immigration Act 2004.

For all non-EEA nationals, the same pathways are available for transitioning from an employment permit based immigration permission to permanent residency. Further information is available on my Department's Immigration Service website at: www.irishimmigration.ie/registering-your-immigration-permission/changing-your-immigration-permission/.

Any applicant can now directly check the status of their visa application on the Immigration Service’s new Customer Service portal. They can register for, or log in to their existing account, at:

portal.irishimmigration.ie/en/ .

Donna McGettigan (Clare, Sinn Fein)
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349. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the reason his Department gave all non-EU international students from 'non-visa-required' countries just 90 days’ notice (until 30 June 2025) for proof of €10,000 for courses longer than eight months after arrival in advance of their studies beginning (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33257/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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Ireland welcomes international students who wish to travel here in order to pursue a full-time course of study, thereby providing economic and other benefits to Ireland, as well of course as to the students themselves.

At Government level, the administration and management of international student programmes is within the remit of the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (DFHERIS), with my Department having responsibility for visa and related residency policies.

There is regular communication and collaboration between both departments, as well as their associated bodies such as Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) and the Higher Education Authority (HEA).

One of the key conditions applicable to a student coming to Ireland is that they must be able to support themselves while in the state. As such, proof of available finances is a requirement for all relevant non-EEA national students, both visa and non-visa required. This is separate to any educational fees and relates only to levels of funds required to live in Ireland. It also considers the welfare of international students to ensure they can meet essential living costs during their studies.

Following a review by my Department in 2022, it was concluded that the level of funds required should be increased to more accurately reflect the average annual living expenses for students in Ireland. Prior to 2022, these finance levels had not been reviewed in more than 10 years. These changes were agreed with the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (DFHERIS), and in consultation with relevant stakeholders.

It was also agreed that the difference in funds required for students based on visa requirements would be removed over time. To this end, the level of funds required was increased in 2023 and 2024, and the recently announced increase, as stated on my Department’s Immigration Service website, will come into effect on 30 June 2025: 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/#:~:text=If%20the%20duration%20of%20your,6%2C665%20whichever%20is%20the%20lesser.

These changes followed consultation with stakeholders, including both representative bodies and individual institutions in the higher education and English language sectors. DFHERIS, as the Department with primary responsibility for international education policy, carried out the bulk of this consultation.

The website notice regarding these changes was placed on 24 March 2025, 14 weeks prior to coming into effect, in order to inform and alert students intending to commence or continue study from September 2025. Most students will first register or renew their immigration residence permissions in September 2025.

I can advise you that the decision to set the level of funds required for international students at €10,000 for courses of one year in duration arose directly from engagement with institutions. As part of an independent review in 2022 of the Government’s International Education Strategy 2016-2020, higher education institutions provided estimates of the actual cost of living for their students in different regions of the country. Based on these estimates, and further communication between DFHERIS and these institutions, it was decided that €10,000 was the most reasonable baseline figure.

From 30 June 2025, shorter courses resulting in a stay of usually 6 to 8 months in duration have a new monthly financial requirement for both visa and non-visa required students, which will be €833 per month. This equates to €4,998 for a 6 month stay or €6,665 for an 8 month stay.

DFHERIS notified the representative bodies for Ireland’s higher education institutions and English language schools of this change and asked that they disseminate it to their members. It should be noted that my Department had signalled previously to stakeholders that the different financial requirements for international students from visa required and non-visa required countries was an anomaly, and that it was the intention to align them over time. The latest change, to apply from 30 June 2025, is the completion of this process.