Going to the UK via Ireland with UK Student Visas
It is a well-known fact that the UK education system is one of the strongest across the globe. Students from different nations fly to study at its prestigious universities. Home to some of the oldest and most highly-ranked universities in the world. The UK student visa, too, comes with a lot of benefits.
One of the key features of the visa is its flexibility. Students travelling to the UK can go via Ireland and experience its beauty without applying for another visa. Ireland itself is a leading study destination among international students with a lush green landscape, island life and history of art and music. It could extend good exploration and work opportunities to students studying in the UK due to its close proximity. As a matter of fact, Ireland is only a couple of hours away from any city in the UK. However, they must maintain both documents and decorum to ease their travels. Though not all parts of Ireland are accessible on a UK student visa.
In this blog, we will discuss how to travel between Ireland and the UK.
Travelling to the UK via Ireland
Ireland is a part of the European land but a common travel area with the UK. Citizens from a few surrounding countries can enter Ireland without a visa and stay for up to 90 days. The same benefit is extended to citizens of Europe, Ukraine, Iceland, Norway and Switzerland. Apart from them, citizens from other countries must apply for a Short Stay Type C Visa to stay for less than 90 days. Particularly, UK citizens can study, work and live in Ireland indefinitely without an Irish visa.
Also read: Better Place to Study – the UK or Ireland?
Travelling to Ireland from the UK
Students in the UK can travel to Ireland at any time during their studies. However, it can only be done with a British passport as only UK citizens are allowed to enter Ireland without an Irish passport. International students with an Indian passport and a British student visa can stay in Northern Ireland for up to 90 days. In order to do that, they must get their visa marked with the British-Irish Visa Scheme (BIVS). The BIVS allows them to visit and stay in both Ireland and the UK for a short time. This process can only be done while applying for a UK student visa. At the same time, they cannot enter the Republic of Ireland without an Irish visa.
Also read: Safety Tips for Students Traveling Alone in Foreign Country
Travelling to Other Countries from the UK
Without the BIVS mark, a UK student visa is valid for travelling to Ireland. However, UK students can travel to many other European countries such as France, Italy, Netherlands, Spain and Germany. Austria Finland, Iceland, Malta and Slovakia too are great options. UK Students can always leave and come back to the country as long as their UK student visa is valid. However, they can only leave during vacation periods as any absence from school is subject to approval by their educational institutions. International students need to present a letter from their principal or personal tutor at the border with their student ID to validate their travel. The vacation period varied from university to university.
Also read: Handling Emergencies and Crises while Studying Abroad
Applying for a UK Student Visa
Like in any other country, applying for a student visa in the UK requires confirmation from an educational institute within the country. Hence, students must secure their seats in accredited UK universities and colleges. Students can submit their visa application form online with the fee coupled with academic and financial documents as required. Both university and visa applications mandate excellent academic performance, potential and relevant funds. International students must reflect on a maintenance fund of £1,334 per month to study in and £1,023 per month to study outside London.
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