Schools
Schools outside the EU organising educational trips to Ireland
What you get
- A plan for the whole group, including who needs a visa and who may be exempt
- A review of the school's letter, the itinerary and each traveller's documents
- Completion and submission of the online application (AVATS) for each traveller
About this service
School Tour Visa
School groups visiting Ireland need to plan visas early, because every pupil and teacher from a visa-required country needs their own short stay 'C' visa. Some pupils resident in the EU may not need one at all. We plan the whole group's applications with the school, so the documents are consistent and nobody is left behind.
€615
Fixed fee
5
Areas we cover
6
Documents to prepare
5
Simple steps
Who it's for
Who this is for
Whether you're moving, hiring, staying or starting over, this is the place to begin.
Group leaders
Teachers and group leaders coordinating visas for a group
Parents
Parents of pupils travelling on a school tour
At a glance
Eligibility
01
Everyone needs a visa
Each pupil and accompanying adult from a visa-required country needs a short stay 'C' visa
02
Pupils under 18
Pupils under 18 apply through a parent or legal guardian, with extra consent requirements
03
EU-resident pupils
Non-EU pupils who live in an EU/EEA country and travel with a school group may be exempt under EU Council Decision 94/795/JHA. Their school must get authorisation from its own country's immigration authority before travelling
04
Passport validity
Passports must be valid for at least 6 months after leaving Ireland
05
Visa conditions
The group won't work or use public services, and will stay no more than 90 days
Our promise
What's included
School Tour Visa
€615
Before you start
Documents you'll need
Tick each item as you gather it. Bring whichever apply to you.
Your preparation checklist
0 of 6 ready
Tap items as you go
You're fully prepared. Let's get you booked in.
5-step journey
How it works
- 1Step 1
We confirm who needs a visa and agree a timetable with the school.
- 2Step 2
We complete the online applications and draft the letters.
- 3Step 3
The school and parents collect the documents, and we check them.
- 4Step 4
Each traveller signs their summary form, pays the fee and sends originals within 30 days.
- Step 5
We support the group until decisions are made.
Good to know
Our fee
€615 VAT included. Government visa fees are separate.
Government fee
€60 single entry per traveller, non-refundable. Some nationalities are exempt.
Processing time
About 8 weeks at most visa offices. Start at least 3 months before travel.
No group visas
There are no group visas. Every traveller receives their own visa, even when applications are sent together.
Parental consent
Pupils under 18 need consent from both parents or guardians, and a court order where one parent has sole custody.
Answers
Frequently asked questions
A school tour visa is the short stay 'C' visa used by pupils and teachers from visa-required countries visiting Ireland on a school trip or educational tour. Ireland doesn't issue group visas, so every pupil and accompanying adult needs their own visa, even when the applications are sent together. For pupils under 18, a parent or guardian makes the application, with consent from both parents and a birth certificate. The school provides a letter on headed paper listing the group, the purpose of the trip, the itinerary and who pays, and teachers provide employment letters. There's an important exemption: under EU Council Decision 94/795/JHA, non-EU pupils who live in an EU or EEA country and travel with a school group may not need a visa, but their school must first get authorisation from its own country's immigration authority. Because each visa takes about 8 weeks, schools should start at least 3 months before travel, leaving time to resolve any problems.
Possibly not. Non-EU pupils resident in an EU/EEA state travelling on a school excursion may be exempt, but the school must get authorisation from its own immigration authority first. We'll check this with you.
Short stay refusals can no longer be appealed (since 1 June 2026). The pupil could reapply, addressing the reasons, if time allows. Applying early leaves room for this.
Yes, if they hold passports from visa-required countries.
Yes. For Irish schools, the principal's office applies to ISD through the Customer Service Portal. We can help you prepare that application.
Ready when you are
Get started with School Tour Visa
€615
€615
School Tour Visa