Written answer
Visa Applications
The Minister provided nationality-based study visa application and refusal figures for 2024, 2025 and 2026 to September, noting figures may change and decisions may relate to earlier applications.
374. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the ten nationalities with the highest number of study visa applications received in 2024, 2025 and to date in 2026; and the number of applications approved and refused for each of those nationalities in each year, in tabular form. [75140/26]
Comment on this
Visa and preclearance applications provide legal avenues for people moving to Ireland and to facilitate visitors who wish to travel for business and/or tourism.
These are important screening processes, designed to establish that a person has a legitimate reason to come to Ireland prior to travel. Verifying an application is an important part of our immigration system. Each visa application is assessed on its own merits, taking all relevant information into consideration at that time.
Individuals wishing to study in Ireland and who are from countries that require visas to travel to this jurisdiction must apply for a student visa in the first instance. Not all international students will require a visa to travel to Ireland.
The information requested by the Deputy is contained in the tables below.
Table 1. Study visa applications received and refused by top 10 nationalities in 2024
* Please note, figures are correct at time of issue, however, all statistics may be subject to data cleansing.
* A decision issued in a particular year may relate to an application received in a previous year. Table 2. Study visa applications received and refused by top 10 nationalities in 2025.
* Please note, figures are correct at time of issue, however, all statistics may be subject to data cleansing.
* A decision issued in a particular year may relate to an application received in a previous year.
Table 3. Study visa applications received and refused by top 10 nationalities in 2026 (up to 30/09)
* Please note, figures are correct at time of issue, however, all statistics may be subject to data cleansing.
* A decision issued in a particular year may relate to an application received in a previous year.