The Irish Education Minister has pointed out that over 100,000 Indian students are living in Ireland, highlighting that the country is a “welcoming environment for international students, especially those coming from India.
The Minister made remarks also regarding the immigration policies for international students and skilled workers, pointing out that Ireland has very convenient policies for this category of migrants, Schengen.News reports.
We have 100,000 Indian nationals now living in Ireland…And in a population of maybe five to six million, that’s quite a significant cohort.
Ireland Is a Welcoming Country for Indian Students, Education Minister Says
The Minister also noted that the Irish employment system is convenient, as Indian students can come to the country on student visas, which are valid for another two years after graduation – during which students can find employment.
After being hired in the country, students can switch to a work visa, which has other requirements compared to the student visa.
According to Lawless, Indian students and professionals have integrated very well into the education and employment sectors in the country, with the Minister also adding that the visa process for Indian students has been “smooth”.
It’s actually quite rare that Indian students or Indian workers have any visa issues because if they’re coming to a job, they get a visa; they come to study, they get a visa; and then there is a window to allow them to find a job after their studies. So it’s worked very well to date, and we’re happy with the programme.
However, some Iranian scholars, including here researchers and academics, did not have a pleasant experience when it comes to visa processing. Previously, a group of Iranian students initiated a petition asking for the Irish authorities to accelerate their visa processing servicesas they complained about waiting too long for their visas.
Reportedly, many of these students had been waiting between seven and 13 months to have their visa processed – with these waiting times sometimes causing harm to their career and mental health.
We have been made aware that a number of applicants have been waiting for decisions on their applications for extended periods, in some instances up to 13 months, which is causing considerable distress and uncertainty.
According to data published by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (DETE), a total of 27,181 work permits were issued between January and August of 2024, many of which were issued to healthcare professionals (9,125).