Pre-Arrival Guide for Academic Year Students
Prepare the essentials before travelling so your first days in Dublin are about starting the course and settling in, not searching through emails for documents you should already have organised.
Passport
Check that your passport is valid for your journey and keep it accessible during travel. Do not pack it in checked luggage.
Letter of Acceptance
First Academic Year students receive the Letter of Acceptance after full payment. Keep a digital copy and any physical copy required for your immigration route.
Visa documents if required
If your nationality requires an Irish visa, complete the Long Stay study-visa process and follow the conditions of the visa granted.
If you are non-visa-required, keep the relevant study and financial documents ready for travel and the immigration steps that apply after arrival.
Accommodation details
Know where you are staying, the arrival date and the instructions for accessing the property or meeting your Host Family.
Airport transfer
If you booked an ISI transfer, double-check the flight number, arrival time and meeting instructions. Tell ISI if the flight changes before travel.
Access to money
Plan how you will access funds during the first days in Ireland. Do not arrive assuming a job will cover immediate expenses.
Phone and internet
Make sure you can access important emails and contact numbers after landing. You can decide on a longer-term Irish mobile plan after arrival.
Transport to school
Check the route from your accommodation to ISI and look at the journey at the actual time your class begins.
Your first day
New students complete the relevant arrival/orientation process and an academic placement assessment so the final class can be confirmed.
After arrival
Depending on your immigration route, the first weeks may include IRP registration, opening or organising financial services, applying for a PPS Number when you have a genuine reason and starting a job search.
Keep one organised folder
Store your passport copies, school documents, insurance information, accommodation details and immigration correspondence in one digital folder that you can access from your phone.