​Bank Accounts

Some students need to open an account for their visa

While you're studying English in Ireland at the Galway Cultural Institute, you might need to open up a bank account. For students who have passports outside of the EEA, this is absolutely essential for their visa process. We help long term students open student bank accounts with the AIB bank in Salthill, which is conveniently located within a short walking distance of the school.

We make the whole process very easy for you. 

There are two types of visas for non-EEU countries.

• Visa Waivers

If the student is coming from a visa waiver country means that the visa process will happen while the student is here in Ireland.

• Visa Requiring

If the student is coming from a visa requiring country the visa process starts before the student arrives in Ireland. (In that case the student should go to the nearest Irish embassy in their country and ask for the required documents).

At the airport when visa students arrive, the immigration officer gives the student 3 months (90 days) of visa, so they have enough time to prepare everything.

We have a SAY meeting every Monday for new students, and we go through the visa process with them, and we answer any questions they may have about it.

Students do need to book an appointment at the immigration Office, but we advise them to do so once they are here as there are some steps to be followed, like:

• Opening an Irish bank account to provide a bank statement at the immigration
• Request an immigration letter from the school
• Have a proof of address
• Etc.

Setting up your bank account also helps if you are looking to start working while studying here. The documents you need to open the bank account are simple- a letter from the school, alongside a copy of your passport, a proof of address and finally, you need to fill out the bank Application form, which we help you with. When you leave Ireland, it is advisable to close your bank account.

The immigration appointment can take up to 4-8 weeks to happen and the visa card arrives around 2 weeks after the appointment.

To book an appointment they must send an email to gaillimh.immigration@garda.iesaying that they wish to process their student visa.