Ireland is "very welcoming" for students, it has post-study visa arrangement: Education Minister Lawless

New Delhi [India], March 17 : James Lawless, Ireland's Education Minister on Monday said his country is "very welcoming" for students and has a supportive post-study employment visa arrangement.
"Ireland is a very welcoming country. We have a very cosmopolitan culture. We have many nationalities now in Ireland, and many people have made their home, including many, many Indians," the Irish minister said, when asked whether his government is considering any changes in post-study work or immigration policies to retain skilled talents.
"We have 100,000 Indian nationals now living in Ireland...And in a population of maybe 5-6 million, that's quite a significant cohort," he added.
The minister said the Indian people have done well in Ireland and have had good experiences in the education system.
"In the employment system, and we have a visa arrangement where if an Indian student comes to Ireland to study, their visa continues for 2 years after a postgraduate. So if they do a postgraduate course, they have a 2-year window to seek employment, and they can stay on for that time, and then if they get employment, they'll have an employment visa. So really 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 to 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," the Irish minister told ANI.
"I think it's a positive programme because we want Indian workers and students to come to Ireland to be part of our success story and to strengthen the collaboration between the two countries."
One reason for his visit to India is to strengthen ties and ensure that Irish and Indian universities work together.
Further, he said Ireland has many types of scholarships that Indian students can avail themselves of.
Indian students are the highest single category of international students in Ireland, followed by the US and China.
"We're very happy to welcome international students. I'm very happy to see so many Indian students taking part in the Irish college experience, and many of those go on to work and we have a very high STEM. We have many STEM industries, we have a lot of technology, data centres, engineering campuses," he explained. "Indian nationals have been very much a part of that success story in Ireland to date."
As part of his official visit to India, Ireland's Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, James Lawless, engaged with Indian media today, underscoring Ireland's strong and growing relationship with India across trade, investment, and education.
The Minister is leading a high-level delegation to New Delhi, Mumbai, and Chennai, coinciding with St Patrick's Day 2025, with the aim of deepening collaboration between the two nations.
During an exclusive media roundtable in New Delhi, Minister Lawless highlighted the increasing ties between India and Ireland, particularly in higher education, technology, and business partnerships.
The visit is being facilitated by Enterprise Ireland (EI), IDA Ireland, and the Embassy of Ireland in India, reflecting Ireland's continued focus on strengthening its engagement with India.
Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science James Lawless commented, "I am delighted to visit India to as part pf the Irish Government's St Patrick's Day programme. Ireland continues to offer real opportunity for Indian companies seeking a stable, secure, pro-business environment with a talented workforce and culture of innovation and entrepreneurship."
"As a committed member of the EU, Ireland is also a proven base from which to grow operational presence in European markets. During my visit I look forward to meeting with IDA Ireland client companies who already have a presence in Ireland to strengthen our relationship and assure them of the Irish Government's ongoing support as they expand, and further embed themselves in Ireland."
Ireland and India enjoy a dynamic trade relationship, with bilateral trade reaching nearly EUR16 billion annually.
Ireland remains a key European hub for Indian businesses, particularly in sectors such as IT, pharmaceuticals, financial services, and advanced manufacturing. With major Indian companies like TCS, Infosys, Wipro, and Tech Mahindra operating in Ireland, the country continues to serve as a gateway for Indian firms expanding into the European market.
Ireland is also witnessing increased collaboration with Indian firms in innovation, R&D, and emerging technologies, particularly in MedTech, fintech, AI, and life sciences. As global businesses look for highly skilled talent and research-driven ecosystems, Ireland continues to offer Indian companies cutting-edge opportunities for expansion and innovation.