Visa Delays Impact Irish Research, Leaving Iranian Scholars in Limbo

Delays in visa processing for Iranian researchers and students are hindering research projects in Ireland and creating a precarious situation for those awaiting approval, according to a University College Dublin (UCD) academic. The delays, compounded by recent geopolitical events, are jeopardizing academic careers and slowing down critical research initiatives.

Growing Rejection Rates and Prolonged Appeals

Dr. Fatemeh Golpayegani, a lecturer at the UCD School of Computer Science and head of the Multi-agent Systems and Sustainable Solutions research group [2], has voiced concerns about the increasing number of visa rejections for Iranian nationals applying to study and conduct research in Ireland. She noted that appeals of these rejections are also taking significantly longer to process compared to applications from other nationalities.

While the Department of Justice does not maintain specific statistics for PhD applications, data on Type D Long Stay Study Visas – which include applications for language schools and secondary schools – reveals a concerning trend. In 2023, 113 applications were received, with 43 refused. In 2024, 94 applications were received, and 26 were refused. Still, last year saw a sharp increase in refusals, with 106 applications received and 81 refused. [1]

Impact on Irish Research

Dr. Golpayegani highlighted the detrimental effect these delays have on Ireland’s research capacity. “If we take this pool of applicants out of this process, this means that we would not be able in Ireland to hire highly competent people to come here and do research and deliver for our research,” she stated. Currently, UCD hosts 58 Iranian students, with 79% engaged in graduate research. [1]

The delays are not merely administrative; they are now impacting personal safety. One Iranian researcher, identified as “Arash,” received a job offer from Trinity College Dublin eight months ago but remains unable to take up the position due to the pending visa application. He and several colleagues left Iran for Turkey two weeks before the recent escalation of conflict, fearing for their safety. [1]

“What was once an administrative delay has now grow a matter of safety and survival,” Arash stated in a letter to Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan, expressing his desperation to relocate to Ireland. [1]

Call for Transparency and Timelines

Dr. Golpayegani, who successfully obtained a visa herself in 2013 after an eight-week processing period, is advocating for greater clarity regarding visa processing timelines. “What we need from this situation would be more clarity in terms of the timeline,” she explained. “If we understand a clear timeline, talking as a researcher having publicly-funded research projects, we can develop decisions in a more certain way.” [1]

The Department of Justice acknowledges the importance of visa applications as a screening process to ensure applicants have legitimate reasons to enter Ireland and states that each application is assessed individually. The department also confirms the right to appeal a visa refusal. [1]

Iranian Student Numbers Remain Relatively Stable

Despite the challenges, the number of Iranian students studying at the postgraduate level in Irish publicly funded higher education institutions has remained relatively stable in recent years. The Higher Education Authority reported 205 students in 2023, 215 in 2024, and 225 this year. [1]