Justice Minister: No Exception for English Schools to Refund Visa-Refused Non-EEA Students
The Minister for Justice affirmed that English language schools must refund course fees to non-EEA students denied Irish visas, with no exceptions. This follows reports of schools failing to return funds, impacting over 250 Mongolian students and 17 Algerian students, including Djamel Eddine Kedadra, who is now receiving his refund. A rise in visa refusals highlights the importance of schools adhering to refund obligations.
The Minister for Justice stated that English language schools must refund course fees to non-European Economic Area (EEA) applicants denied visas to study and work in Ireland. This follows an RTÉ News revelation that some schools failed to return funds.
Students pay up to €3,000 to over 80 Department of Justice-approved schools before applying for a visa. Schools are required to hold these funds in escrow accounts and refund them if a visa is refused. Minister Jim O'Callaghan emphasized there can be «no exception» to this requirement, confirming his department recently reminded colleges of this obligation.
Last month, three Mongolian agencies informed the Department of Justice that over 250 young people are struggling to recoup up to €3,100 each from six schools. Separately, Algerian student Djamel Eddine Kedadra is finally set to receive a refund of over €2,177.15 from Student Campus in Limerick, dated May 15, after requesting it since January 2025. He is one of 17 Algerian students who paid fees to Student Campus in 2024 and 2025 and were subsequently refused visas.
Department of Justice data shows a significant rise in study visa application refusals, from 8,006 in 2024 to 10,529 in 2025. Refusals for Algerian applicants also increased from 95 in 2024 to 226 in 2025, with only 14 approvals in 2025 compared to 57 in 2024. This reflects stricter entry criteria, making adherence to refund rules crucial for a growing number of students.