IrelandStudy

Stamp 2 student permission in Ireland

The student permission allows nationals of countries outside the European Union and Switzerland to stay in Ireland for full-time study — on a language course or a higher education programme included on the official list of eligible programmes. The permission is granted for the duration of the studies, gives a limited right to part-time work and does not extend to the applicant’s family members.

Source: Immigration Service Delivery (irishimmigration.ie)

Study options

The programme covers two different types of course with different conditions.

Language course

The course must be on the Interim List of Eligible Programmes (ILEP) of the Department of Education and Science
At least 25 weeks of tuition and at least 15 hours of classes a week — no fewer than 375 teaching hours in total
Classes take place from 09:00 to 17:00 Monday to Friday, on at least 3 days a week
Attendance of at least 85% and passing a recognised examination at the end of the course are required

Higher education (degree) programme

A letter of enrolment from the college on a full-time daytime programme at NFQ level 7 (bachelor’s) or above
Proof of payment of the tuition fees: where the course costs less than EUR 6,000 — the full amount in advance; where it costs more — at least EUR 6,000
Access to EUR 3,000 over and above the tuition fees at the time of first registration
Private medical insurance at the time of registration — personally or through the college’s group scheme

What it costs

Registration of the permission (Stamp 2) with the immigration service	300 EUR

Documents to gather

To register the permission with the immigration service (ISD) you need:

A letter of enrolment on an ILEP course dated no earlier than the day the course starts
Proof of payment of the tuition fees (in full if the fixed cost is below EUR 6,000, or at least EUR 6,000 if it is higher)
Proof of access to living costs: EUR 10,000 for a course longer than 8 months or EUR 833 a month (a maximum of EUR 6,665 in total) for a shorter course
Private medical insurance or travel insurance covering accident, illness and hospitalisation for the whole period of stay
The biometric page of a valid passport

How the process runs

Once you are enrolled on an ILEP course the process runs as follows:

1
Enrolment on an ILEP course
You have to be admitted to a full-time language course or higher education programme included on the Interim List of Eligible Programmes (ILEP) of the Department of Education and Science.
2
Preparing finances and medical insurance
Collect proof of access to living costs (EUR 10,000 for a course longer than 8 months or EUR 833 a month for a shorter one) and take out private medical insurance covering accident, illness and hospitalisation.
3
Registering the permission with the immigration service
within 90 days of the permission being granted
The permission must be registered within 90 days of being granted. The letter of enrolment used for registration must be dated no earlier than the day the course starts. The registration fee is EUR 300, paid by card.
4
Receiving the Irish Residence Permit (IRP) card
After successful registration the immigration service sends the Irish Residence Permit (IRP) card by post, with stamp 2 in the passport — this is proof of lawful residence in Ireland.

Timelines and rights

Work

20 hours a week during term, up to 40 hours a week in June, July, August, September and from 15 December to 15 January. Only paid part-time work: a student may not run a business or trade.

Who you can bring with you

The rule for a student’s relatives:

Spouse, partner, children

As a general rule family members cannot join the holder of a student permission (stamps 2, 2A, 1A, 1G) in Ireland — each of them has to apply for a visa in their own right

Trips, renewal and the grace period

The permission is registered with the ISD and stamp 2 is placed in the passport. State-funded benefits and services, including public hospitals, are not available to the student — unless entitlement arises on another basis.

The permission is granted for the duration of the course and must be renewed before the current one expires. In total you may spend no more than 7 years on the student route (language courses and higher education programmes — stamps 2, 2A, 1A, 1G); on completing a programme at NFQ level 9 or above the limit rises to 8 years. Since 1 July 2024, applications to extend a student permission where registration has been refused or because of exceptional circumstances are accepted only through the ISD Online Portal — they are no longer considered by post or email.

How it differs from the routes next to it

The comparison is built from the official terms of the routes themselves — the source links sit on their own pages.

	Stamp 2 student permission	Permit for shortage occupations	General employment permit
Visa term	The permission is granted for the duration of the course	Tied to the employer, at least 9 months with the first one, then a flexible status	Usually 1–2 years, renewable
Grounds	Permission to stay for full-time study on a programme from the ILEP list	Shortage occupations	Employment
Money	For a course longer than 8 months you have to show EUR 10,000	EUR 40,904 for some critical occupations with a degree; EUR 36,848 for graduates; EUR 68,911+ for other roles	A threshold of about EUR 36,605 for most occupations
Residence	The permission is registered with the ISD and stamp 2 is placed in the passport	Employment; the 50:50 rule on EEA composition	Actual employment, labour market restrictions

What comes next: permanent residence and citizenship

Route to citizenship

Time on stamp 2 does not count as reckonable residence when applying for naturalisation.

Frequently asked questions about Stamp 2 student permission

Who can obtain a Stamp 2 student permission?

Nationals of countries outside the EU and Switzerland who are enrolled on a full-time language course or higher education programme from the Interim List of Eligible Programmes (ILEP). The programme is not suitable for part-time or distance courses — the main purpose of the stay must be study.

How much does registering the permission cost?

Registration with the immigration service (Stamp 2) costs EUR 300 per person, payable by bank card only. Applicants under 18 at the time of registration are exempt from the fee.

How much money do you have to prove in order to obtain the permission?

For a course longer than 8 months you need access to EUR 10,000. For a course of up to 8 months — EUR 833 a month or EUR 6,665 in total, whichever is less. For courses starting after 1 July 2023, applicants who need a visa additionally show access to EUR 10,000 for each subsequent year of study, over and above the tuition fees for those years.

Can you work while studying?

Yes, without a separate employment permit: 20 hours a week during term and up to 40 hours a week in the holidays — in June, July, August, September and from 15 December to 15 January.

How long in total can you spend in Ireland on a student permission?

A maximum of 7 years in total on the student route (stamps 2, 2A, 1A, 1G). If the graduate completes a programme at NFQ level 9 or above, the limit rises to 8 years.

Can family join a student?

As a general rule no: family members cannot join the holder of a student permission (stamps 2, 2A, 1A, 1G) — each of them has to apply for a visa in their own right.

What happens after the course finishes?

Graduates of a programme at NFQ level 8 obtained in Ireland can receive a 12-month extension under the Third Level Graduate Programme (Stamp 1G) to look for graduate-level work — provided the total time on the student route does not exceed 7 years. At level 9 or above the extension can run to 24 months in two blocks of 12 months, subject to the 8-year limit.

Other ways to move to Ireland

Every route in one list — migration programmes: Ireland.

The terms and the amounts are checked against official sources — the link sits under each section.Last checked on: 7 August 2026.