Ireland•Europe

Open

Stamp 2 (ILEP Student)

Study

At a Glance

Processing Time

2-3 months

Application Fee

460 EUR

Stay Duration

7 years

Renewable

Yes

Job Offer

Not Required

Dependents

Not Specified

PR Pathway

Remote Work

Not Required

Overview

Permission for full-time study in Ireland for courses listed on the Interim List of Eligible Programmes (ILEP).

Stamp 2 is Ireland's immigration permission for non-EEA nationals enrolled full-time on a course listed on the Interim List of Eligible Programmes (ILEP) — either higher education at NFQ level 6+, or a 25-week English-language programme. It is administered by Immigration Service Delivery (ISD) and authorises residence for the duration of approved studies.

Applicants must show €10,000 for a year (or €833/month for shorter stays), private medical insurance, and a letter of enrolment from an ILEP provider. Visa-required nationals apply for a D-Study visa via AVATS; all students then register on the ISD Customer Portal within 90 days and pay a €300 IRP fee. Renewal is online when under 12 weeks remain.

This visa is ideal for non-EEA students enrolled in a programme on the Interim List of Eligible Programmes who want to combine full-time study with part-time work in Ireland.

Fee Breakdown

IRP Registration Fee	300 EUR
Entry Visa (Single)	60 EUR
Entry Visa (Multiple)	100 EUR

Processing Tracks

Track 1	2 months – 3 months
Track 2	2 weeks – 1 month

Requirements

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

Enrolled in a full-time daytime course on the Interim List of Eligible Programmes (ILEP) — higher education at NFQ level 6+ or a 25-week English-language programme

Minimum 15 hours of daytime tuition per week (English-language students)

Maintain at least 85% class attendance

Proof of access to €10,000 for courses of one year or longer (or €833/month: €4,998 for 6 months, €6,665 for 8 months)

Private medical insurance with required cover (cash-back policies not accepted)

English-language students must complete an end-of-programme exam and demonstrate academic progression to renew

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

Valid passport (biometric page)

Official Letter of Enrolment from an ILEP-listed provider

Proof of course fee payment (from the provider's protected account)

Proof of financial support (€10,000 for a year, or €833/month for shorter stays)

Private medical insurance with required cover (no cash-back policies)

Proof of address in Ireland

Entry visa (if visa-required) and the corresponding landing stamp

Advantages & Considerations

Key Benefits

Live in Ireland for the full duration of an ILEP course at NFQ level 6+, up to seven years for higher-education students
Take casual work of 20 hours per week in term and 40 hours per week in summer and over the Christmas break
Online renewal via the ISD Customer Portal once less than 12 weeks remain on the current permission
ECTS-credit-bearing work placements can exceed the 20-hour cap when part of a higher-education programme
Flat €300 IRP fee; entry visa is only €60 (single) or €100 (multi-entry) for visa-required nationals

Worth Knowing

Time on Stamp 2 does not count toward the residence required for Irish naturalisation
No family reunification — spouses and dependants cannot accompany the student in Ireland
Strict 85% attendance rule; English-language students must pass an end-of-programme exam to renew
English-language students are capped at three 8-month permissions (two years total) before moving to higher-ed
ILEP is closed to new providers and will be replaced by QQI's TrustEd Ireland quality mark for non-EEA enrolment
Not enrolled in an ILEP-listed (or future TrustEd Ireland-approved) full-time course
Insufficient financial proof (less than €10,000 for a year or less than €833/month for shorter stays)
No private medical insurance with the required cover (cash-back policies are not accepted)

Application Process

Enrol in an ILEP-listed course and pay fees through the provider's protected account

If visa-required: apply for a 'D' long-stay study visa via AVATS

Travel to Ireland and receive a landing stamp at the port of entry

Book a first-registration appointment on the ISD Customer Portal (Burgh Quay, Dublin)

Register and pay the €300 IRP fee within 90 days of arrival

Renew Stamp 2 online when less than 12 weeks remain on current permission

Application Forms

AVATS Online Visa Application PortalOptional	Fill online
ISD Customer Service Portal	Fill online

Verified Claims (20)

Last verified May 31, 2026

Application Steps	Enrol in an ILEP-listed course and pay fees through the provider's protected account; If visa-requir…	citizensinformation.ie
Application Steps	Enrol in an ILEP-listed course and pay fees through the provider's protected account; If visa-requir…	citizensinformation.ie
Application Steps	Enrol in an ILEP-listed course and pay fees through the provider's protected account; If visa-requir…	citizensinformation.ie
Application Steps	Enrol in an ILEP-listed course and pay fees through the provider's protected account; If visa-requir…	citizensinformation.ie
Forms · 0 · url	https://www.visas.inis.gov.ie/avats/	irishimmigration.ie
Forms · 0 · url	https://www.visas.inis.gov.ie/avats/	irishimmigration.ie
Forms · 0 · url	https://www.visas.inis.gov.ie/avats/	irishimmigration.ie
Forms · 0 · url	https://www.visas.inis.gov.ie/avats/	irishimmigration.ie

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