Ireland Student Visa 2026: Requirements, Funds and Work
Studying in Ireland for longer than 90 days as a non-EEA national involves up to three steps: enrolling on an approved programme, applying for a long term study visa if your nationality needs one, and registering your permission after you arrive. The key figures are set by Immigration Service Delivery: €10,000 in available funds, at least €6,000 of course fees paid in advance, and a registration fee of €300. This guide sets out each requirement, the work rules and the graduate route, as published on 14 October 2026.
Quick answer
To study in Ireland for more than 90 days you must choose a programme on the approved lists. Visa-required students apply for a long term study visa, which costs €60 for single entry, and can expect a decision within approximately 8 weeks. You must show immediate access to at least €10,000, plus course fees. After arrival you register within 90 days for €300 and receive Stamp 2, which lets you work up to 20 hours a week in term and 40 hours in the holiday periods.
Step 1: choose an approved programme
If you want to study in Ireland for longer than 90 days, you must choose a course from the Interim List of Eligible Programmes (ILEP) or the TrustEd Ireland Providers eligible programmes list. Immigration Service Delivery says to check both lists, because a programme will not appear on both. The types of course listed are:
- English language programmes lasting at least 25 weeks
- higher education programmes from level 6 to 10 on the National Framework of Qualifications
- professional awards
- foundation programmes.
Providers on the list cannot accept fees in cash and must hold programme fees in a separate account until the student's visa application is decided.
Step 2: the long term study visa
If your nationality needs a visa, you apply for a long term study visa to study for more than 3 months.
| Item | What Immigration Service Delivery says |
|---|---|
| When to apply | Up to 3 months before your date of travel |
| Where to apply | From your home country or where you are a legal resident, online through AVATS |
| Visa fee | €60 for single entry, €100 for multi entry |
| Documents | Must be sent within 30 days of creating the online application |
| Decision | Within approximately 8 weeks from the date the application was received |
| Appeal | Within 2 months of the date on the Letter of Refusal. There is no charge to appeal |
Required documents
- Passport: valid for at least twelve months after the date you plan to arrive.
- Two passport-sized colour photographs, not more than 6 months old.
- Letter of acceptance: confirming you are enrolled on a course of full-time education with a minimum of 15 hours of organised daytime tuition each week, with the fees payable and the fees paid.
- Proof of fee payment: where the course fees are less than €6,000, you must pay them in full before applying. Where they are more than €6,000, you must pay at least that amount.
- Private medical insurance: required, and your college may arrange it.
- Evidence of academic ability and of English language ability.
- An application letter, an account of any gaps in your educational history, and details of any previous visa refusals.
- Finances and a summary of finances form.
Immigration Service Delivery warns that false or misleading information can lead to refusal, and in some circumstances to being blocked from getting an Irish visa for 5 years.
How much money you must show
| Your course | Funds required |
|---|---|
| Academic courses, first year | Immediate access to at least €10,000, which is the estimated cost of living for a student for one academic year |
| Each later year | Ready access to at least €10,000 for each subsequent year, in addition to course fees |
| Courses of less than 8 months | €833 per month of your stay or €6,665, whichever is the lesser |
- Bank statements: an up-to-date statement showing the money paid in and out over the last six months, on headed paper, with your name, address, account number and account type visible.
- Large lodgements: any large or irregular lodgements must be fully explained.
- Not accepted: credit cards are not accepted as evidence of finances.
- Sponsors: if a family member or friend is covering your costs, you must show how you are linked, plus their bank statement for the last six months.
- Education bond: under a pilot programme, degree programme students can provide an education bond with a minimum value of €10,000 as an alternative to bank statements.
Students who do not need a visa must prove at the time of arrival that they have direct access to €10,000 for courses resulting in residence of greater than 8 months, or €833 per month or €6,665 in total for shorter courses.
Step 3: register and get Stamp 2
- Deadline: you must register your permission within 90 days. If you cannot get an appointment in that period, Immigration Service Delivery says it will not cancel your permission.
- Fee: the registration fee is €300, paid by credit or debit card.
- Stamp 2: permission to study a full time course on the ILEP for a specified period.
- Public services: on Stamp 2 you cannot receive benefits or use publicly funded services such as public hospitals, unless you have an entitlement by other means.
- Time limit: you can stay up to seven years as a student, and you must show progression each year.
English language students
An English language student registers for a Stamp 2 permission of up to eight months. You must enrol on a programme lasting at least 25 weeks, attend class for at least 15 hours a week, attend at least 85% of your classes and complete an end-of-programme exam. You may hold a maximum of three permissions of eight months each, a total of two years, and after that you must enrol on a higher education programme to remain as a student.
Working on a student visa
| Period | Hours you may work |
|---|---|
| While studying | Up to 20 hours a week |
| June, July, August and September, and from 15 December to 15 January | Up to 40 hours per week |
- You must show that you have enough funds to support your stay without relying on casual work.
- You must not engage in any other business or trade.
- Students on courses leading to major awards at NFQ Level 7 and above may do an internship or placement that is an integral part of the course, and may work more than 20 hours a week in it. The placement cannot exceed 50% of the duration of the course.
After you graduate
The Third Level Graduate Programme gives a permission on Stamp 1G so that you can look for graduate level employment.
| Qualification awarded in Ireland | Extension on Stamp 1G | Limit on total time on the student pathway |
|---|---|---|
| Level eight (8) | 12 months | Seven (7) years |
| Level nine (9) or above | 24 months, in two blocks of 12 months | 8 years |
On Stamp 1G you can work 40 hours a week without an employment permit, but you cannot operate a business or be self-employed. When you get an employment permit you register on Stamp 1. If you do not get a permit or another permission before Stamp 1G ends, you are expected to leave the State.
From student visa to permanent residency
Time on Stamp 2 is not reckonable as residence when applying for citizenship by naturalisation. The path to long-term status runs through work:
- Graduate on Stamp 1G and find a job that qualifies for an employment permit.
- Move to Stamp 1 with a Critical Skills or General Employment Permit.
- Qualify for Stamp 4 after 2 years on a Critical Skills Employment Permit, or 5 years on employment permits.
- Apply for naturalisation after 5 years of reckonable residence. Stamp 1 and Stamp 4 both count.
The work stage is covered in our Ireland work visa guide.
What about the rejection rate?
The Immigration Service pages we read do not publish a refusal rate for study visas. The Dublin Visa Office publishes its visa decisions and waiting times every Tuesday, and each refusal comes with a letter that explains why the application was not approved. An Irish visa allows you to travel to Ireland. It does not give you permission to enter, and you can be refused entry at border control even with a visa.
Frequently asked questions
How much bank balance is required for an Ireland student visa?
You must show immediate access to at least €10,000 for the first year, which Immigration Service Delivery gives as the estimated cost of living for a student for one academic year, plus ready access to €10,000 for each later year in addition to course fees.
How much is the Ireland student visa fee?
The visa fee is €60 for single entry and €100 for multi entry. Registration after arrival costs €300. Some nationalities are listed as exempt from visa fees.
How long does an Ireland student visa take?
Applicants can expect a decision within approximately 8 weeks from the date the application was received. You can apply up to 3 months before your date of travel.
How many hours can international students work in Ireland?
Up to 20 hours a week while studying, and up to 40 hours per week in June, July, August and September and from 15 December to 15 January.
Can I stay in Ireland after I graduate?
Yes, under the Third Level Graduate Programme. A level 8 qualification awarded in Ireland gives a 12-month extension on Stamp 1G, and level 9 or above gives 24 months in two blocks of 12 months.
Does student time count towards Irish citizenship?
No. Stamp 2 is not reckonable as residence when applying for citizenship by naturalisation. Stamp 1 and Stamp 4 are reckonable.
How much of my tuition must I pay before applying?
If the course fees are less than €6,000, you must pay them in full before applying for your visa. If they are more than €6,000, you must pay at least that amount.
Official sources
- Immigration Service Delivery — How to apply for a long term study visa
- Immigration Service Delivery — Information on student finances
- Immigration Service Delivery — A third-level course or a language course
- Immigration Service Delivery — Planning to study in Ireland
- Immigration Service Delivery — Frequently asked questions for students
- Immigration Service Delivery — Immigration permission stamps
- Immigration Service Delivery — Preclearance and entry visas fees
- Immigration Service Delivery — How to register your immigration permission for the first time
All rules and figures verified against the official sources above on 14 October 2026. Information, not legal advice.