Ireland•EuropeStamp 2 (ILEP Student)
At a Glance
2 weeks – 3 months
Varies by processing route
EUR €360–€400
Varies by filing options
7 years
Renewable
Renewal
Renewable
Family
Not specified
PR Pathway
None
Sponsor
No job offer needed
Work
Remote not required
Overview
Permission for full-time study in Ireland for courses listed on the Interim List of qualifying 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 qualifying 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 qualifying Programmes who want to combine full-time study with part-time work in Ireland.
Cost Breakdown
Processing Time
| Track 1 | 2–3 months |
| Track 2 | 2 weeks – 1 month |
Requirements
PUBLISHED REQUIREMENTS
Enrolled in a full-time daytime course on the Interim List of qualifying 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 |
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