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A single funds threshold since 30 June 2025

Ireland
student visa (Stamp 2)

Enrolment in an ILEP-listed programme plus a single €10,000 funds threshold — the same for every nationality since 30 June 2025.

Funds from
€10,000
Time to status
4–8 wks
Right to work (term time)
up to 20 hrs/wk
Right to work (summer/winter)
up to 40 hrs/wk

The threshold depends on course length

For programmes longer than 8 months (a diploma or degree, for example) a single €10,000 applies — requirements used to vary by country of origin, now the bar is the same for everyone.

COURSE LENGTH
AMOUNT
WHAT TO KNOW
8 months or longer (diploma, degree, etc.)
AMOUNT€10,000
Funds must be immediately available, separate from tuition payment.
Shorter than 8 months (language courses, etc.)
AMOUNT€833/mo
Calculated proportionally to course length, not a flat sum.

What the full cost consists of

Government fees differ by visa type — a single-entry visa is cheaper than a multiple-entry one. Some countries are exempt from the fee entirely.

COST ITEM
RATE
APPLIES TO
Single-entry visa
RATE€60
per applicant, non-refundable on refusal
Multiple-entry visa
RATE€100
per applicant, non-refundable on refusal
Nationals of Indonesia, Morocco, Uganda, and several others
RATE€0
exempt from the visa fee

How the process runs

01
Enrolment in an ILEP-listed programme
The programme must be on the official Interim List of Eligible Programmes — otherwise the visa is not considered at all.
02
Filing through AVATS
Uploading documents and paying the fee in the AVATS system; the filing window is limited — for example, a course starting 1 September can only be filed between 1 April and 31 July.
03
Biometrics at a Visa Application Centre (VAC)
Part of the document-filing process.
04
Review
4–8 weeks — applying 3 months before travel is recommended.
05
Registration in Ireland
Initial Stamp 2 registration — at the Burgh Quay office in Dublin (centralised since 2026).

A good fit if

You have an enrolment offer in a programme listed on the official ILEP.
You can document €10,000 in immediately available funds, separate from tuition.
A part-time work cap of 20 hours a week during term (up to 40 in summer and mid-December to mid-January) works for you.
Your nationality is visa-exempt (US, Canada, Australia, and others) — you can enter without a visa and register on arrival.

A poor fit if

Your programme is not on the ILEP — without that, the application is not considered at all.
You cannot show funds separate from tuition payment — the requirement is specifically €10,000 immediately available.
You plan to file outside the set window — for example, after 31 July for a course starting 1 September.
You plan to work full-time year-round — the extended hours only apply during specific months.

Who runs this programme

Your request goes to two or three firms from this list. You see exactly which ones before it is sent, and you can exclude any of them.

No matching firms in the directory for this category yet — the list is curated by hand and grows over time.

This is an independent list of firms in the market, not our partners — we do not forward requests to them or receive payment for referrals. Contact them directly via the link.

Frequent questions

What is the ILEP and why does it matter?

The Interim List of Eligible Programmes — the official register of language courses, higher-education programmes, and foundation programmes approved by Irish immigration. If a programme is not on this list, the visa is not considered at all.

Why is the threshold €10,000 for everyone?

Since 30 June 2025, requirements have been unified — the amount used to vary by the applicant’s country of origin; now a single threshold applies for courses of 8 months or longer.

How much can you work?

20 hours a week during term; up to 40 hours a week in June–September and from 15 December to 15 January — the extended hours apply only during those windows, not year-round.

When do you need to file?

The window is tied to the course start date — for a programme starting 1 September 2026, filing is only possible between 1 April and 31 July 2026; applications outside the window are automatically rejected.

Do US, Canadian, or Australian nationals need a visa?

No, these and several other nationalities are visa-exempt — you can enter without a visa and register your Stamp 2 status once in Ireland.

Where does initial registration happen?

Since 2026, centrally at the Burgh Quay office in Dublin.

Sources

Figures are for reference only. Verified against official sources on 26 August 2026. A precise quote is issued by the appointed firm after document review. This material is not legal advice, a public offer or investment advice.