Nomad Watch
IE

Stamp 2 Student Visa

Active Post-study work

Ireland · apply online

Tuition $12k–70k per year
Work during study 20 hrs/week vacations: 40 hrs/week
Post-study work 12 months
Proof of funds $11,000 per year

Path to staying

  1. Study12 months, renewable
  2. Post-study workup to 12 months
  3. Permanent residencyafter 5 years
  4. Citizenshipafter 5 years

Overview

Country
Ireland
Visa name
Stamp 2 Student Visa
Status
Active
Duration
12 months
Max duration
84 months
Renewable
Yes

Immigration permission for non-EEA/non-Swiss students studying full-time eligible programmes in Ireland. Eligible programmes are on the ILEP or offered by an authorised TrustEd Ireland provider. Stamp 2 allows limited part-time work during studies. Students staying over 90 days must register their permission and obtain an Irish Residence Permit (IRP).

Tuition and costs

Tuition policy
Full fee
Tuition range
$11,500 – $69,900/year
Proof of funds
$11,000/year
Funds type
Bank statement
Scholarships
Available

For 2025/26 non-EU higher education tuition, official field ranges are undergraduate EUR €10,300–€62,500/year and postgraduate EUR €11,000–€40,000/year. Fees vary by field and provider; English-language fees vary separately. These are international fee-paying programmes; the EU Free Fees Initiative does not make Stamp 2 non-EEA students generally tuition-free.

Work rights during study

Work allowed
Yes
Term hours
20 hrs/week
Vacation hours
40 hrs/week
Permission
Automatic

Up to 20 hours/week during term and up to 40 hours/week during the permitted vacation periods: June, July, August and September, and 15 December–15 January. Stamp 2A does not permit work. Eligible Stamp 2 employment is permitted without a separate employment permit; self-employment and business activity are prohibited.

Post-study work options

Post-study work options
Program Type Duration Min degree Work PR path
Stamp 1G (Third Level Graduate Programme) Job seeker 12 mo–24 mo Bachelors Unrestricted No

Language requirements

Language requirements
Test Purpose Language Min score Details
Cambridge English Language Assessments (CELA) Visa English PET pass / Cambridge pass Visa minimum; course admission requirements may be higher. For 2nd level/foundation, a Preliminary English Test pass is accepted; other courses accept the listed Cambridge and Business English certificates.
TOEFL iBT Visa English 47 / 61 Includes TOEFL iBT At Home Edition; visa minimum, course admission requirements may be higher. The threshold is 47 for 2nd level/foundation and 61 for other courses.
Duolingo English Test Visa English 55 / 75 Visa minimum; course admission requirements may be higher. The threshold is 55 for 2nd level/foundation and 75 for other courses.
English Test for Academic and Professional Purposes (ETAPP) Visa English B1 / B2 Visa minimum; course admission requirements may be higher. The threshold is B1 for 2nd level/foundation and B2 for other courses.
International English Language Competency Assessment (IELCA) Visa English B1 / B2 Visa minimum; course admission requirements may be higher. The threshold is B1 for 2nd level/foundation and B2 for other courses.
IELTS Academic Visa English 4.0 / 5.0 Visa minimum; course admission requirements may be higher. The threshold is 4.0 for 2nd level/foundation and 5.0 for other courses.
IELTS UKVI Visa English 4.0 / 5.0 Visa minimum; course admission requirements may be higher. The threshold is 4.0 for 2nd level/foundation and 5.0 for other courses.
Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic Visa English 30 Visa minimum; course admission requirements may be higher. The score is 30 for both course categories.
Oxford Test of English Visa English 81 / 100 Visa minimum; course admission requirements may be higher. The threshold is 81 for 2nd level/foundation and 100 for other courses.
Skills for English Four Facet Test Visa English B1 / B2 Visa minimum; course admission requirements may be higher. The threshold is B1 for 2nd level/foundation and B2 for other courses.
LanguageCert International ESOL Visa English B1 / B2 Visa minimum; course admission requirements may be higher. The threshold is B1 for 2nd level/foundation and B2 for other courses.
LanguageCert Academic Visa English 40 / 60 Visa minimum; course admission requirements may be higher. The threshold is 40 for 2nd level/foundation and 60 for other courses.
Trinity College London Integrated Skills in English Visa English ISE I / ISE II Visa minimum; course admission requirements may be higher. ISE I (B1) is accepted for 2nd level/foundation and ISE II (B2) for other courses.

Fees and costs

Fees
Fee Type Amount Frequency
Visa Application Fee (Multi-Entry) Application $110 One time
Irish Residence Permit (IRP) Registration Registration $330 Annual

Long-term pathway

Post-study visa
Available
Work permit
Possible
Permanent residency
After 5 years
Citizenship
After 5 years

How to apply

Method
Online
Interview
Not required
Official site
www.irishimmigration.ie
Health insurance
Required (buy separately)

Notes and caveats

The ILEP is closed to new programme listings and is being superseded by TrustEd Ireland: eligible programmes may still appear on ILEP or be offered by providers authorised to use the TrustEd mark. Stamp 2 student permission is capped at seven years overall; student-pathway time can reach eight years for eligible Level 9+ graduates using Stamp 1G. Stamp 2A covers certain non-eligible full-time study and does not allow work. Stamp 2 and 2A time do not count toward naturalisation residence. Students generally cannot sponsor family reunification; limited exceptions include eligible PhD students, subject to policy conditions.

Also in Ireland

Last verified Oct 9, 2026 Last changed Oct 9, 2026 Source

Change history

    • Post study options updated

    refreshed graduate permission and dependent-family conditions from current ISD guidance (https://www.irishimmigration.ie/my-situation-has-changed-since-i-arrived-in-ireland/third-level-graduate-programme/; https://www.irishimmigration.ie/my-situation-has-changed-since-i-arrived-in-ireland/family-dependents/).

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