IrelandStudy and training

Ireland English language course visa

English language course study visa (ILEP English programme, Stamp 2)

In short

To learn English in Ireland for more than 90 days, visa-required nationals need a long stay 'D' study visa for a full-time English course of at least 25 weeks on the ILEP. Each course gives up to 8 months of Stamp 2 permission, up to three courses or two years in total, with 85% attendance and an end-of-course exam required. Courses under 90 days use a short stay C study visa instead.

Apply on AVATS – Automated Visa Application and Tracking System checked 23 October 2026

Key facts

Maximum stay
Up to 8 months of permission per course; at most three courses, two years in total, after which only a higher education programme can be continued.
Validity
D visa for entry; Stamp 2 registered on the IRP card for each course.
Fee
€60Long stay D visa: €60 single entry or €100 multiple entry, plus any visa application centre service fee. After arrival, first registration of the permission usually costs €300.
Funds required
€833 per month€833 per month of stay or €6,665 in total for courses resulting in a stay of up to 8 months, whichever is lower; course fees must be paid in full to the school before applying.
Processing time
About 8 weeks from receipt at the visa office, processed in date order.
Work
Up to 20 hours a week in term time, 40 hours a week in June to September and 15 December to 15 January.
Family
Family members cannot normally accompany language students.
Path to permanent residence
No. Language study time does not count towards citizenship, and after two years you must move to a higher education programme on the ILEP to stay as a student.
Where to apply
AVATS online from the country where you legally live, then documents to the Irish embassy, consulate or visa office named on your AVATS summary, or the visa application centre it uses, up to 3 months before travel.

Course rules

The course must be a full-time English language programme on the ILEP lasting at least 25 weeks, with at least 15 hours of classes a week (breaks not counted) between 09:00 and 17:00 on at least four weekdays. Holidays cannot be taken before the course starts and may not exceed one third of the weeks studied.

You do not have to send a test certificate for an English course, but the visa officer may ask for other proof that you have a basic level of English.

Money and fees

Since 30 June 2025 the same finance rule applies to visa-required and non-visa-required students: for stays of 6 to 8 months, €833 per month, which is €4,998 for 6 months or €6,665 for 8 months. Show 6 months of bank statements. Pay the course fee in full to the school; providers may not take cash and must give learner protection.

Short courses and long courses

For a course shorter than 90 days, apply for a short stay C study visa; it gives no right to work or to register. For a 25-week course, use the long stay D study visa, submit the AVATS application and documents to the Irish embassy, consulate or visa office named on your AVATS summary, or the visa application centre it uses, and register at Burgh Quay within 90 days of arrival.

  1. Pick a full-time English course of at least 25 weeks that appears on the ILEP, checking the provider’s refund and learner protection policies.
  2. Pay the course fee in full by bank transfer or an approved payment service and get the acceptance letter.
  3. Prepare funds of €833 per month of stay (maximum €6,665) and private medical insurance.
  4. Complete the AVATS long stay study application and submit it with the checklist to the Irish embassy, consulate or visa office named on your AVATS summary, or the visa application centre it uses.
  5. After arrival, register at Burgh Quay within 90 days and keep attendance above 85%.
  6. Sit the end-of-course exam; you will need the result to renew for a second or third course.

Registering after arrival

A D visa lets you travel; on arrival the officer gives a landing stamp, normally up to 90 days. Before it runs out you must register your permission with Immigration Service Delivery at the Registration Office, 13-14 Burgh Quay, Dublin 2, booking the appointment on the ISD portal. Fingerprints and a photo are taken, the €300 fee is paid by card and the Irish Residence Permit (IRP) card arrives by post within about 10 working days.

Because appointment demand is very high, ISD has said that booking an appointment within the 90 days is enough to remain lawfully until that date. Renewals are made online up to 12 weeks before the IRP expires; students can only renew once their next course has started.

Conditions while studying

You must attend at least 85% of classes and sit a recognised exam at the end of each course; both are checked when you renew. Failing either can lead to refusal of further permission. After the third course, or two years, only an ILEP higher education programme allows a further student permission.

For 2026, ISD offered a short Stamp 2 bridging permission until 30 September 2026 for language students who completed their second or third course and enrolled in a fully paid ILEP higher education programme starting by the end of October 2026; that notice ran from 1 May to 31 August 2026 only.

If the visa is refused

Long stay refusals can still be appealed. The appeal is free, must arrive within 2 months of the date on the refusal letter, is sent by post and must answer the refusal reasons with original evidence. Only one appeal per application is allowed; after that you may file a new application.

Documents

Required documents

Identity

  • Passport valid for at least 12 months after arrival, plus copies of all previous passports

Money

  • Bank statements for the last 6 months (yours and any sponsor’s) showing immediate access to the required funds, plus the Summary of Finances form

Study

  • Letter of acceptance from the college: full-time ILEP course, at least 15 hours of daytime tuition a week, course dates, fees payable and paid, and learner protection
  • Proof of fee payment to the college’s Irish bank account or an approved payment service: full fees if under €6,000, at least €6,000 otherwise
  • Course timetable with the school’s holiday arrangements

Family

  • Civil status documents showing parents, spouse, children and siblings (for example a family register extract where your country issues one)

Insurance

  • Private medical insurance, arranged by you or by the college

Other

  • Signed AVATS summary sheets and two colour photos (name and transaction number on the back)
  • Application letter: why you want to study in Ireland, why this course fits your education or career, dates, family in Ireland or the EU, and your undertaking to respect the conditions
  • Details and original letters of any previous visa refusals

Supporting documents (where they apply)

Study

  • Any evidence of basic English, if the visa officer asks for it

Family

  • For students under 18: birth certificate, notarised consent of both parents and accommodation details with Garda vetting where no parent stays

Frequently asked questions

How much money do I need for a language school visa in Ireland?

€833 for each month of your stay, up to €6,665 for 8 months, plus the course fee paid in full.

Can I work on an English course visa?

Yes, up to 20 hours a week in term time and 40 hours a week during the official holiday periods.

How many English courses can I take?

A maximum of three courses of 8 months of permission each, two years in total. After that you must enrol on a higher education programme.

Do I need IELTS for an English course visa?

No test certificate is required at application for an English course, but the officer may ask for other evidence of basic English.

Official sources

Summarised from the official sources above. Rules, fees and processing times change: confirm with the embassy or the official portal before you apply.

Other visa types for Ireland

Visits and short stays

  • Tourist visa Maximum stay: Up to 90 days; the immigration officer at the border writes the permitted date on the landing stamp and may give less.
  • Family and friends visit visa Maximum stay: Up to 90 days; the immigration officer at the border writes the permitted date on the landing stamp and may give less.
  • Transit visa Maximum stay: No stay: a transit visa only allows passage through an Irish airport or seaport to another country.
  • Medical treatment visa Maximum stay: Up to 90 days; the immigration officer at the border writes the permitted date on the landing stamp and may give less.
  • Culture, sports and events visa Maximum stay: Up to 90 days; the immigration officer at the border writes the permitted date on the landing stamp and may give less.

Business and self-employment

  • Business visa Maximum stay: Up to 90 days; the immigration officer at the border writes the permitted date on the landing stamp and may give less.
  • Entrepreneur and start-up visa Maximum stay: 2 years at first, renewed for 3 years, then in 5-year instalments.

Study and training

  • Student visa Maximum stay: Permission follows the course; the total time on student permission is capped at 7 years (8 years including the graduate stage for level 9 graduates).
  • Researcher visa Maximum stay: As long as the hosting agreement and the registered permission run.
  • Internship and trainee visa Maximum stay: Unpaid: up to 90 days, with no extension. Paid via Internship Employment Permit: up to 12 months. Paid via AWS: up to 12 months.

Work

  • Work visa Maximum stay: Initial permit up to 2 years, renewable for up to 3 more years; after 5 years a permit is generally no longer needed.
  • Skilled worker visa Maximum stay: Issued for 2 years; it is not renewed but replaced by Stamp 4 permission from the Department of Justice.
  • Intra-company transfer visa Maximum stay: Up to 24 months initially, extendable to a maximum stay of 5 years; trainees up to 12 months.
  • Job seeker visa Maximum stay: 12 months for level 8; up to 24 months (12 + 12) for level 9 and above, within the 7-year (level 8) or 8-year (level 9+) limit on student permission.

Family

Residence

  • Retirement visa Maximum stay: Temporary permission renewed on a TPER renewal form while you remain financially independent.
  • Residence permit Maximum stay: The IRP card is valid for the period of the permission granted (for example one academic year on Stamp 2, two years on Stamp 4).
  • Permanent residence Maximum stay: Stamp 4 usually 2 years at a time; Long Term Residency 5 years; Stamp 5 valid until your passport expires.

Protection

  • Asylum and international protection Maximum stay: While the application and any appeal are pending you may stay as an applicant; recognised refugees and subsidiary protection holders receive a residence permission.

Ireland visa guide