Stamp 2 explained

The short answer

• Stamp 2 is the permission for full-time students on a course listed on the ILEP (Interim List of Eligible Programmes).
• You can stay up to 7 years as a student in total. English language courses are limited to 2 years: three permissions of up to 8 months.
• You can work part time: 20 hours a week in term, 40 in the set holiday periods.
• Time on Stamp 2 doesn’t count towards citizenship. After a level 8 award or higher, you can move to Stamp 1G.

Check your time

Enter when your first Stamp 2 started and what you’re studying.

The time limits

After your English language courses, you can only stay on as a student by moving to a higher education programme on the ILEP. If your course is removed from the ILEP while you’re on it, ISD says you can finish it as long as you keep to your conditions.

English language students

• A full-time ILEP course of at least 25 weeks, with at least 15 hours of class a week.
• At least 85% attendance, and an exam at the end of each course. ISD asks for both when you renew.
• Each permission lasts up to 8 months, and you must progress: each new course has an exam at a higher level.
• Holidays can’t be taken before your course starts, and can’t be more than a third of the weeks you’ve studied.

Degree, master’s and PhD students

Your course must be full time and on the ILEP. To renew, you show your exam results and that you’re progressing in your studies, along with your enrolment, fees and insurance.

Registering and renewing

ISD’s required documents include:

• a letter from your college, dated on or after your course started, confirming you’re enrolled on a full-time ILEP course;
• proof of fees paid: in full if your fees are under €6,000, otherwise at least €6,000;
• private medical insurance. Travel insurance works only for your first registration;
• to renew: your IRP card, exam results, and for English courses an attendance letter;
• if you didn’t need a visa, proof of money: €10,000 for courses resulting in a stay over 8 months, or €833 a month (€6,665 in total) for 8 months or less.

Work, money and services

• Work: casual work of up to 20 hours a week in term and 40 in June to September and 15 December to 15 January.
• No business or self-employment.
• No benefits or publicly funded services, such as public hospitals, unless you’re entitled another way.

Stamp 2A is for full-time study not on the ILEP, semesters abroad and private secondary schools. It doesn’t allow any work. Compare them in the stamp cheat-sheet.

After your studies

With an Irish level 8 award or higher, you can apply for Stamp 1G under the Third Level Graduate Programme within 6 months of your result, while your Stamp 2 is still valid.

Common mix-ups

Common questions

Sources