Conditions attaching to being a Full Time Language Non-EEA student
- The course must be listed on the Interim List of Eligible Programmes (ILEP)
- A student on a full-time language course may obtain immigration permission of up to 8 months for that course (prior to a rule change in January 2016 the period was 12 months).
- A student may be granted immigration permission for a maximum of 3 language courses. The total duration of immigration permission for a new student attending language courses is 2 years (i.e. 3 x 8 months). However, where a student had received one or two 12 month permissions under the previous rules they may still obtain apply up to a total of three permissions.
Example: Student received initial Immigration Permission from May 2014 – May 2015 to attend English language course. This was renewed from May 2015-May 2016. In May 2016 the student can receive one further permission of up to 8 months to January 2017. If they wish to stay on as a student after that they must be doing a degree programme.
- A full-time Language Course consists of a minimum of 25 weeks of tuition and a minimum of 15 hours of tuition per week. The minimum number of hours of teaching is therefore 375.
- All tuition must be delivered during the hours 9am-5pm Monday to Friday and involve tuition on at least 3 of those days.
- The minimum level of attendance on the course is 85%.
- The student must take a recognised examination at the end of the course (students who do not comply with this requirement will not be permitted to obtain further immigration permission)
To Register at the Immigration Office and obtain immigration permission and registration card:
- You need a Letter of acceptance from the college, confirming you have been accepted and enrolled on a course of full-time day-time education involving a minimum of 15 hours organised daytime tuition each week between the hours of 9am and 5pm.
- You must have proof that fees have been paid to the college.
- You must have access to €3,000 at first registration. This is in addition to your course fees.
- All students are required to have private medical insurance, either personally or through a group scheme operated by your college, at the time of registration in accordance with the conditions set out below regarding private medical insurance.
- All colleges must provide enrolled learner protection. Your letter of acceptance must clearly demonstrate that you are covered by learner protection arrangements. NB. Where the college’s enrolled learner protection arrangements are through an insurance scheme, each student must have a certificate of proof of enrolled learner protection in their own name demonstrating that they are covered.
- The registration fee is €300
Conditions attaching to Degree Programme Students
The main conditions are:
- The maximum time a student may stay in Ireland for the purpose of attending courses at degree level is limited to seven years;
- The level of course and award must comply with the conditions below
- A Letter of Acceptance from the college, confirming you have been accepted and enrolled on a course of full-time day-time education
- You must have proof that fees have been paid to the college. Where your fees are below €6,000, the full amount of the fees must be paid in advance.
- You must have access to €3,000 at first registration. This is in addition to your course fees.
- All students are required to have private medical insurance, either personally or through a group scheme operated by your college, at time of registration in accordance with the conditions set out below regarding private medical insurance.
Full conditions and requirements are set out in the Guidelines attached below. It is the responsibility of the student to familiarise themselves with these requirements.
A Degree Programme IS DEFINED AS
The Degree Programme refers to full-time, day-time academic courses leading to major awards as outlined below at or above Level 7 of the National Framework of Qualifications (see NFQ “fan diagram” at Appendix 1).
There are six types of major award available in Ireland at these levels:
- NFQ Level 7 = Ordinary Bachelor Degree (3 years duration)
- NFQ Level 8 = Honours Bachelor Degree (3-4 years duration)
- NFQ Level 8 = Higher Diploma (1-year duration)
- NFQ Level 9 = Postgraduate Diploma (1-year duration)
- NFQ Level 9 = Masters Degree (1-2 years duration)
- NFQ Level 10 = Doctoral Degree (approximately 4 years duration)
In that regard Degree programme courses are defined as courses which lead to an award of:
- Ordinary Bachelor Degree
- Honours Bachelor Degree
- Higher Diploma (after completion of an Honours Bachelor Degree)
- Postgraduate Diploma (after completion of an Honours Bachelor Degree)
- Masters Degree
- Doctoral degree
Certain ‘awards’ offered by international universities which satisfy the above definition will also be regarded as Degree Programme courses.
If you are a non-EEA national coming to study in Ireland you must be enrolled in a full-time course on The Interim List of Eligible Programmes (ILEP).
It is not permissible for students who come to Ireland on a Degree Programme course to enrol in a Non Degree or Language Course (Students may be permitted to undertake a foundation language course if required, where this has been arranged in advance and has been clearly stated in any application for a visa or permission to remain).
Students who complete a Degree Programme course cannot then enrol on a Language/Non-Degree Programme Course.
The primary purpose for a student to be in the State is to study. It is not permissible for a student to come to Ireland to undertake a part-time course, or a distance learning course.
Students on Short stay Language Courses
What the student does during their time in Ireland is not of concern to the Department of Justice whether that be playing golf, touring or study.
The students stated reason for travelling to Ireland must be credible and they must have a return plane ticket. The student must obey the laws of the state, not engage in employment and leave at the end of their visit. The student must be able to financially support themselves and be covered by private medical insurance during their stay.
The student who can demonstrate that they have been enrolled on a short term course of fewer than 90 days and have paid their fees in full will be considered to be an educational tourist. The student will be subject to Visit/holiday rules.
The student will not be obliged to register with the Immigration Authorities.
Private Medical Insurance for full-time Non-EEA Students.
All non-EEA students are required to have private medical insurance when coming to and residing in Ireland for the purpose of the study. Private medical insurance should provide cover for accident and/or disease and should cover the student for any period of hospitalisation.
At registration with the immigration authorities, a student is required to have proof of private medical insurance through
- A Group Insurance Scheme operated by their college. The letter of enrolment from the college will be regarded as proof of private medical insurance cover where it indicates o that the student is part of the college group scheme; o that the student has paid the fees associated with the group scheme; and o where it provides a brief outline of the insurance coverage such as the name of the insurance provider, level of coverage etc.
- Where a student is not part of a Group Insurance Scheme operated by their college then they are required to have individual private medical insurance coverage bought in Ireland. Or For newly arrived first-year students in Ireland Travel insurance may suffice where;
- The insurance covers the student for one full year or where the student is staying in Ireland for less than one year for the entirety of their stay;
- The insurance coverage covers the student at a minimum of €25,000 for Accident and €25,000 for Disease;
- The insurance coverage covers the student for any period of hospitalisation; Where a non-EEA student intends to stay in Ireland for more than one year, and where they were covered by travel insurance for the first year, that student is required to source private medical insurance in Ireland for their second and any subsequent years. Second and Subsequent Registration All non-EEA students are required to provide evidence that they are in receipt of private medical insurance sourced in Ireland and that they maintained private medical insurance for the previous registration period at second and subsequent registration. This can be done by way of a letter of renewal for example. A second and subsequent registrations travel insurance will not be regarded as sufficient for the purpose of registration.
- A student who cancels their medical insurance following registration will be in breach of their immigration conditions.
It is the responsibility of the student to provide evidence of medical insurance in English. Where students do not provide evidence of medical insurance in English that student may not be registered by the immigration authorities.
Evidence of Finances for all Non-EEA Students
Students coming to and residing in Ireland is that they must be able to fully support themselves. This requirement applies to the payment of all course fees and all other living and related expenses.
Full-time non-EEA students must demonstrate access to sufficient funds to support themselves during their period of study in Ireland. This is a welfare condition to make sure that a student can support themselves in the initial months of their stay in Ireland. This requirement to demonstrate adequate funding is in line with immigration rules in other jurisdictions and this condition applies to all non EEA students irrespective of whether their nationality requires a visa for the purposes of entering the State.
Currently, students from Visa required countries are required to demonstrate that they have access to €7,000 as part of their Visa application. However, Ireland does not require all non-EEA students to apply for a visa before coming to study long term in Ireland and both categories will be treated differently when they present for registration by the immigration authorities.
Visa required students
Visa required students who obtained a study visa to come to Ireland will no longer be obliged to present evidence of finance, on first registration, on the basis that the appropriate checks on finance have already been undertaken as part of the visa application process.
Non-Visa required students
Students who did not require a visa and who are studying in Ireland can avail of the following options as a means of demonstrating finances ( on first registration) of a minimum level of €3000. Students should make sure, however, that the option selected is available to them. It is the responsibility of the student to make sure that they are entitled to avail of the option they select taking into account the requirements imposed by the bank or financial institution on opening and operating bank accounts in the State.
Options
(A)A statement in respect of an Irish bank account showing sufficient funds, where the student can open an Irish bank account
(b) A current foreign bank statement not less than one-month-old, together with a past statement, for an account in the student’s name (as in his or her passport) accompanied by a debit card in the same name and same bank account
(c) Documentary evidence that money is held in trust for a student by a financial services body regulated in Ireland by the Central Bank of Ireland
(d) A pre-paid credit or debit card(s) with a verification of the amount(s) in credit
Scholarship Students
In addition students in receipt of a scholarship which either part funds or fully funds both their course fees and living costs must provide a letter, issued to them by the relevant organisation confirming they are the recipient of a scholarship.
Outline of fees required by Non – EEA Students.
Non – EEA Students studying for a period of fewer than 6 months require 500 Euros per month of stay whichever is the lesser.
Non- EEA Students studying for a period equal to or greater than 6 months and up to 1 year require 3,000 Euros.
Non – EEA Students studying in Ireland where the second registration takes place at a time exceeding 1 year are generally not required to produce bank accounts at the second or subsequent registrations unless they are requested to do so by the registration official.
In 2010 the general requirement for students to produce bank statements at their second and subsequent registrations was removed.
In general Non-EEA Students studying in Ireland for a period of fewer than 90 days are not required to register with the Immigration Authorities. However, if directed to register such students will be required to demonstrate evidence of finance on the same basis as Non-EEA students studying for a period of fewer than 6 months.
Third Level Graduate Programme – Further Temporary measure in light of the COVID-19 pandemic
Updated 22 February 2021
This applies to the Third Level Graduate Programme (2017 Revision).
In light of the continuing uncertainties caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the following sets out the updated immigration arrangements that apply to all non-EEA persons holding student permission (Stamp 2), who wish to avail of the Third Level Graduate Programme but are unable to report to their local registration office to receive a Stamp 1G because:
- They have returned to their home countries or countries of ordinary residence due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- They cannot secure an appointment due to the impact of COVID-19.
Rather than attending in person, as a further temporary measure applications may be submitted electronically to the Registration Office, Burgh Quay, Dublin (immigrationsupport@justice.ie). All required documentation should be scanned and included in the application.
Where permission has been granted, applicants will still be required to register when they have returned to Ireland or appointments are available.
This temporary measure will be kept under review in light of the restrictions arising from the COVID-19 pandemic and may be amended or withdrawn, in whole or in part, when considered appropriate to do so, but regardless will cease to apply no later than 20 September, 2021.
All other eligibility criteria set out in the 2017 Revision of this Scheme will continue to apply.
Revised Immigration arrangements for the Third Level Graduate Programme
The information below outlines the new immigration arrangements which will apply to all non-EEA persons holding Student Permission (Stamp 2), who wish to avail of the Third Level Graduate Programme from 31 May 2017 onwards. The following is a summary of the conditions associated with the new programme.
Purpose of the 2017 Revised Third Level Graduate Programme?
The intention of the programme is to allow legally resident Irish educated non-EEA graduates holding an award of a recognised Irish awarding body to remain in Ireland after their studies. This should be for the purpose of seeking graduate-level employment and applying for a general employment permit, a critical skills employment permit or a research hosting agreement. The following is a summary of the main provisions of the programme.
In order to qualify graduates:
- Must have been notified in writing by the relevant awarding body or institution on or after 1 January 2017 that they have achieved the award for which they had enrolled as a student.
- Must hold a current Stamp 2 student immigration permission and an up-to-date immigration registration card, and must apply within six months of being notified by the relevant awarding body or institution that they have achieved the award for which they had enrolled as a student.
- Must not have already exceeded the seven-year limit on their permission as a non-EEA national student in the State.
- May, if having previously benefitted from the Third Level Graduate Programme at a level 8 award or above, on achievement of a higher level award, e.g. level 9 or above, re-enter the Third Level Graduate Programme, subject to the overall limit of eight years.
- A graduate will not be permitted to access the Programme on more than two separate occasions, subject to 4) above.
- Must, in line with the obligation on any non-EEA national seeking to renew their permission to be in the State, comply with the laws of the State. Such persons are expected to be of good character and not to have come to the adverse attention of the authorities in any way.
- Must present evidence of the final award being attained by way of parchment or, in circumstances where the graduation ceremony is yet to take place, an official letter for the awarding body/institution confirming that the award has been achieved.
An award granted by a recognised Irish awarding body i.e.
- The seven Irish universities; i.e. Trinity College, UCD, DCU, Maynooth University, UCC, NUIG and the University of Limerick
- Dublin Institute of Technology
- Royal College of Surgeons Ireland
- Institutes of Technology
- Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI)
Persons qualifying for graduate immigration permission of up to twelve months
Graduates with an award at Level 8 on the National Framework of Qualifications will be granted twelve-month permission to a maximum of seven years’ student permission overall. (i.e. time spent on Stamp 2 as a student and on Stamp 1G under this programme cannot exceed an aggregate time of seven years in total).
Persons qualifying for graduate immigration permission of up to twenty-four months
Graduates with an award at Level 9 or above on the National Framework of Qualifications qualify for the Programme will be granted permission for twenty-four months to a maximum of eight years’ student permission overall (i.e. time spent on Stamp 2 as a student and on Stamp 1G under this programme cannot exceed an aggregate time of eight years in total).
- Graduates with an award at Level 9 or above on the National Framework of Qualifications qualify for the Programme will be granted permission for twelve months initially. This will be renewed for a further period of twelve months (subject to the overall eight-year limit) where the graduate satisfies the immigration authorities that he or she has taken appropriate steps to access suitable graduate level employment (e.g. attendance at job interviews, signing up with graduate employment agencies, etc.). The aforementioned policy document sets out additional information, including transitional arrangements to programmes, which will cease to be an eligible basis for granting 1G permission under the revised programme.
Switch from Stamp 2 Student permission to Stamp 1A Trainee Accountant permission as a graduate?
In certain circumstances, this is permitted. Non-EEA graduates, on Stamp 2 or Stamp 2A Student permission who having studied in Ireland complete a qualification (NFQ 7-10) granted by an Irish Authority (overseas accreditation will not be accepted) and who have not exceeded the overall 7-year time limit may transfer to Stamp 1A Trainee Accountant Permission for the balance of the 7-year time limit. To stay beyond the 7 years the graduate would be required to secure alternative immigration permission from that of a Stamp 2 or Stamp2A student or Stamp 1A Trainee Accountant (for example as an employment permit holder).
Switch to work permit employment when I am in Ireland to study?
Permission to work is granted by the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation. Check their website for details on how to obtain a working permit. (Available at dbei.gov.ie).
Post Study Pathways are not available to Language and Non-Degree Programme Students
