Document Checklist
Ireland Student Visa (Stamp 2) Document Checklist (2026)
Ireland's Stamp 2 isn't actually the visa itself — it's the immigration permission stamped onto your Irish Residence Permit after you arrive and register. The visa you apply for beforehand is the D Study Visa, submitted online through AVATS, and it's decided almost entirely on whether your course, your funding, and your paperwork line up exactly. Gather these before booking your appointment, and confirm every euro figure against Immigration Service Delivery (ISD) directly, since financial thresholds are reviewed periodically.
Course and admission
- Letter of Acceptance (LOA)Must be unconditional, not a conditional offer, for a full-time course of at least one year that appears on the Interim List of Eligible Programmes (ILEP), and must cover at least 15 hours of daytime study per week.
- Academic transcripts and certificatesCovering your prior qualifications, consistent in name and dates with your passport and application form.
- English test scores (if required)Minimums vary by institution; many set an IELTS 6.0 overall benchmark or equivalent, but confirm your specific program's requirement rather than assuming a standard figure.
Financial requirement
- Evidence of €10,000 for living costsThe commonly cited living-cost figure for your first academic year, with evidence of access to the same amount for each subsequent year of a multi-year course. Confirm the current figure with ISD, as it's reviewed periodically.
- Tuition payment proofMost programs require at least €6,000 paid toward tuition upfront (or your institution's minimum deposit) before the visa application — official receipts, bank transfer confirmations, or an institutional acknowledgement letter are accepted.
- Source-of-funds documentationBank statements, a scholarship letter, or — if a parent or relative is sponsoring you — documentation of the relationship plus the sponsor's own financial standing.
Identity and application
- Valid passportWith enough validity to cover your intended course length, submitted alongside your online AVATS application summary.
- Passport photosMeeting the current Irish visa photo specification.
- Signed statement of intentA letter explaining your study plan and your commitment to leave Ireland when your permission expires — this directly supports the "genuine student" assessment ISD applies to every application.
- Biometrics (where required)Applicants from some nationalities must provide fingerprints and a photo at a VFS Global centre as part of the process — check whether this applies to your nationality before booking travel.
Health insurance
- Private medical insuranceCovering at least €25,000 for both accident and disease is a commonly cited minimum — confirm the exact figure and acceptable providers with ISD or your institution's international office.
After arrival: registering Stamp 2
- IRP registration appointmentBook this as early as possible after arrival — Stamp 2 is the permission added to your Irish Residence Permit card once you register, not something issued before you travel.
- Updated proof of funds at registrationImmigration officers may re-check your financial evidence at registration, so keep your bank statements and insurance documents current rather than assuming the visa-stage paperwork alone is sufficient.
Tips
- Start gathering your financial evidence months ahead — tuition deposits and sponsor documentation can take weeks to assemble correctly, and your application can't be submitted until your LOA is unconditional.
- Match your name and dates exactly across your passport, LOA, and financial documents — small mismatches are one of the most common, avoidable reasons for extra scrutiny.
- If you're finishing an English-language course and starting a degree program, check whether the ISD's temporary Bridging Permission (announced for 2026) applies to your transition before assuming you need to leave and re-enter.
- On Stamp 2, you can generally work up to 20 hours a week during term and up to 40 hours during the summer and winter holiday periods — confirm the current limit with ISD rather than relying on older guidance.
- Keep physical copies of every document — Irish registration offices still often expect originals at in-person appointments, not just digital copies.
Requirements change — always confirm the current list with the official source before you submit.
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