Ireland’s Immigration Service Delivery (ISD) has announced bridging permission for English Language course students who have successfully completed a second or third course and subsequently enrolled in a Higher Education Programme commencing by the end of October 2026.
The bridging permission will be a short-term Stamp 2 permission granted until September 30, 2026, from the date of expiry of their current IRP card, on the basis that applicants will be in a position to provide documentary evidence of a confirmed and fully paid Higher Education Programme listed on the Interim List of Eligible Providers (ILEP) commencing September 2026.
Key Information
The Stamp 2 Bridging Permissions will be granted as follows:
- Students who have successfully completed a third English Language course (the maximum allowable) and have enrolled in and paid fees for a Higher Education Programme listed on the ILEP, commencing by end of October 2026, can avail of a bridging permission by applying via ISD’s online portal, provided all other criteria are met.
- Where students have successfully completed a second English Language course on or after July 1, and have enrolled in and paid fees for a Higher Education Programme listed on the Interim List of Eligible Providers (ILEP) commencing by the end of October 2026, they can avail of this bridging permission by applying via ISD’s online portal, provided all other criteria are met.
This bridging permission does not apply to students who have successfully completed a second English Language course prior to July 1, regardless of the date of application. These students have the option to undertake a third English language course and renew a permission on that basis, should they wish to.
Students wishing to avail of this bridging permission must have:
- An in-date Irish Residence Permit (IRP) card or a card that has expired within one month when applying for the bridging permission;
- Successfully completed a third English Language course listed on the ILEP or successfully completed a second English Language course listed on the ILEP on or after July 1;
- Adhered to the conditions attached to their current residence permission;
- Enrolled in and paid fees in full for a Higher Education Programme listed on the ILEP;
- Applied for a renewal (bridging permission) via ISD’s online portal.
Students will be required to:
- Satisfy renewal criteria;
- Provide evidence of their enrolment in a Higher Education Programme listed on the ILEP;
- Provide evidence that the course fees have been paid in full.
Students whose second or third English language course finished on or after July 1, wishing to avail of this bridging permission will be fee-exempt. (Applications made via ISD’s online portal will have the fee refunded when the application is processed).
Students whose third English language course finished prior to July 1, wishing to avail of this bridging permission will pay the standard fee of EUR 300.
Students who avail of this bridging permission will be required to renew their immigration permission prior to the bridging permission expiring on 30 September 2026.
The notice is valid from May 1, 2026, to August 31, 2026, only.
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