The Immigration Service Delivery have announced that English language students who have successfully finished their second or third English language course and who have enrolled on a Higher Education Programme commencing by the end of October 2025, will be granted a short-term Stamp 2 Bridging Permission until the 30th of September 2025.

The Bridging permission will be granted to the following circumstances:

  1. Student’s who have successfully finished a third English language course, satisfying all usual criteria and have enrolled in and paid fees for a course listed on the Interim List of Eligible Providers (ILEP) which is commencing before the end of October 2025.  Applications are submitted via the ISD online permission to remain portal.
  2. Students who have successfully finished a second English language course on or after the 1st of July, who have enrolled in and paid fees for a course listed on the ILEP commencing before the end of October 2025 can also apply for the Bridging Permission via the ISD online portal.  Students who have completed their second English language course prior to the 1st of July 2025 cannot avail of the Bridging Permission and must complete a third English language course, renewing their permission to remain on foot of same.

All students applying for the Bridging Permission must:

  1. Hold an in-date IRP card or a card that has expired within 1 month of applying for the Bridging Permission.
  2. Have successfully completed their third English language course or second English language course when completed after the 1st of July.
  3. Adhered to the conditions attached to their permission to remain.
  4. Have enrolled in and paid fees in a Higher Education Programme listed on the ILEP.
  5. Applied for a Bridging Permission via the ISD portal.

Evidence of acceptance on a Higher Education Programme listed on the ILEP and evidence of full payment of course fees will be required.

The ISD notice regarding Bridging Permissions is valid from the 1st of May 2025 to the 31st of August 2025 and can be read in full here. 

Non-EEA Student Finances Update

From the 30th of June 2025 the minimum finances which non-visa required nationals will need to show in order to be granted permission to reside in the State as students will increase as follows:

  1. €10,000 for courses resulting in residence greater than 8 months.
  2. €833 per month or €6,665 (in total) for courses resulting in residence resulting in 8 month or less.

Until the 30th of June 2025, the previous €7,000 for courses resulting in residence greater than 8 months or €585 per month/€4,680 (in total) for courses resulting in residence of 8 months or less, will be applicable.

The changes to financial thresholds for non-visa required students will now align with the threshold applied to visa required nationals however non-visa required nationals must also continue to demonstrate, in addition to the above criteria that they have ready access to at least €10,000 for each subsequent year of studies in addition to course fees for each of those years.  Non-visa required nationals are not requested to demonstrate these additional finances.

Information on student finances as published on the Immigration Service Delivery website is available to read here.

Sinnott Solicitors Dublin and Cork have a dedicated team of Immigration Solicitors and Consultants who are experts on all Irish visas including student visas and student immigration permissions.  If you have any queries on the contents of this article, or require assistance, do not hesitate to contact our offices today on info@sinnott.ie or 014062862.