---
title: "Ireland English language student visa and Stamp 2 work rights (2026)"
description: "ILEP-listed English courses in Ireland: Stamp 2 hours, 85% attendance, exam rules, the two-year language cap, and why Dublin costs still matter."
site: EnglishHubSA
language: es
canonical: https://www.englishhubsa.com/es/guides/ireland-english-language-student-visa
alternate_en: https://www.englishhubsa.com/en/guides/ireland-english-language-student-visa
---
# Ireland English language student visa and Stamp 2 work rights (2026)

*Visa · Updated 2026-09-11*

> A non-EEA student on an ILEP-listed English language course in Ireland is registered on Stamp 2. Irish Immigration allows 20 hours of work a week in term time and 40 hours in set vacation windows. English-language permission is capped at three programmes of 8 months, two years in total. You must attend at least 85% of classes and sit a recognised end-of-course exam.

![Cape Town coastline with Table Mountain rising behind the city](https://www.englishhubsa.com/assets/hero-cape-town-8w-z6Bs6.jpg)

## Stamp 2 only exists on an ILEP English course

Irish Immigration ties English-language student permission to courses on the Interim List of Eligible Programmes. Stamp 2 is the registration, not a tourist stamp. Visa-required nationals apply for a study visa before travel. Visa-exempt nationals still register with Immigration Service Delivery after arrival. An unlisted cheap course will not support Stamp 2.

## Ireland English student work hours

Stamp 2 allows 20 hours of work a week during term time without an employment permit. Irish Immigration sets full-time 40-hour windows from 1 June to 30 September and from 15 December to 15 January. Study remains the primary purpose. Do not treat Dublin wages as guaranteed rent cover.

## Attendance, exams, and the two-year language cap

English language students must attend at least 85% of classes and sit a recognised exam at the end of the programme. Irish Immigration uses that exam proof for further permission. You may take a maximum of three English programmes of 8 months each, two years in total. After that cap you must progress to an ILEP higher-education programme for more student permission.

## Research checklist before you book Dublin

Search the live ILEP list for the exact school and course code. Get start dates, weekly hours, exam name, and a written fee receipt. Ask how the Dublin language school reports attendance, because 85% is an immigration condition. Price Dublin housing separately; rent is often the item that breaks a language-course budget.

## Cape Town as a cheaper alternative to Dublin

For a 6–12 month English stay, Cape Town is typically 30–45% cheaper all-in than Ireland on EnglishHubSA's destination comparison. Cape Town does not match Ireland's Stamp 2 work concession on a language course. South Africa's study visa needs police clearance and medical-scheme cover, and safety is neighbourhood-specific. Choose Ireland if work hours and an academic pathway matter more than the invoice.

## Frequently asked questions

### How long can I study English in Ireland on Stamp 2?

Irish Immigration allows up to three English language programmes of 8 months, two years in total, if attendance and exam conditions are met.

### Can English language students work 20 hours a week in Ireland?

Yes, on valid Stamp 2 during term time, and 40 hours in the June–September and mid-December to mid-January windows. Confirm on irishimmigration.ie.

### What happens if I skip the end-of-course exam?

Irish Immigration may refuse further permission if you miss the 85% attendance rule or do not sit the recognised exam.

### Where do I confirm the current Ireland rule?

Use Irish Immigration 'Coming to study in Ireland' FAQs and the Student permission page, last updated in 2025–2026, plus the live ILEP list.