Budget scenario
€10,200
6 months, all in
- 25-wk course: €1,200
- Shared room: €600/mo
- Food/transport: €400/mo
The Stamp 2 visa rules, what it really costs, and which schools carry the right to work. No agency spin.
Yes, you can work 20 hours a week while studying English in Ireland, as long as the course runs 25 weeks or more at a school on the ILEP list. During official holidays (Jun to Sep and 15 Dec to 15 Jan) the limit rises to 40 hours.
20 / 40 h
in term / on holidays
25 wks
minimum course (ILEP)
€6,665
proof of funds
€14.15/h
minimum wage 2026
Section 1 · Visa rules
A student taking an English course of 25 weeks or more at a school on the ILEP (Interim List of Eligible Programmes) receives Stamp 2. That stamp, added to your residence card (IRP) after you arrive in Ireland, is what grants the right to work.
Not every course qualifies: the 8-week packages agencies sell do not carry the right. It is the long course (usually the "General English + IELTS" or "General English + Business" package totalling 25 weeks) that opens the door.
| Situation | You can | Details |
|---|---|---|
| During term | 20 h / week | Weekly ceiling (all jobs combined). |
| During official holidays | 40 h / week | June to September · 15 December to 15 January. |
| Minimum course length | 25 weeks | Shorter courses do not grant Stamp 2. |
| Type of school | On the ILEP | Only schools on the official list count. |
| Minimum wage (2026) | €14.15 / h | Applies to all work in Ireland. |
Section 2 · Costs
Figures for a 6-month package in Dublin, including an ILEP course, a shared room, food, public transport and insurance. Currency conversions use live exchange rates.
Budget scenario
€10,200
6 months, all in
Most common
€12,500
6 months, all in
Comfortable
€14,800
6 months, all in
Tool
Build your budget with live exchange rates
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💡 Working 20 h/week at €14.15/h you gross about €1,130/month. That covers accommodation and food in most scenarios and still helps pay for the course.
Section 3 · Proof of funds
Required amount
€6,665
= €833 × 8 months
≈ €833 per month
Irish immigration requires you to hold this amount in an account (yours or a sponsor's) when you register for Stamp 2, once you are already in the country. It is the guarantee that you can support yourself until you start working.
Good to know: the money does not need to sit in an Irish account. A foreign bank statement converted to euros also works, as long as it comes with a certified translation.
Colombians, Peruvians and Venezuelans: the requirement is higher (around €10,500) and a visa is needed before travelling. Brazilians, Argentinians, Chileans and Mexicans enter visa-free and register on arrival.
Section 4 · Cities
Capital
A large international student community and the most jobs, but also the most expensive city. Good if you want intensity and fast networking.
Best value
Ireland's second city, 20 to 25% cheaper than Dublin. An active job market and a strong university scene.
West coast
A small university city with pub and music culture. More English immersion (fewer expats), though the job market is more limited.
Inland
A small city with low costs and few international students. Good for full immersion on a tight budget, with the caveat that school options are fewer.
Section 5 · Step by step
If the school is not on the list, you will not qualify for Stamp 2. Filter by "ILEP" in the marketplace.
You receive the school's acceptance letter, a mandatory document for immigration registration.
Minimum cover required by immigration. Costs between €400 and €800 for 6 months.
Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months after your return. Check before buying.
Bring every document: school letter, insurance certificate, proof of funds, ticket, and your address in Ireland.
Must happen within the first 90 days. Fee: €300. The IRP card arrives in 2–4 weeks.
Apply for a PPS number to be paid legally. Gather references and build an English CV. Bars, cafés and restaurants are the most welcoming employers for newly arrived students.
Section 6 · Comparison
The most searched comparison. Short answer: Ireland wins on the right to work, cost and visa simplicity. Canada can make sense if you want a formal university pathway, but not if your main goal is studying English while working.
| Criterion | 🇮🇪 Ireland | 🇨🇦 Canada |
|---|---|---|
| Work rights with an English course | ✓ Yes, 20h/wk | ✗ No (Co-op only) |
| Cost for 6 months (all in) | €10k–14k | CAD 20k–28k |
| Visa | None in advance for most LatAm passports (register on arrival) | Study Permit in advance · refusals rising since 2024 |
| Proof of funds | ~€6,665 | ~CAD 20,635 (outside Quebec) |
| Time until you can work | 2–4 weeks (after the IRP) | Depends on the Co-op |
"I arrived in Dublin in January and enrolled in the 25-week General English + IELTS. I found a barista job within 3 weeks at €13.50/h before the increase. It covered rent and food, and I still sent money home."
Marina, 24 · Porto Alegre → Dublin · 8 months
Illustrative testimonial based on real accounts. Verified student reviews appear on each school's page.
Next step
We automatically filter ILEP schools with 25+ week courses, the ones that grant Stamp 2. Real prices, verified reviews.
Section 7 · FAQ
These answers ship as FAQ schema (JSON-LD) so they can surface in Google AI Overviews.
It depends on your nationality. Brazilians, Argentinians, Chileans and Mexicans need no visa in advance: enter, then register within the first 90 days and pay the €300 fee. Colombians, Peruvians and Venezuelans must obtain a study visa before travelling.
It depends on your English level. With A2/B1 the most accessible jobs are bars, cafés, restaurants, cleaning, delivery and hospitality. With B2+ you unlock customer service and technical support, at better pay. Average time to a first job: 2–4 weeks in Dublin, 4–8 in smaller cities.
You can renew for another 25-week round (8 months × 2, roughly 16 effective months), with a break between them. The total possible on Stamp 2 is up to 2 years. After that you must switch status (work visa, master's, etc.) or leave.
You pay on average 15 to 30% more for services you can do yourself (school enrolment, insurance, initial accommodation). What an agency genuinely delivers: human support in your language, document guidance and, if it is a good one, a consultant at the destination. Worth it if you want zero friction. If you can organise yourself, booking directly through Lancourse is considerably cheaper.
For basic Stamp 2 jobs it is not required. For qualified careers (engineering, medicine, law) you need QQI recognition, a separate process that can take 3 to 6 months. If your plan is long-term migration, start the recognition before you even travel.
Stamp 2 does not allow dependants. A spouse or child must come on their own visa (tourist, student or an independent work visa). Agencies rarely highlight this point, but it deserves serious thought before you decide.
Sources:
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