How to study in Ireland

Compare each route by stay and permit, work rights, cost and who it suits. Sources are under each r⁠o⁠w⁠.

How do you get the⁠r⁠e⁠?

Choose a different route, and the permit you need chang⁠e⁠s⁠.

Study an English cou⁠r⁠s⁠e

Who it suits

For people who want to enrol on an English course and study proper⁠l⁠y⁠.

Length and permit

Beyond 90 days you register after arrival

If you stay longer than three months (⁠9⁠0⁠ ⁠d⁠a⁠y⁠s⁠) you must register with the Immigration Office after arrival. For registration you provide, among other documents, a letter from your school confirming enrolment on a full-⁠time English language course of at least 25 weeks that is listed on the IL⁠E⁠P⁠.

Can you work?

20 hours a week in term time and 40 in holidays

You can work up to 20 hours a week in term time and up to 40 hours a week from June to September and from 15 December to 15 January (students on full-⁠time programmes listed on the ILE⁠P⁠)⁠.

Source: Irish Immigration: Required documents for first-⁠time registrationIrish Immigration: Frequently asked questions for studentsDepartment of Foreign Affairs (Ireland): Visas for Ireland

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Working holi⁠d⁠a⁠y

Who it suits

For people who meet the age rule and want a longer st⁠a⁠y⁠.

Length and permit

Ages 18 to 30, up to 1 year

Japanese citizens aged 18 to 30 at the time of application (inclusive) are eligible. It is a scheme between the Irish and Japanese governments for a stay of up to one year from the date of ent⁠r⁠y⁠.

Cost

Savings of JPY 500,000 or more

The application fee is JPY 17,300 (subject to change without notice). You show savings of at least JPY 500,000 to cover costs during the initial st⁠a⁠y⁠.

Source: Government of Ireland: How to make a Working Holiday applicationIrish Immigration: Working holidays in Ireland

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Visit first as a tour⁠i⁠s⁠t

Who it suits

For people who want to see the place before choosing a scho⁠o⁠l⁠.

Length and permit

Days allowed are set by the arrival stamp

Japan appears in the government's list of non visa required nationalities. The stamp placed in your passport on arrival shows how long you may stay, and if you stay longer than three months (⁠9⁠0⁠ ⁠d⁠a⁠y⁠s⁠) you must register after arriv⁠a⁠l⁠.

Source: Government of Ireland: List of visa required and non visa required nationalities (⁠M⁠a⁠y⁠ ⁠2⁠0⁠2⁠5⁠)Department of Foreign Affairs (Ireland): Visas for Ireland

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Back to Study in Ireland See study abroad info for Ireland

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work while studyi⁠n⁠g⁠?

Yes. You can work up to 20 hours a week in term time and up to 40 hours a week during June to September and from 15 December to 15 January. This applies to students on full-⁠time programmes listed on the IL⁠E⁠P⁠.

Can Japanese citizens use the working holiday program⁠m⁠e⁠?

Yes. Japan is an eligible country and you must be aged 18 to 30 inclusive at the time of application. You can stay up to one year from the date of entry; the application fee is JPY 17,300 and you show savings of at least JPY 500,000 for the initial st⁠a⁠y⁠.