Irish Residence Permit (IRP) and Stamp 2
Students from outside the European Union (EU) who stay more than 90 days must register with Immigration Service Delivery (ISD), the Irish immigration office. You then get an Irish Residence Permit (IRP) card. It shows you are in Ireland legally.
IrelandIRISH RESIDENCE PERMIT (EXAMPLE)
Example: Stamp 2
Example: Student
Example card. Your own details print on your real card.
What registering means
Registration is how Immigration Service Delivery (ISD) records that you may stay in Ireland. ISD does all first registrations.
Visa or IRP card?
Placed in your passport
Used to travel to Ireland
Plastic card sent in the mail
Shows your Stamp and its end date
Visa, landing stamp and IRP
Your visa gets you to Ireland. Your IRP card lets you stay.
Your three papers
Long stay study visa (D)
Lets you travel to Ireland. It does not promise entry.
Landing stamp
Put in your passport at the airport. It shows how long you may stay until you register.
Irish Residence Permit (IRP) card
Shows your Stamp and that you live in Ireland legally.
Breaking the rules of your Stamp
What you must do
Register within 90 days
Book and attend your first appointment within 90 days of arriving.
Keep studying full time
Stay enrolled on your course on the ILEP.
Keep your insurance
If you stop paying for your insurance after you register, you break the rules of your permission.
Update your address
The law says you must tell ISD when you change your home address.
Renew on time
Renew online before your IRP card expires.
Your Stamps as a student
Each permission has a Stamp number. It tells you what you may do and how long you may stay. Stamp 2 is your student permission; it lets you work part time.
Key time limits
Arrive with your study visa (D visa)
Day 1
Book your appointment
After you arrive
Attend in Dublin
Within 90 days
Get your IRP card
Up to 15 working days
Student permissions
Stamp 2
Permission to study a full-time course on the ILEP, the Interim List of Eligible Programmes (the government's list of courses that can lead to a study visa).
Key Requirements:
- Full-time course on the ILEP (at least 15 hours of daytime teaching a week)
- Fees paid
- Private medical insurance (your own policy, or your college's group plan)
Stamp 1G (for graduates)
Lets graduates of Irish degrees stay to look for work and work up to 40 hours a week without an employment permit.
Key Requirements:
- Proof you finished your university course
- Insurance for accidents, illness and hospital stays
- Apply for Stamp 1G before you leave Ireland
From arrival to IRP card
Arrive with your study visa (D visa)
At the airport, an officer puts a landing stamp in your passport. It shows how long you may stay.
Duration: Day 1
Book your appointment
Log in to your ISD Customer Service account and book. You cannot book before you arrive.
Duration: After you arrive
Attend in Dublin
Bring your papers to the Registration Office at 13-14 Burgh Quay, Dublin 2.
Duration: Within 90 days
Get your IRP card
Your card comes in the mail.
Duration: Up to 15 working days
How to register and renew
First registration is in person in Dublin. Renewals are online only.
First registration
Get your study visa
Your visa lets you travel to Ireland.
Apply on AVATS (the online visa application form) from India or Pakistan.
Get your landing stamp
The stamp shows how long you may stay until you register.
Show your passport, visa and papers to the immigration officer.
Book your appointment
Only after you arrive in Ireland.
Book on your ISD Customer Service account. Booking is free.
Attend and pay
At 13-14 Burgh Quay, Dublin 2.
Papers checked, photo and fingerprints taken, EUR 300 fee paid by card.
Receive your IRP card
Keep it with you as proof you live in Ireland legally.
Sent to your address by mail.
Renewing your Stamp 2 each year
Wait for your course year to start
Students can apply only after their course starts, and from 12 weeks before expiry.
Apply online from Ireland
Upload your papers on the ISD renewals portal. Renewals need private medical insurance; travel insurance is not enough.
Get your new card
You get an email when your renewal is done. Your new card comes in the mail.
After you graduate
| From Status | To Status | Requirements | Processing Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stamp 2 | Stamp 1G | Finished an Irish degree at level 8 (a bachelor's with honours) or above on the NFQ, Ireland's 10-level scale | Apply online before your Stamp 2 ends | Look for work and work full time; no business or self-employment |
Papers for your first Stamp 2 registration
For a bachelor's or master's student registering for the first time.
Stamp 2: first registration
Passport
With your study visa and your landing stamp.
College letter
Dated on or after your course start date. It confirms you are enrolled full time on a course on the ILEP.
Proof of fee payment
If your course fee is more than EUR 6,000, pay at least EUR 6,000 before you register. If it is less than EUR 6,000, pay all of it.
Medical insurance
Your own policy: the original, in your name, with hospital cover, for 12 months or your whole stay. A college group plan: your college letter shows it.
Proof of address
Your address in Ireland.
Scholarship proof
Only if you have a scholarship.
Stamp 1G: moving from Stamp 2
Passport
The photo page of your passport.
IRP card
Front and back of your IRP card.
Proof you finished
Proof you finished your Irish bachelor's or master's course.
Medical insurance
Cover for accidents, illness and hospital stays.
How long each step takes
Times for each step.
Registration steps
Book
Book your first appointment.
Key Activities:
- Log in to the ISD Customer Service account
- Booking is free
Attend
Go to the Registration Office at 13-14 Burgh Quay, Dublin 2.
Key Activities:
- Check in at the kiosk for a ticket
- Papers checked
- Photo and fingerprints taken
- Fee paid by card
Receive
Your IRP card comes in the mail.
Key Activities:
- Your passport is stamped at the appointment
- Card posted to your address
What slows things down
Missing papers
Registration is not done without all required papers.
Wrong fee choice
Choosing 'fee waived' (no fee) when you must pay means ISD says no to your registration.
Late extra papers
When ISD asks for more papers on a renewal, you have 14 days to upload them.
Time limits
Fastest Cases
Typical Cases
Keeping your permission valid
Your Stamp 2 comes with rules. Follow them to keep renewing.
Good habits
Keep your passport valid
Your permission may only run to your passport's expiry date.
Give ISD your new passport details through the Customer Service Portal.
Report a new address
Tell ISD through the Customer Service Portal.
Send proof of the new address, such as a bill or rent agreement from the last 3 months.
Keep your insurance
You must keep your private medical insurance to keep your Stamp 2.
From your second year, travel insurance is not enough.
Common mistakes
Plan ahead
Most problems come from missed dates. Put each date in your phone calendar.
Irish Residence Permit questions
Short answers about your Irish Residence Permit (IRP) card.
Frequently Asked Questions
Helpful pages
Need more help?
For your own case, contact ISD through its Customer Service Portal (its online help page).
Emergency numbers
In an emergency, call 112 or 999.
- Emergency (police, ambulance, fire): 112 or 999, free from any phone
Complete Guide to Ireland
Explore all aspects of studying in Ireland with our comprehensive guides
Post-Arrival - Detailed Guides
Ready to Start Your Journey?
Get personalized guidance for studying in Ireland with our expert consultants
Get Free ConsultationNeed help with your Irish Residence Permit?
We help you get your registration papers ready before your appointment in Dublin.
Talk to an Advisor