Skip to content
GoStudy

Guides

Proof of funds for Stamp 2 English in Ireland: how much and when

If you've searched this already, you've probably seen three or four different numbers. Most of them are old. Here's what ISD, Ireland's immigration service, says today, in plain words: how much you need to show, when you show it, and what a bank statement needs to look like so it doesn't slow you down.

This is general information, not immigration advice. Rules can change, so check irishimmigration.ie before you travel. Checked against ISD's pages on 2 November 2026.

The short answer

For a typical 25-week English course, your permission is for 8 months or less. In that case ISD asks for direct access to "€833 per month or €6,665 (in total)".

If your course would give you residence of more than 8 months, the figure is €10,000.

Those are the only two numbers you need. Anything else you see online, including older figures, isn't what ISD's pages say today. And please don't convert them into your own currency for planning: what counts is the euro amount on ISD's page.

Source: ISD Required Documents, Stamp 2 "Proof of financial support".

When you show it depends on your passport

If you don't need a visa to come to Ireland (Brazil, Mexico, Argentina and Chile, for example, according to Citizens Information), ISD says you must prove you can support yourself after you arrive, "by showing at the time of arrival in the state you had direct access to" the amounts above. ISD's FAQ adds that you'll be asked for this proof at the time of registration, which for your first permission means your appointment at the Burgh Quay Registration Office in Dublin, booked after you arrive. Our first IRP at Burgh Quay guide walks you through that day.

Not sure about your own passport? Check ISD's visa and non-visa required nationalities list for your nationality before you book anything.

If you need a visa to come to Ireland, your money is checked during the visa application instead. For a standard English course (permission of up to 8 months), ISD's Student Finances page asks for €833 per month of your stay or €6,665, "whichever is the lesser". For longer courses starting after 1 July 2023, it's at least €10,000 for each academic year. ISD also says: "If you need a visa to come to Ireland, you do not need proof of finance after you arrive here."

What counts as evidence

ISD's Information on Student Finances page sets out what your bank documents need to show. In short:

  • An up-to-date bank statement showing money paid in and out over the last six months. ISD says you must submit this "whether you are covering the costs of your studies yourself or not".
  • Statements must be on headed paper. If you only have internet printouts, ISD accepts them once every page has been notarised by the bank and they come with a letter from the bank confirming they're genuine.
  • Your name, address, account number and account type must be visible.
  • No handwritten entries or details on the statement.
  • If it's a savings or deposit account, add a letter from your bank confirming you can take money out of it.

The Required Documents page says the evidence rules for non-visa students are the same ones listed for visa students, so this checklist applies to you either way.

What about a credit or debit card?

Show your funds with bank statements in your own name. Immigration Service Delivery's Student Finances page says credit cards are not accepted as evidence of finances, so don't rely on a card. If you're unsure, check with ISD before you apply.

Bank statement mistakes that slow down your first IRP

None of these are rare, and all of them are easy to fix before you fly:

  • A big deposit with no explanation. ISD says "any large or irregular lodgements" (it gives examples like student loans or the sale of a property) "must be fully explained". If a large amount landed recently, have the paperwork that shows where it came from.
  • A statement without your name or account type on it. App screenshots often leave these out.
  • A savings account with no bank letter. The letter confirming you can withdraw is part of the evidence, not an extra.
  • Family paying, but not shown as a sponsor. See the next section.

Family helping you? How sponsors work

If a family member or friend is covering some or all of your costs, ISD asks you to:

  • list each person sponsoring you and explain their relationship to you;
  • show evidence of the link, for example a birth or marriage certificate;
  • give clear details of the support each sponsor intends to give for your stay, showing the money is available and that they can still support themselves and their family (ISD mentions, for example, an employer letter plus 3 recent payslips);
  • include an up-to-date six-month bank statement for each sponsor, following the same rules as yours.

ISD's FAQ also covers students whose college pays their costs through a scholarship: in that case it asks for a letter from the college saying so. If you're paying for your English course yourself or with family help, the sections above are the ones that apply to you.

Don't forget the course fees rule

This is separate from your living money. At registration ISD asks English-language students for "Proof you have paid college/school fees." Ask your school for a fee receipt, and check your Letter of Enrolment shows what you've paid. There's also a €300 registration fee, paid by credit or debit card only. Check ISD's Required Documents page for any exemptions. Our guide to comparing schools covers what to ask for in the fee pack, and you'll also need private medical insurance at registration.

The minimum isn't a budget

The proof of funds amount is a rule you have to meet, not an estimate of what your life will cost. Rent and day-to-day costs vary a lot by city, so it's worth planning past the minimum. Our Dublin vs Limerick living costs guide is a good place to start, and you can browse schools in Dublin or Limerick.

Choosing your school

On GoStudy's school list you can filter Stamp 2 English schools by city, then put your shortlist side by side on Compare. Your course must be an eligible programme: check that it is on the official ILEP list (ISD's criteria also allow eligible programmes from TrustEd-authorised providers). TrustEd is also a useful quality check. Then ask for the full fee pack in writing so you know exactly what you'll pay before you register. GoStudy may earn a commission from some partner schools.

Compare Stamp 2-eligible English schools side by side →

Not immigration advice. Always confirm the current rules on irishimmigration.ie before you travel or pay.

Sources