Study in Ireland from Nepal: €10,000 Funds, Stamp 2 and 1G

To study in Ireland from Nepal on a course of 8 months or more, you apply online for a long stay “D” study visa and must show immediate access to at least €10,000 for living costs, plus proof that you have paid your course fees (in full if under €6,000, or at least €6,000 if higher). Once in Ireland you register for an Irish Residence Permit (€300), can work 20 hours a week in term and 40 in holidays on Stamp 2, and may get 12 or 24 months on Stamp 1G after a level 8 or level 9 degree.

Last checked: 20 October 2026. Amounts are in euros; we have not converted them to rupees because we did not have an official NRB euro rate for this date.

Study in Ireland from Nepal: key facts

How much money you need: the €10,000 rule

Nepali citizens need a visa to enter Ireland. ISD’s student finances guidance says that for courses of 8 months or more starting after 1 July 2023, visa-required students must show immediate access to at least €10,000 for the first year. For each later year you, or your sponsors, must show ready access to another €10,000, plus that year’s course fees.

This €10,000 is for living costs only. It is separate from your tuition, which you pay before applying.

How to show the money

Ireland is strict about how bank evidence looks. ISD asks for:

• An up-to-date bank statement covering the last six months, showing money in and out, on bank headed paper.
• Internet printouts only if every page is stamped by the bank and a bank letter confirms they are genuine.
• Your name, address, account number and account type visible. No handwritten entries.
• A full explanation for large or irregular deposits, such as loans or sale proceeds.
• For a fixed or savings account, a bank letter confirming you can withdraw the money.
• Credit cards are not accepted.

If parents or relatives are sponsoring you, ISD wants each sponsor listed with proof of the relationship (for example a birth certificate), evidence of their income such as an employer letter and three recent payslips or business registration, and their own six-month bank statement. They must also show they can support themselves and their other family members. Our guide to sponsor documents for study abroad from Nepal walks through these papers.

For degree students (NFQ levels 7 to 10) there is also a pilot that allows an education bond of at least €10,000 instead of bank statements. The bond must be held from the visa application until you register in Ireland. ISD is not a party to the bond contract, so read the provider’s terms carefully.

Step by step: Irish study visa from Nepal

1. Get a letter of acceptance from an Irish college for a full-time course.
2. Pay your fees. If the course costs less than €6,000, pay it in full; if more, pay at least €6,000 before you apply, as ISD’s long-term study visa page requires.
3. Arrange private medical insurance. ISD says it is required; your college may arrange it, in which case the acceptance letter must give the details.
4. Prepare your funds evidence and ISD’s financial summary form.
5. Apply online through AVATS, the Irish visa application system, and follow the instructions on your application summary about where to send your documents and give biometrics.
6. Pay the visa fee (€60 single entry or €100 multi entry).
7. Wait for a decision, which ISD says is approximately 8 weeks from receipt.

Documents ISD lists

• Passport and passport photographs
• Signed application letter
• Letter of acceptance from the college
• Proof of fee payment
• Private medical insurance
• Evidence of academic ability
• Evidence of English language ability
• Finances and the summary of finances
• Explanation of any gaps in your education history
• Details of any previous visa refusals, from any country

If you have a gap year, explain it clearly with evidence. Disclose every past refusal honestly; hiding one is far worse than the refusal itself.

After you arrive: IRP registration

Anyone from outside the EU, UK and Switzerland staying more than 90 days must register with ISD. ISD says you must register within 90 days of being granted permission to stay, and its student FAQ confirms the registration fee is €300. After successful registration you receive an Irish Residence Permit (IRP) card by post. It is your proof that you are legally in the State, so keep it safe and renew it on time.

Stamp 2: working while you study

Full-time students are registered on Stamp 2. According to ISD’s FAQ for students:

• You can work up to 20 hours a week during term time.
• During June, July, August and September, and from 15 December to 15 January, you can work up to 40 hours a week.
• English language students must sit a recognised exam at the end of their programme.

To see what those hours are worth in pay, read our guide to the Ireland minimum wage for students. Also read our part-time work rules comparison to see how Ireland compares with the UK, Canada and Australia.

Stamp 1G: the Third Level Graduate Programme

After graduating, Irish-educated non-EEA graduates can stay to look for work under the Third Level Graduate Programme:

• Level 8 (honours bachelor’s) graduates can get a 12-month extension on Stamp 1G.
• Level 9 and above (master’s and higher) graduates may get up to 24 months, in two blocks of 12 months.
• Stamp 1G is for seeking graduate-level employment and applying for an employment permit. ISD expects you or your employer to get an employment permit before Stamp 1G ends.
• Your total time as a student is capped: seven years in general, and up to eight years in total for level 9 graduates using the programme.

English language courses have their own limit: ISD says new English language students get a maximum of two years of permission in total, after which they need to move to a higher education programme.

Common mistakes Nepali applicants make

• Submitting short or online bank statements without bank stamps.
• Large last-minute deposits with no explanation.
• Paying less than the required tuition before applying.
• Not mentioning a past refusal for another country.
• Choosing a level 7 course while expecting the Stamp 1G route, which ISD describes for level 8 and level 9 awards.

Frequently asked questions

How much bank balance is required for an Ireland student visa from Nepal?
Immediate access to at least €10,000 for living costs for a course of 8 months or more, shown in a six-month bank statement, plus proof that you have paid your fees.

How much tuition do I have to pay before applying for an Irish study visa?
All of it if the fee is under €6,000; at least €6,000 if the fee is higher.

How many hours can students work in Ireland?
Up to 20 hours a week in term, and up to 40 hours a week in June to September and from 15 December to 15 January.

What is Stamp 1G in Ireland?
Permission under the Third Level Graduate Programme: 12 months after a level 8 award, or up to 24 months after level 9 or above, to look for a job and get an employment permit.

How much is the IRP fee in Ireland?
€300, paid when you register within 90 days of arriving.

Your next step

Compare Ireland with other destinations · Study in the UK from Nepal · Build your free study plan

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• Student Visa Checklist by Country: USA, Canada, UK, Australia
• Choose a Course and University Abroad: 15-Point Checklist

Sources

• How to apply for a long-term study visa – Irish Immigration Service Delivery
• Information on student finances – Irish Immigration Service Delivery
• Frequently asked questions for students – Irish Immigration Service Delivery
• Visa fees – Irish Immigration Service Delivery
• Registering your immigration permission for the first time – Irish Immigration Service Delivery

Last checked 20 October 2026. This is general information, not immigration or financial advice. Check irishimmigration.ie before you apply or pay.