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By Olami, AbroadPilot · Reviewed September 2026
Quick summary: Ireland’s requirement scales with your course length rather than a single flat figure: €10,000 for a course of a year or longer, or €833 per month (capped at €6,665) for courses of 6–8 months. Confirmed directly against Citizens Information, Ireland’s state-backed information service.
The published figures
| Course length | Funds you must show |
|---|---|
| 6 months | €4,998 (€833/month) |
| 8 months | €6,665 (€833/month) |
| 1 year or longer | €10,000 for each year of study, on top of course fees |
This figure covers living costs only — it’s separate from and in addition to your course fees, which must also be shown as paid in full or evidenced as payable.
What actually counts as proof
- Cash or readily accessible funds reserved specifically for your stay — property, gold, and investments are not accepted as direct proof of living costs.
- A qualifying education bond is also accepted as an alternative to a cash balance.
- Funds can be yours or a sponsor’s, but must be clearly evidenced and accessible.
- Private medical insurance is a separate, additional requirement — not covered by the living-cost figure above.
Visa fees, while you’re budgeting
| Visa type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Single-journey visa | €60 |
| Multiple-journey visa | €100 |
Some nationalities and categories are fee-exempt (for example, non-EU spouses of EU citizens) — check with your local Irish embassy or the Visa Office if you think you qualify.
What this means practically
- Ireland’s tiered-by-duration structure means a shorter course genuinely requires less proof of funds — don’t assume the €10,000 figure applies if your course is under a year.
- You must also be enrolled in a course on the Interim List of Eligible Programmes (ILEP) — a non-ILEP course changes your visa route and work rights entirely.
- Students on ILEP courses can work up to 20 hours/week in term time, up to 40 hours/week during set vacation periods (June–September, and 15 December–15 January) — this doesn’t change your proof-of-funds requirement but is worth knowing when budgeting.
Frequently asked questions
Is €10,000 the total I need, or per year?
Per year. For a course lasting a year or longer, you need to evidence access to €10,000 for each subsequent year of study, in addition to that year’s course fees — not a one-time total.
Can family assets like property count toward the requirement?
No. Immigration officers require cash or readily accessible funds reserved for your stay, or a qualifying education bond. Property, gold, and investments are explicitly not accepted as direct proof.
Does the proof-of-funds figure include my course fees?
No, it’s separate. You must show the living-cost figure (€10,000/year or the shorter-course tiers) on top of evidence that your course fees are paid in full or payable.
Free tools for this
- Budget Breakdown by Destination — keep locked figures separate from your own estimates
- Proof of Funds Calculator — the UK, Canada, US, Australia, and Germany figures in one place
Official sources
Checked directly against the official source as of September 2026:
- Citizens Information — Student visas to study in Ireland (page last edited 23 June 2026)
Proof-of-funds figures and visa fees can change without much notice. Re-check the live page above before finalizing any budget or application based on this article.
Explore more on our Proof of Funds Requirements by Country hub.
