Permission to Remain

Permission to Remain

Students from non-EU countries intending on staying in Ireland for over 90 days will need to register for Permission to Remain with the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) in Cork city. The GNIB issue international students with an Irish Residence Permit (IRP).

On arrival at the airport in Ireland you will be asked at the immigration desk what is your reason for entering Ireland and you need to say you are enrolled on an English language programme in Cork and show the immigration official the school letter. The immigration official will see that the school dates are for 8 months and will tell you that you need to go to the immigration office in Cork to get their permission to remain before a certain date (which will be within the 90 days, usually within the first month of your stay).

Immigration Registration

Email Immigration to Request an Appointment:

Make your appointment by emailing your name and date of birth to: [email protected].

Please only send this email while you are in Ireland and not before. You will need time to prepare documents and get a proof of address in Cork before visiting Immigration in Cork.

You must bring the following to your appointment:

  • Passport
  • Fully completed IRP Form (the school will give you a blank form)
  • Appointment confirmation email
  • School letter (the school will give you your original school letter – signed, stamped, printed)
  • Insurance document (either the school or your agency will give you this)
  • Proof of address in Cork. Use one of the following as proof of address in Cork:1. Show your address in Cork on a ”Money Jar” statement/confirmation letter. ”Money Jar” is an online Irish bank. It is very easy to open an account. You can do it at home before you come to Ireland. You just need to download the app and upload your passport .
  • Download the Money Jar app and create an account.
  • Type MEI Language Schools in to ‘’employer ‘’ field and input code 61809.
  • Type your address in Cork into the address field

(You can also use the Money Jar account to show proof of having €3000. You can make an electronic transfer from one account to a Money Jar account. You cannot lodge cash to a Money Jar account).

2. Show your address in Cork using a regular Irish Bank account – not recommended as there is a delay in opening regular bank accounts – about 6 weeks (This may be an option if you cannot electronically transfer 3000€ to an online account and if you have your €3000 in cash – not recommended as opening a regular Irish bank account can take up to 6 weeks).
3. Show your address in Cork  on a tenancy/landlord agreement
4. Show your address in Cork on an official utility bill (electric/gas) addressed to you at the address

  • Proof that you have access to €3,000 at first registration (Only applies to some students)Applies to Non-Embassy application students only: (examples Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Uruguay). You must show you have direct access to €3,000.

    Does not apply to Embassy application students: (examples Colombia, China, Peru, Russia, Turkey, Venezuela). This is because the appropriate checks on finance have already been undertaken as part of the visa application process in your home country by the Irish Embassy. This means you DO NOT need to show €3000 in a bank account on registration with Immigration in Cork.

Show that you have access to €3,000 by one of the following:

  1. Show your €3000 in a ”Money Jar” account. It is very easy to open an account. You can do it at home before you come to Ireland.
    – Download the Money Jar app and create an account.
    – Type MEI Language Schools in to ‘’employer ‘’ field and input code 61809.
    – Type your address in Cork into the address field
  2. Show your €3000 using a regular Irish Bank account.This may be an option if you cannot electronically transfer 3000€ to an online account and if you have your €3000 in cash – not recommended as opening a regular Irish bank account can take up to 6 weeks.
  3. Show your €3000 in a foreign bank account:
    – If you choose this option, you must bring 2 original bank statements from a foreign bank.
    – The first statement must show a balance of €3,000. The statement must less than 1 month old.
    – The second statement must be from the same bank for the past 6 months. It must be no less than 6 months old.
    – Both statements must be for the same account and in your own name, ie the same name as in your passport.
    – You must also show that you have a debit card (for cash withdrawals in Ireland). The debit card must be for the same bank account that has the €3,000.
    – If the student chooses this option and the currency is not in Euro than a printout from a currency converter is required to show the amount in Euro’s on the day of registration.
  4. Show your €3000 on pre-paid credit card or debit card – If you choose this option, you must bring evidence to demonstrate to the registration office that you have a pre-paid credit card(s) or debit card(s) with €3,000.

Opening an Irish Bank Account

  1. Open an Irish Online bank account with ”Money Jar”. ‘Money Jar” is an online Irish bank. It is very easy to open an account. You can do it at home before you come to Ireland. You just need your passport and register at www.moneyjar.ie. (You can also use the Money Jar account to show proof of having €3000. You can make an electronic transfer from one account to a Money Jar account. You cannot lodge cash to a Money Jar account).
  2. Open a regular Irish bank account – currently not recommended as there is a delay in opening regular bank accounts – about 6 weeks. (This may be an option if you cannot electronically transfer 3000€ to an online account and if you have your €3000 in cash. Depending on what bank you visit in Cork you may be asked to show:
  • Original School Letter (signed and stamped)
  • Original Bank Letter (signed and stamped)
  • Medical insurance with address in Cork
  • Passport
  • Irish mobile number

Important Student Responsibility

Students should make sure, however, that the option selected is available to them. It is the responsibility of the student to make sure that they are entitled to avail of the option they select taking into account the requirements imposed by the bank or financial institution on opening and operating bank accounts in the State.

If the Garda/GNIB official is happy with all documents supplied he will grant permission to remain, stamp your passport with a stamp and give you details of how to get your Irish Residence Permit (IRP). The registration will be for 8 months and will be renewable 2 times, up to a maximum of 3 periods. The cost of this per registration is €300.