Relocation Information

Information for non-EU students who need to formalize their stay in Cork for Stamp 2 Immigration purposes.

Moving to a new country is exciting but can also feel overwhelming. This information is here to help make your transition to life in Cork as smooth as possible. Discover key tips on immigration registration, navigating public transport, and understanding Cork’s weather so you can be prepared from day one. Start your journey with confidence!

At the Airport	IRP Card Application
Show Proof of Funds (€4680)	How to Open an Irish Bank Account
Renewal IRP Card Application	Leap Card /Student bus ticket)
Apply for a Job (PPS Number)	Your New Life in Cork

Course Requirements

Attendance Guidelines	Final Exam
Holiday Requests	School Closure Dates

On Arriving to Ireland

On first arrival to the airport in Ireland you will present the following documents to the airport Immigration Officer:

1. Official School Letter
2. Medical Insurance Policy

On seeing these documents the Immigration Officer you meet at the airport will give you a specific landing stamp (a stamp showing your intention is to study in Ireland as apposed to being a tourist).

Having this specific landing stamp in your passport will allow you do the following from the day you arrive in Ireland:

1. Request an Immigration meeting where you will later during your stay get your physical IRP / Immigration card (stamp 2 student visa)
2. Apply for a PPS number (official number for work purposes). You can do this before you get your physical IRP card. You can do this once you have your specific landing stamp.
3. Apply for an Irish bank account. This in general is not mandatory but in some rare cases an employer might request specific AIB or BOI Irish bank details to make payments to you.

You do not need to wait until you have a physical IRP / Immigration card to apply for a PPS or Irish Bank Account. Having the specific landing stamp in you passport is enough. The stamp showing your intention is to study in Ireland as apposed to being a tourist.

All students registered on a Work and Study Stamp 2/Visa related course need to apply for an IRP card while here in Ireland.

Applying for your IRP card – First time registrations

First time registrations for applicants residing in Cork will be required to register their immigration permission at the Registration Office located at 13-14 Burgh Quay, Dublin 2.
Appointments for first time registration can be made using the new online Immigraiton Registration Platform: Digital Contact Centre (DCC)
Create an account at Digital Contact Centre (DCC). Once you have registered, you can make registration appointments, ask questions, request changes to your personal details, and check your application progress all in one place. To create an account you will need your email address, mobile number and an Identification Document.
If you are having issues with the DCC platform please email : [email protected] OR [email protected]
Applications for first time immigration residence permission registration must be made within 90 days following arrival of the person in the State.
You will receive your appointment date and time by email.
In that email you will also be asked to fill in your address in Cork to a document. This is important as this is the address your IRP card will eventually be posted to.

You must bring the following to your appointment in Dublin:

The biometric page of your current valid passport. This is the page that shows your photograph, passport number and date of birth.
A letter from your school dated on or after the date your course commenced, confirming your enrolment as a student on a full time English language course, for a minimum of 25 weeks and listed on the ILEP.
The school will give you a hardcopy of your school letter at the school reception desk – This letter will be signed, stamped and printed for you). Do not print the electronic version yourself. You will need to get the school letter from reception – signed, stamped and printed)
Proof you have paid college/school fees.
Private Medical Insurance with medical cover for accidents and medical incident including hospital stays in Ireland, valid for 12 months, or if less than 12 months for the duration of your stay(either the school or your agency will give you this).
Proof of having €4680
Immigration will charge you €300 for your IRP card (this must be paid by card and cannot be paid by cash)
Full List of Required Documents

Your IRP Card will be posted to your address in Cork.

How to Show Proof of Having €4680 (€6665 from June 30th 2025)

You need to show Immigration that you have access to €4,680 (€6665 from June 30th 2025) at first registration (Only applies to some students)

This applies to Non-Embassy application students only: (examples Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Uruguay). You must show you have direct access to €4680 (€6665 from June 30th 2025).
This does not apply to Embassy application students: (examples Colombia, China, Morocco, Peru, , 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 €4680 in a bank account on registration with Immigration in Cork.

Show that you have access to €4680 (€6665 from June 30th 2025) by one of the following:

Full List of Financial Requirements

Show your €4680 (€6665 from June 30th 2025) in a foreign bank account (your account at home for example or a parents 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 €4680 (€6665 from June 30th 2025). 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 the same name ( ie the same name as in your passport, or your parents).
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 €4680 (€6665 from June 30th 2025).
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.

2. Show your €4680 (€6665 from June 30th 2025) using an Online/Digital Bank Account

Check out Revolut or Money Jar. Both have Irish IBANs.
This is a good option if you can electronically transfer funds from one account to another.

3.Show your €4,680 (€6665 from June 30th 2025) 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 €4680 (€6665 from June 30th 2025).

4. Show your €4680 (€6665 from June 30th 2025) using a regular Irish Bank Account (AIB for example)

How to Open an Irish Bank Account

Consider a Digital Account

Both Revolut or Money Jar now have Irish IBANs starting with IE (for some employers in Ireland this is important).
You can use this digital account to show proof of having €4680 (€6665 from June 30th 2025) if you like. You can make an electronic transfer from one account to this new digital account.
You cannot lodge cash to these accounts. You can only make online transfers.
You can open a digital account within minutes!

Open a Regular (traditional) Irish Bank Account

This might be useful if staying in Ireland long term or need to make cash lodgements. You will find detailed instructions about opening an AIB Irish Bank Account here.
If you follow the instructions carefully you could have an AIB Irish Bank Account within 2 weeks.

Applying for your IRP card – Renewal registrations

Renewal applications can be made online at: https://inisonline.jahs.ie

The Immigration Service website provides a live processing update for online renewal applications being processed. To ensure an equitable immigration system, applications are processed in the order in which they are received.

The IRP Card Registration Fee is €300. Your IRP card will be posted to your address in Cork.

To renew you will be asked to provide:

The biometric page of your current valid passport. This is the page that shows your photograph, passport number and date of birth.
The front and back of your current IRP card. This is the credit-card sized plastic card you received when you last registered your permission.
A letter from your school, confirming your enrolment as a student on a full time course of 25 weeks and listed on the ILEP.
1. A letter from your school that shows you have attended a minimum of 85% of all lessons.
Proof you have paid college/school fees.
Proof of your private medical insurance. Insurance MUST cover accidents & medical incidents including hospital stays for the duration of your residence. Travel insurance is NOT sufficient for Visa Renewal.
Exam results from previous course.

Attendance Guidelines

An attendance rate of 85% is required.
A register is taken before and after the break each day and attendance is calculated on the basis of both registers.
Attendance by students is defined as attending the full designated tuition hours – i.e. arriving more than 10 minutes late, or leaving before the class has concluded, means the student is marked absent for the class / class segments.
You will receive a verbal warning from the Director of Studies if your projected attendance reaches 95%.
A First Letter of Warning is issued if your projected attendance percentage reaches 92%.
A Second Letter of Warning will be issued if your projected attendance reaches 88%.
In cases of illness, please provide the school with a medical certificate. This will not affect your attendance

Final Exam Requirements

You are obliged by Immigration to take the end of course exam (TIE or IELTS) which you selected when booking your course. The school will register you for this exam. The Academic Team will reach out to you closer to your exam date to help you prepare and give you the exam schedule.

How to Make a Holiday Request

Eligibility for Holidays

Courses of 25+ Weeks: Students may take up to 3 weeks holiday (15 working days + 3 weekends).

Holiday Terms and Procedures

Holidays must be prearranged with at least 2 weeks’ notice.
Holidays must align with a full week (Monday to Friday).
Approved holiday weeks are added to the end of the course duration.
As per Immigration policy, Stamp 2/Study Visa holders must have completed at least:
3 weeks of their course before taking 1 weeks holidays
6 weeks of their course before taking 2 weeks holidays
9 weeks of their course before taking 3 weeks holidays

Please do not make travel arrangements until you receive confirmation that your holiday is approved.

School Closure Dates

As well as weekends the school will be closed on the following public holiday dates:

Public Holidays 2025

3rd February, March 17, 21 April, 05 May, 02 June, 04 August, 27 October.

Christmas period closure dates: 22 December 2025 to 04 January 2026.

Apply for a TFI Leap Card (student bus ticket)

TFI Leap Card is up to 30% cheaper than cash single fares. You can travel on Cork City Bus Éireann services and selected others like the Cobh Connect, for as little as:

€1.35 a journey with a TFI Adult Leap Card

€0.65 a journey with a TFI Young Adult (23 years or younger) or Student Leap Card (must be studying for at least 6 months).

Adult Leap Card (for as little as €1.35 per journey)

Available to all adults at most Centra shops and the bus station at a cost of €5.00. The card can be topped up with credit like a mobile phone. When you are finished with the card you can return it and get a refund.

Young Adult ( 23 years or younger) or Student Leap Card (for as little as €0.65 per journey)

Apply Online

Anyone aged 25 and younger can get a discount bus card – and the card will be posted to their address in Cork.
If you are 26 or older and registered on a course of 6 months or more you can apply for a student discount bus card but must visit UCC to collect your card.
Complete the online application before you go to the office. Apply Online Here.

Student Leap Card Collection Point:

UCC SU Office reception, beside the Common Room in UCC (54 College Road, Cork City)
Open: Mon-Fri 10-1 and 2-4
No appointment necessary
Bring your Cork English Academy student card, school letter and a photo ID (passport).

How to Apply for a Job

Finding a job in Cork can be a great way to maximize your English language use in real life settings. Put what you have learned in class into practice in real life work settings.

Apply for a PPS Number

Everybody who would like to start work in Ireland will need a PPS number. You will need the following for your visit to the PPS Office in Cork:

Your passport
A Job offer letter or confirmation email from an employer offering you a job, stating your new job position and start date.
Proof of address ( present your school letter and insurance documents with matching addresses).

Find more information about the PPS application at Gov.ie

Monthly Jobs Club

Remember to sign up for our Monthly Jobs Club where we help students with:

Writing a CV/ Resume
Writing a Cover Letter
Interview Skills

Sign-up for the next Jobs Club on the school notice board located in the student chill-out area, ground floor.

Useful Contact Information

School Telephone + 353 21 203 8786
School Emergency mobile +353 867900 860
School Email: [email protected]
Academic & Exam Information: [email protected] ,Vincent O’ Connor
Immigration & Attendance Information: [email protected]

Information Sources

Your New Life in Cork

Essential Apps for Life in Cork

The Transport apps are very useful if you end up living outside of the city center for example with host family.

TFI Go App

Perfect for paying for bus and train fares on-the-go.

Learn More

TFI Live App

Real-time information about public transport in Cork.