First of all: This comparison is made by the Australian agency Way, which is one of the agencies being compared. We’re telling you this above, and not in small print, because all the lists of «best agencies for studying in Ireland» that you’ll find are written by an agency. The difference is whether they tell you that or not.
What we can do is declare the criteria, apply them equally to everyone, and give you the data so that you can verify it yourself. That's what's below.
The first thing is not the agency: it is the ILEP
If you are not an EU citizen, you can only apply for a student permit in Ireland if your course is in the ILEP, The official list of eligible programs published by the Irish government. If the school you are offered does not appear on that list, there is no visa. That's it.
This is the first question you should ask any agency, and the answer has to be the name of the center so that you can look it up on the list. If they answer with vagueness, you know.
The rules of stamp 2, which almost no one tells you in full
The student permit for languages in Ireland is the stamp 2. These are your actual conditions, and it’s advisable to know them before talking to anyone:
| Working hours | Up to 20 hours per week during the school year and up to 40 hours on vacation, without the need for a work permit. |
|---|---|
| What counts as a vacation | June, July, August and September, and from December 15 to January 15. Outside of those dates, the limit is 20 hours even if the school does not have classes. |
| Duration of the permit | Up to 8 months for each full-time language course. |
| How many times can you renew | Three courses of 8 months, two years in total. Once that limit is reached, to continue as a student you have to enroll in an ILEP higher education program. This is what most people discover late. |
| What they ask you to renew | The Results of the final exam of the previous program and fulfill the Requirement for assistance. It’s not enough to just pay for the next course. |
| Health insurance | Compulsory private health insurance. You have to present it when registering the permit. |
| The IRP | The residence card costs 300 €. The renewal is being done only online and while in Ireland; You can order it up to 12 weeks before it expires, but if you are a student you have to wait until your course has started. |
The error that costs the most: Plan for two or three years in Ireland with just language courses. The maximum is two years. If your plan is to stay longer, you need to plan that from the first course, not when the second one ends.
The six criteria of this comparison
- Who is the company. If you publish the company name and registration number, you can verify it. Irish companies are verified in the public register CRO.
- Proven age. Not what it announces, but what can be contrasted with a record.
- Real presence in Ireland. Direction, and the person to contact while there.
- How it is paid. School commission, student fee, or direct payment to the school without intermediaries.
- What happens at two years old. If they explain the stamp fee cap before or after you sign up.
- What it includes while being there. Renewal of the IRP, PPS number, bank account, accommodation, job search.
The comparison
Data taken from the public website of each agency on October 20, 2026. Where an agency does not publish a data, we say so instead of filling it in.
| Agency | Company and registration | Presence in Ireland | Declared billing model |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australian Way | Australian Way Education Pty Ltd ABN 49 609 134 198 Activity since 2009 |
Welcomer in Dublin. Own offices in Madrid and Sydney, with published address | School Committee. Free advice for the student |
| Ireland | Master Trip Limited CRO 679075, an Irish company established in 2019 Declares activity since 2012 |
Residence in Dublin. Does not publish a specific address | Declares free advice. Does not explain whether it charges commissions from schools |
| Hello Ireland | It does not publish the legal name or registration number He declares «15 years in the industry» |
Indicates Ireland, without address | Different model: the student declares that he pays directly to the school, «without agency commission» |
| Dingoes | He publishes his own comparison of agencies for Ireland, signed by his marketing team, in which he ranks first. | Declares accompaniment at the destination | Declares free service for school fees |
| Go Study | Multidisciplinary agency based in Australia. We have not been able to verify its registration in Ireland. | Declares presence in several countries | Declares free advice |
| YouTooProject | Multi-destination agency. We have not been able to verify its registration in Ireland | Declares collaborators in the destination | Declares free advice |
There are more agencies working with Ireland, including several specialized in the school year for minors, which is a different segment from that of adults who go to study and work. This comparison focuses on the second segment.
How to check it yourself in ten minutes
- Find the course they offer you in the ILEP list from the Irish government. If it is not there, there is no possible visa.
- If the agency is an Irish company, look up its number in the register. core.cro.ie.
- Check whether the age they are advertising matches the date of incorporation, or if they explain the difference.
- Question what happens when the two years are exhausted. If they don't know how to answer that, they haven't planned your stay.
- Ask who is serving you in Dublin and if that person is there.
Warning signal: No agency can guarantee you a residence permit or a job in Ireland. And anyone who suggests that you can take endless language courses is misinforming you about the rules.
What do we do in Ireland?
So that you apply the same criteria to us: Australian Way is Australian Way Education Pty Ltd, ABN 49 609 134 198, Since 2009 and with more than 12,000 students enrolled, we have our own offices in Madrid, Calle Cristóbal Bordiú 35, and in Sydney, Suite 203, 9/13 Bronte Road, Bondi Junction.
In Ireland we work with students who come from Spain and Latin America, as well as with those who are already there and need to renew their visas.
A Welcomer in Dublin. A person from the team who lives there welcomes you upon arrival and accompanies you until you have accommodation, a bank account, a PPS number and transport arranged.
Renewal of the IRP. We manage the renewal of the permit while you are in Ireland, with the deadlines and assistance requirements controlled from the first course, not when it is already too late.
And what we don't do: we are not immigration lawyers. We handle student visas and their renewals. For permanent residence, regrouping or work permits, that's the domain of an Irish lawyer and we'll tell you that instead of improvising.
Frequently asked questions
How many hours can I work with the Stamp 2 in Ireland?
20 hours per week during the school term and 40 hours during holidays. The holidays for these purposes are June, July, August and September, and from December 15 to January 15.
How many years can I stay in Ireland with English courses?
Two years maximum: three permits of up to 8 months each. After that, to continue as a student, you must enroll in a higher education program included in the ILEP.
How much does the IRP cost and how is it renewed?
300 €. The renewal is done exclusively online and you have to be in Ireland to apply for it. You can apply up to 12 weeks before the expiration date, but if you are a student you must wait until your course has started.
What is the ILEP and why is it important?
This is the official list of programs that allow you to obtain a student visa in Ireland. If the course you are offered is not on this list, you will not be able to register your visa. Please check this before paying anything.
Can I be denied the renewal of my permit?
Yes. To renew, you must submit the results of the final exam from the previous course and meet the attendance requirement. Missing class has migration consequences, not just academic ones.
Would you like us to look at your specific case, whether you are already in Spain, Latin America, or already in Ireland? The first call is 15 minutes long.
Talk to an advisorArticle revised on October 20, 2026. The conditions of the student permit and the IRP are set by the Department of Justice of Ireland and may change; always consult irishimmigration.ie before making a decision. The agency data comes from their public websites on that date.
