The Interim List of Eligible Programmes (ILEP)—Ireland’s register of courses that can recruit non-EEA students—was updated on 6 February 2026, tightening reporting obligations for colleges and language schools. Providers must now notify the ILEP unit within five working days of any change in staffing, ownership, learner-protection insurance or teaching location; failure triggers immediate removal of all programmes from the list. (irishimmigration.ie)
The Department of Justice move follows a string of high-profile college closures in 2025 that left hundreds of international students without valid immigration permission. By accelerating unannounced inspections and mandating rapid reporting of corporate changes, officials aim to weed out “rogue providers” while protecting the €2 billion international education sector.
![Student-visa providers face stricter oversight as ILEP list updated]()
Whether you’re a student double-checking that your admission letter still aligns with the current ILEP or an employer assisting graduates onto the Stamp 1G path, VisaHQ can guide you through each visa milestone—submitting paperwork, booking biometrics and tracking updates—without the guesswork. Visit https://www.visahq.com/ireland/ to see how their specialists simplify Irish study and work permissions.
For prospective students the update means that visa officers will cross-check letters of acceptance against the refreshed ILEP in real time. Schools that slip off the list could find their cohorts refused entry, so admissions teams must monitor compliance daily. Education agents have been warned that promoting non-listed courses may render an application “deceptive”, a ground for a five-year entry ban.
Employers who rely on Ireland’s two-year Third-Level Graduate Scheme should note that only graduates of ILEP-listed programmes qualify for the Stamp 1G work permission. Mobility managers should therefore verify that sponsored learners remain enrolled in eligible courses before promising post-study roles.
The Department of Justice move follows a string of high-profile college closures in 2025 that left hundreds of international students without valid immigration permission. By accelerating unannounced inspections and mandating rapid reporting of corporate changes, officials aim to weed out “rogue providers” while protecting the €2 billion international education sector.
Whether you’re a student double-checking that your admission letter still aligns with the current ILEP or an employer assisting graduates onto the Stamp 1G path, VisaHQ can guide you through each visa milestone—submitting paperwork, booking biometrics and tracking updates—without the guesswork. Visit https://www.visahq.com/ireland/ to see how their specialists simplify Irish study and work permissions.
For prospective students the update means that visa officers will cross-check letters of acceptance against the refreshed ILEP in real time. Schools that slip off the list could find their cohorts refused entry, so admissions teams must monitor compliance daily. Education agents have been warned that promoting non-listed courses may render an application “deceptive”, a ground for a five-year entry ban.
Employers who rely on Ireland’s two-year Third-Level Graduate Scheme should note that only graduates of ILEP-listed programmes qualify for the Stamp 1G work permission. Mobility managers should therefore verify that sponsored learners remain enrolled in eligible courses before promising post-study roles.
