The Department of Higher and Further Education has launched ‘TrustEd’, a new quality-assurance scheme that will transform how English-language colleges in Ireland enrol international students.
Under rules announced on 15 February, only schools that obtain TrustEd accreditation may sponsor non-EU students for visas. To qualify, institutions must submit to unannounced immigration spot checks and share enrolment data directly with the Department of Justice.
Minister James Lawless said the initiative responds to concerns that “a minority of providers function as de facto immigration factories”, allowing students to work full-time rather than attend class. Of roughly 100 language schools nationwide, officials expect just 50-60 to achieve the new standard; 28 have been approved so far, with 37 applications pending.
![Government launches TrustEd accreditation with spot checks on language schools to curb student-visa abuse]()
If you are unsure how these changes affect upcoming visa applications, VisaHQ can streamline the process. Through its Ireland portal (https://www.visahq.com/ireland/), the service can confirm whether a chosen college is TrustEd-accredited, provide tailored document checklists and submit visa files on your behalf—helping both employers and students avoid costly refusals.
For employers who rely on Ireland’s two-year Stamp 2 student work permission as a pipeline to entry-level talent, the change is significant. Students registered with a non-accredited college will lose the right to work, and any visa applications referencing such schools are likely to be refused. HR teams should therefore verify an institution’s TrustEd status before issuing job offers or internships.
Industry reaction is mixed. Reputable colleges welcome the badge as a market differentiator, while smaller schools warn that the compliance burden—including new attendance-tracking technology—could force closures. The government argues that culling weak providers will bolster Ireland’s reputation and ultimately protect jobs in the €800 million language-learning sector.
Practical advice: check forthcoming TrustEd register (expected online within weeks) before reimbursing tuition as part of relocation packages; remind existing student employees to keep attendance above 85 per cent or risk falling foul of immigration spot audits.
Under rules announced on 15 February, only schools that obtain TrustEd accreditation may sponsor non-EU students for visas. To qualify, institutions must submit to unannounced immigration spot checks and share enrolment data directly with the Department of Justice.
Minister James Lawless said the initiative responds to concerns that “a minority of providers function as de facto immigration factories”, allowing students to work full-time rather than attend class. Of roughly 100 language schools nationwide, officials expect just 50-60 to achieve the new standard; 28 have been approved so far, with 37 applications pending.
If you are unsure how these changes affect upcoming visa applications, VisaHQ can streamline the process. Through its Ireland portal (https://www.visahq.com/ireland/), the service can confirm whether a chosen college is TrustEd-accredited, provide tailored document checklists and submit visa files on your behalf—helping both employers and students avoid costly refusals.
For employers who rely on Ireland’s two-year Stamp 2 student work permission as a pipeline to entry-level talent, the change is significant. Students registered with a non-accredited college will lose the right to work, and any visa applications referencing such schools are likely to be refused. HR teams should therefore verify an institution’s TrustEd status before issuing job offers or internships.
Industry reaction is mixed. Reputable colleges welcome the badge as a market differentiator, while smaller schools warn that the compliance burden—including new attendance-tracking technology—could force closures. The government argues that culling weak providers will bolster Ireland’s reputation and ultimately protect jobs in the €800 million language-learning sector.
Practical advice: check forthcoming TrustEd register (expected online within weeks) before reimbursing tuition as part of relocation packages; remind existing student employees to keep attendance above 85 per cent or risk falling foul of immigration spot audits.
