Interim List of Eligible Programmes (ILEP)

Non-EEA/non-Swiss nationals can only be recruited to programmes listed on the Interim List of Eligible Programmes (ILEP)  or to eligible programmes offered by providers with authorisation to use the TrustEd Education mark. The ILEP will be superseded by the TrustEd statutory quality mark awarded by Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI).

Listed providers must meet certain criteria for each type of approved programme to be included on the ILEP.

The ILEP is closed. Providers without programmes currently listed in the ILEP must have gained TrustEd Ireland authorisation before recruiting non-EEA nationals.

The ILEP criteria were updated on 21 March 2025.

Providers must remain in compliance with the relevant criteria in order to retain a listing on the ILEP. Instances of non-compliance may result in removal from the ILEP of all of a provider’s programme listings.

The ILEP remains closed to new applicant providers.

The ILEP will be superseded by the  TrustEd Ireland statutory quality mark  for student immigration purposes. All education providers intending to recruit non-EEA students must gain authorisation from Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) to use the TrustEd Ireland statutory quality mark.

Information in relation to the TrustEd Ireland Scheme and Immigration Requirements can be found in the Immigration Legislation and Policy Guideline webpage in the Policy section. Providers should familiarise themselves with the information contained in the Policy Statement on TrustEd and Immigration Requirements document.

The new mark will be awarded to higher education and English language education providers who have demonstrated that they meet national standards to ensure a quality experience for international learners from pre-enrolment through to the completion of their programme of education.

Once the ILEP is discontinued, only education providers granted authorisation to use the TrustEd Ireland mark will be eligible to recruit students from outside the EEA to English language programmes, foundation programmes and higher education programmes.

The final ILEP update was published in June 2025. Where a provider has programmes listed in the ILEP and remains in compliance with ILEP criteria, it may continue to recruit non-EEA nationals until the ILEP ceases operation.

Further information about TrustEd Ireland, the application process and timeframes are set out on TrustEd Ireland information page on the QQI website. Any questions regarding TrustEd Ireland should be addressed to the International Education Division of QQI at [email protected].

Any providers planning to recruit non-EEA nationals to programmes must apply to QQI for authorisation to use the TrustEd Ireland quality mark.

Providers must comply with immigration regulations and ILEP criteria and requirements. Immigration Service Delivery may carry out unannounced inspections, spot checks and monitoring of activity and compliance.

Providers must inform the ILEP unit (within five working days) of any change to status. This includes, for example, any changes to staffing, location of provision, learner protection arrangements, ownership or governance. Failure to notify us, or the provision of false or misleading information, may result in the removal from the ILEP of all the provider’s programmes.

Contact details for the ILEP Unit:

Email: [email protected]

Postal address:
Interim List of Eligible Programmes, ILEP BQ/4
Immigration Service Delivery
13/14 Burgh Quay
Dublin 2, D02 XK70

• If you are affected by school closures, you should contact your provider and ask for further information, e.g. details of your Learner Protection insurance policy.
• The insurance cover purchased should list the options in the event of a school closure. Students should check their policy cover and contact the insurer.
• ILEP has no function in remit to investigate complaints against Insurers. The relevant body for complaints regarding insurance providers is the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman, their website is: Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman (FSPO) | Ireland
• If a School has closed and a liquidator has been appointed to wind up the company, students could also contact the appointed liquidator. ILEP has no authority over any liquidator.
• If you believe that you have been a victim of fraud, or suspect a criminal offense has taken place, you should report this to your local Garda Station. The Garda Siochana website provides information on reporting criminal allegations.
• Information on registering and renewing immigration permissions – When registering for an immigration permission for the first time, if you have transferred to a new English course listed on the ILEP or TrustEd, you should book a Stamp 2 registration appointment as normal and bring all required documents from your new provider. If renewing, you should attach all of the required documents from your new provider.
• If you have any queries relating to your immigration permission or renewal, you should contact the Registration Office using the Customer Service Portal. The Customer Service Portal can be accessed at the following link: https://portal.irishimmigration.ie/en/
• Details on how to submit a query to the Registration Office can be found at the following: https://www.irishimmigration.ie/registering-your-immigration-permission/submitting-registration-or-renewal-queries/