The biggest accommodation hurdle for non-EEA students is the guarantor problem — many landlords and PBSA operators want an Irish-based guarantor or several months' rent upfront. The cleanest workaround is to take a university-managed or PBSA room in first year (no Irish guarantor needed), then move to the private market later. EU/EEA students face the same market scarcity but no visa, IRP or registration requirements.
International / non-EEA students
Non-EEA students on a full-time course hold a Stamp 2 permission (work up to 20 hours/week in term). To get and keep permission you must show access to €10,000 for a year-long course (separate from tuition) and hold private medical insurance. Anyone staying 90+ days must register for an Irish Residence Permit (IRP) card, which costs €300. Where you register depends on your county — Dublin (and a widening catchment now including Cork and Limerick) book the ISD portal for Burgh Quay; other counties use their local Garda/immigration office.
The big accommodation hurdle is the guarantor problem. The cleanest workaround is to take a university-managed or PBSA room in first year (no Irish guarantor needed), then move to the private market later once you have an Irish bank account and rental history. Third-party guarantor services (e.g. Housing Hand Ireland) also exist. University international offices help with arrival and temporary accommodation — and international students are a noted scam target, so use only official portals and never pay for unseen rooms.
Sources: Citizens Information — non-EEA students · ISD — Irish Residence Permit · UCD Global — accommodation
EU/EEA students
A much simpler position: no visa, no IRP card, no €300 fee, and no immigration registration, plus full right to work with no hours cap. Healthcare is via the public system/EHIC. At the letting stage, though, tenancy law is nationality-neutral — EU/EEA students face the same market scarcity and the same guarantor/upfront-rent demands as everyone else, with the same mitigations (take a campus or PBSA room first year, then move private).
Sources: ISD — EU/EEA/Switzerland
Erasmus / incoming exchange
Exchange and Erasmus students are usually here for a semester or year, supported by the international office, with accommodation generally not guaranteed and contracts of semester/academic-year length. Policies vary: Trinity states Erasmus students are not eligible for college accommodation; University of Galway holds a small lottery-allocated block of on-campus Erasmus beds (explicitly "not a solution to your search"); UCC refers students to a partner provider with one offer only. In every case, start a parallel private search immediately.
Sources: TCD — visiting students · Galway — incoming Erasmus accommodation
Frequently asked questions
Do international students need an Irish guarantor for accommodation?
Many private landlords and PBSA operators want an Irish-based guarantor or several months' rent upfront. The cleanest workaround is to take a university-managed or PBSA room in first year (which don't need an Irish guarantor), then move to the private market once you have an Irish bank account and rental history.
How much money do non-EEA students need to show in Ireland?
Non-EEA students must show access to €10,000 for a year-long course (separate from tuition), hold private medical insurance, and — if staying 90+ days — register for an Irish Residence Permit (IRP) card costing €300.
Do EU/EEA students need a visa to study in Ireland?
No. EU/EEA students need no visa, no IRP card, no €300 fee and no immigration registration, and can work with no hours cap. However, they face the same rental market scarcity and guarantor demands as everyone else.
Is accommodation guaranteed for Erasmus students?
Generally no. Erasmus and exchange students are supported by the international office but accommodation is usually not guaranteed, and policies vary by university — start a parallel private search immediately.
University accommodation guides
Get costs, deadlines and how-to-apply detail for each of Ireland's eight largest universities.
Browse all accommodation guidesLast updated: June 2026 · Researched against official SUSI, Revenue, RTB and college sources. Rules and rates change each cycle — always confirm on the official pages linked above.