Stamp 2 Bridging Permission and the End of Trusted Partners: What Changed in 2026
Stamp 2 Bridging Permission: The Basics
ISD announced a bridging permission for English language students transitioning to Higher Education. There are two groups. First: students who completed a 3rd English language course (the maximum allowed) and enrolled in an ILEP-listed Higher Education programme starting by end of October 2026. Second: students who completed a 2nd course on or after July 1 and enrolled in the same type of programme.
The bridging permission is a short-term Stamp 2 valid until September 30, 2026. After that date, you will need to renew again based on your Higher Education enrolment.
Who Qualifies and the July 1 Cutoff
If you finished your 2nd English language course before July 1, you do not qualify for the bridging permission. Your option is to take a 3rd English language course and renew on that basis. If you finished on or after July 1, you are eligible. Check your course completion date carefully.
You need an IRP card that is current or expired within one month. You must have completed your course, enrolled in and fully paid for an ILEP Higher Education programme, and applied through the ISD online portal. ISD will also check that you have followed the conditions of your current permission.
Fees and the August 31 Deadline
If your course finished on or after July 1, the bridging permission is free. The EUR 300 fee will be refunded after processing. If your 3rd course finished before July 1, you pay the standard EUR 300.
The application window runs May 1 to August 31, 2026 only. After that, no more applications are accepted. Do not wait until the last week. ISD processes these in order of receipt, and a late surge could mean delays.
The Trusted Partner Initiative Is Gone
The Trusted Partner Initiative (TPI) was a scheme where employers could get pre-approved by DETE, allowing their employment permit applications to be fast-tracked. Companies that went through the TPI verification process had their applications processed more quickly than standard submissions.
If you have seen older guides or forums mentioning "Trusted Partner" status as a reason to prefer certain employers, that system no longer exists in its original form. DETE has retired TPI and folded its verification into the standard EPOL process.
How Employer Verification Works Now
Under the current Employment Permits Online (EPOL) system, all employers are required to submit Revenue documentation and their CRO (Companies Registration Office) number to create and maintain their portal account. This effectively builds the verification that TPI used to provide directly into the standard process. There is no longer a separate application for Trusted Partner status.
When an employer creates an EPOL portal account, they submit Revenue documents and their CRO number. These are validated by the employment permits team. The portal sends automatic reminders when these details are about to expire. At three months before expiry, the account status changes to "Pending Renewal" and the administrator uploads updated documents.
What This Means for Job Seekers
You no longer need to ask whether a company has "Trusted Partner" status. All employers using EPOL are verified through the same process. What matters more for your processing time is the permit type (Critical Skills applications are processed fastest) and when the application was submitted.
If you are comparing job offers and one employer claims faster permit processing, ask for specifics. The old TPI speed advantage is gone. Every employer goes through the same queue now.