From previous communications since Budget 2026, you are aware that examination entry fees
have been re-introduced for the 2026 state examinations.
Fees will be charged at the same rate as when they were last charged in 2019; that is €116 per
entry for Leaving Certificate and Leaving Certificate Applied candidates and €109 per entry for
Junior Cycle candidates. Candidates who hold a full medical card, or who are covered for all
services on a parent or guardian’s full medical card, are exempt from examination fees. The fee
payable in respect of a school going candidate who is repeating the Leaving Certificate is €301.
The rate of examination fees which will apply for the 2026 examinations has not been
increased since 2012.
Please see information below on how to pay the fee or claim a fee exemption through the SEC’s online fee
service which will open at 2 pm on Thursday 19 March.
1. SEC Online Fee Service – How to Pay Fees or apply for an exemption
The State Examinations Commission (SEC) has a facility to allow candidates, or their
parent/guardian, to pay examination fees or to apply for an exemption from fees. The Online
Fee service will open at 2pm on Thursday 19 March at https://fees.examinations.ie/
A User Guide will be provided.
The closing date for the payment of examination fees or making an application for a medical
card exemption is 30 April 2026.
2. 2026 Examinations Entry Fee Rates
The rates of examination fees for entry to the 2026 Certificate Examination are as follows:
(a) School Candidates
For candidates who are recognised pupils in post-primary schools;
Leaving Certificate/Leaving Certificate Applied €116
Junior Cycle €109
(b) Candidates following VTOS and analogous courses
For candidates who are following courses of study organised under the Vocational Training
Opportunities Scheme, the Adult Literacy and Community Education Scheme, the
Department of Social Protection second-level scheme for the unemployed, or other
analogous courses;
Leaving Certificate subjects, 3 or more €116
Mix of Leaving and Junior Certificate/Cycle subjects, 3 or more €116
Junior Certificate/Cycle subjects, 3 or more €109
Leaving and/or Junior Certificate/Cycle, 1 or 2 subjects €71
(c) Repeat Leaving Certificate
The fee payable in respect of a recognised pupil who remains at school with a view to
repeating the Leaving Certificate is €301. It is important to note that there is no provision
for recognised pupils who are repeating the Leaving Certificate to pay a lower fee if they
enter for only one or two subjects. In such cases the full fee must be paid.
(d) Leaving Certificate Candidates taking Junior Cycle Modern Foreign Languages ab-
initio
Students entering senior cycle may, if schools so wish, follow a course of study Junior Cycle
French, German, Spanish or Italian as part of their approved senior cycle course. No
additional fee is payable for taking the Junior Cycle language examinations once the Leaving
Certificate fee is paid.
Details of all examination fees rates, including fee rates for External candidates, are available
from online here.
3. Exemption of Examination Fees for Medical Card Holders
Candidates who hold a full medical card or who are covered for all services on a parent or
guardian’s full medical card are not liable for examination fees. Medical cards will be accepted
only if valid on or between 1 January 2026 and 30 April 2026.
N.B. Holders or dependents of holders, of G.P. Visit Cards are not eligible for exemption from
examination fees.
4. Inability to use the Online Fee Service
Instructions on how to use the online fee service are set out in the User Guide
https://fees.examinations.ie/. Those who might have a difficulty using the online facility to
make a payment or to apply for an exemption should contact Fees Section by e-mail at
fees@examinations.ie for assistance.
5. Consequences for Candidates of Non-Payment of Examination Fees
All candidates, unless they have an exemption from payment of fees, must pay their
examination fees to the SEC. It is SEC policy to ensure all fees are paid in full.
Failure to pay examination fees may have serious consequences for candidates up to and
including the withholding of the final Examination Certificate.
Examination fees are not refundable other than in very exceptional circumstances.