Following the 2026 Budget announcements, the SEC has been advised that the temporary measures that applied for the past number of years, under which examination entry fees were waived, are not in place for 2026. Accordingly, examination entry fees will apply in 2026 at the same level as when they were last charged in 2019; that is €116 per entry for a Senior Cycle/Leaving Certificate and Leaving Certificate Applied candidates and €109 per entry for a Junior Cycle candidate. Full details of the fee collection arrangements will be notified to school authorities by the SEC in due course. It should be noted that the rate of examination fees which will apply for the 2026 examinations has not been increased since 2012. In line with the arrangements which applied when fees were last charged, 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.
State Examination Fees 2026 – Important Notice regarding payment
