Ireland Post-Study Work Visa

What is the Third-Level Graduate Programme in Ireland?

The Irish Post-Study Work or Graduate visa are informal names for the Third Level Graduate Programme. It allows holders of a Study visa in Ireland who are from a non-EEA nation to begin working in Ireland after they have completed an undergraduate or postgraduate degree.

The visa comes with the incredible benefit of a work visa that does not require you to have sponsorship, a work permit, or a job offer. It does have the notable limitation of not being eligible for self-employed work or for you to start a business in Ireland.

Furthermore, the programme is not considered to be a permanent solution for your working life in Ireland. Instead, immigration authorities hope you use it as a pathway to the General Employment Permit, Critical Skills Employment Permit, or Research Hosting Agreement. Likewise, it cannot contribute towards the continuous residence period needed to apply for Irish permanent residency.

Conditions and Eligibility for the Third-level Graduate Programme

A successful application for the programme for post-study work in Ireland begins with ensuring that you meet the requirements. These conditions are listed below:

• You are currently one of the international students who has recently graduated with Stamp 2 student permission
• An Irish awarding body or institution has notified you in writing that you have received a level 8 or 9 degree within the last six months
• You have not already used the Graduate programme on more than two occasions
• You have shown yourself to be of good character while in Ireland and haven’t breached immigration rules

Required Documents

To show that you meet these requirements, the Irish government requires you to provide a host of documentation. The standard documentation is listed below, although further evidence may be required for this post-study program depending on your circumstances:

• A copy of the award granted for your degree programme or a letter from the awarding body confirming that you have completed the degree
• A valid passport or travel document
• An Irish Residence Permit card
• Proof of sufficient and active medical or travel insurance

Those who wish to renew their position on the programme will also need to show evidence of their employment or that they have actively searched for work during the last 12 months.

Eligibility Period for the Programme

The reason the programme is a pathway to another more permanent work visa is that it typically lasts just 12-24 months, a period short enough to ensure you use it as a transition into working life while still giving you the opportunity to gain meaningful experience.

The shorter 12-month eligibility period applies if you have been an undergraduate student in Ireland, meaning that you have received a level 8 education according to the National Framework of Qualifications. Moreover, the combination of time spent on a Student visa and on this programme must not exceed seven years.

Post-graduate students in Ireland, receiving a level 9 qualification on the National Framework of Qualifications, also have a standard 12-month eligibility period on the Third Level Graduate Programme. However, they can renew their permission for a further 12 months if they prove that they have made reasonable efforts to secure suitable graduate-level employment, or are already in employment.

Prove this by showing evidence that you have attended job interviews, have signed up to graduate employment agencies, have submitted job applications, or have received interview feedback. Furthermore, they have a more generous limitation on the total time they spend in Ireland on a Student visa and on the programme of eight years.

Post-Study Work Visa Application Process

International students who want to find suitable graduate-level employment should apply for the programme. The application process will be similar to the one you followed when you applied for your Student visa, as it is primarily conducted online, although you will be renewing your current immigration permission. Simply follow the steps below:

1. Sign in to your Immigration Service Delivery account.
2. Navigate to the Registration Renewal form and complete it.
3. Upload digital copies of your supporting documentation.
4. Use your debit or credit card to pay the renewal fee.
5. Submit your application.
6. Receive and retain the unique application number (OREG number) and a payment receipt sent by Immigration Service Delivery to your email.

It is essential to keep your OREG number safe, as it proves that you have submitted the renewal request. This is particularly important if your new Irish Residence Permit (IRP) card has not arrived before your current one expires.

When to Apply for the Visa

You need to time your application to make sure that you are not staying in Ireland without the right immigration permission. It is often sensible to apply as early as possible. The earliest you can launch your application is when you receive official confirmation of your degree results.

As such, there is no need to wait until your graduation ceremony. In fact, leaving your application until after the graduation ceremony can be a severe setback, as these events are often months after you have received your results.

Some individuals still choose to delay their application for this visa. That may be if they decide relatively late that they would like to stay and work in Ireland. The outer limit of the recommended time to apply is six months after you receive your results. You also need to make sure to apply at least 12 weeks before your Stamp 1G permission expires, so that there is sufficient time for visa processing.

The standard processing time for your application is six weeks after the date that you submit your application, and pay the 300 euro renewal fee, and you will receive a decision via email. Please note that, unlike the UK Home Office, Ireland does not have a premium processing service for those who would like their application to be rapidly processed.

Everyone will have to wait for the standard processing period to elapse, and processing can take longer if there are discrepancies with your application or if immigration authorities are dealing with an unusually high backlog.

Once you have received your decision, you will receive your new IRP card in 10-15 working days. It will be posted to your address if you apply online, or you can collect it from your local registration office if you applied in person.

Accessing Employment Opportunities Through the Third-Level Graduate Programme

A substantial reason that the Third Level Graduate Scheme is so popular is that it gives you an enormous amount of flexibility in terms of the roles that you can go into. The limited eligibility period is almost the only limitation to be aware of.

As such, international students can use it to access internships, full-time positions, part-time roles, and graduate schemes. However, finding a suitable graduate-level role is not guaranteed, as you will still need to perform well in your application and interview to be offered the position.

Due to the flexibility offered, if you are seeking to fully immigrate to Ireland, it is a good idea to aim for roles that may allow you to apply for another work permit that can extend your time in the country beyond the Third Level Graduate Scheme’s eligibility. An example is the General Employment Permit. A more specific permit is the Critical Skills Employment Permit, which you can access if you secure a full-time position in sectors with skills shortages. In Ireland, examples include the healthcare, finance, and technology sectors.

Finally, it is common for those graduating from post-graduate courses to start conducting research via a hosting agreement. If this applies to you, it is worth considering the Employment (Scientific Researcher) visa.

Many holders of this visa decide to work with graduate employment agencies. These organisations can help you navigate the complex Irish job market to find the right role for you that can offer a pathway to long-term employment permits. Graduate employment agencies can also give guidance on the best practices for your job applications and job interviews.

Getting Permanent Residency in Ireland

Neither your Stamp 1G permission nor your Third Level Graduate Scheme will count towards your ‘reckonable residence’, the period spent in Ireland necessary to apply for permanent residency (PR) or Irish citizenship. That is because only time spent lawfully in Ireland holding Stamp 1 or Stamp 4 permission will be taken into account.

Luckily, the work permit you get after this work visa will usually contribute towards ‘reckonable residence’. For example, holders of a General Employment Permit can apply for PR after they have spent five continuous years living in Ireland. Similarly, holders of the work permit for Critical Skills Work visa holders can apply after just two years.

Please note that not all Irish work permits will contribute. Furthermore, your application will need to show that you are of good character, have an eligible residence permit, and are currently in suitable employment.

How Can IAS Help?

Once you come to the end of your Stamp 1G permission, you may want to extend your permission so that you can experience working life in Ireland. The Post Study Work visa is a fantastic tool to achieve this, giving you impressive working flexibility for 12 or 24 months.

Obtaining this upgrade to your Stamp 1G permission can be challenging, as you will need to show that you have obtained a suitable level of qualification and provide a range of documentation. A further layer of complexity is added if you are applying for a 12-month extension, as you need to show you are in suitable graduate-level employment or have been undergoing appropriate steps to find it.

Immigration Advice Service can guide you through the entire application process, so that you can prove your eligibility and maximise your chances of success. Get connected with one of our experienced immigration lawyers by contacting us at +44 (0)333 414 9244. You can also visit us online to learn more about

The support that we offer doesn’t end once you have successfully applied for the Third Level Graduate Scheme. We can also help you take the appropriate steps to get a long-term work permit, such as the Critical Skills Employment Permit. An immigration permission like this can allow you to properly start your life in Ireland.