In This Section

Introduction
Purpose of programme
Conditions
Required documents
How to apply
Duration of permission

Introduction

This programme allows legally resident Irish educated non-EEA graduates who hold a level 8 or level 9 award from a recognised Irish awarding body to remain in Ireland after their studies for a period of twelve months.

Purpose of programme

This should be for the purpose of seeking graduate level employment and applying for a general employment permit, a critical skills employment permit or research hosting agreement.

The details of the revised programme are set out in the policy document. Graduates wishing to avail of the scheme are advised to read this document in detail.

Conditions

In order to qualify graduates:

  • Must have been notified in writing by the relevant awarding body or institution on or after 1 January 2017 that they have achieved the award for which they had enrolled as a student

  • Must hold a current Stamp 2 student immigration permission and an up-to-date immigration registration card, and must apply within six months of being notified by the relevant awarding body or institution that they have achieved the award for which they had enrolled as a student

  • Must not have already exceeded the seven-year limit on their permission as a non-EEA national student in the State

  • May, if having previously benefitted from the Third Level Graduate Programme at a level 8 award or above, on achievement of a higher level award, for example level 9 or above, re-enter the Third Level Graduate Programme for an additional period of 12 months, subject to the overall limit of eight years

  • A graduate will not be permitted to access the Programme on more than two separate occasions, subject to 4 above

  • Must, in line with the obligation on any non-EEA national seeking to renew their permission to be in the State, comply with the laws of the State. Such persons are expected to be of good character and not to have come to the adverse attention of the authorities in any way

  • Must present evidence of the final award being attained by way of a parchment or, in circumstances where the graduation ceremony is yet to take place, an official letter for the awarding body / institution confirming that the award has been achieved.

An award granted by a recognised Irish awarding body:

  • Irish universities: Trinity College, University College Dublin (UCD), Dublin City University (DCU), Technological University Dublin (TU), Maynooth University, Munster Technological University (MTU), University College Cork (UCC), National University of Ireland Galway (NUIG) and the University of Limerick (UL)

  • Royal College of Surgeons Ireland

  • Institutes of Technology

  • Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI)

Required documents

  • A copy of the award granted to you

  • Your passport

  • Medical insurance

  • You must pay a fee of €300 per person to register.

How to apply

Duration of permission

Persons qualifying for graduate immigration permission of up to twelve months

Graduates with an award at Level 8 on the National Framework of Qualifications will be granted a twelve-month permission to a maximum of seven years’ student permission overall (time spent on Stamp 2 as a student and on Stamp 1G under this programme cannot exceed an aggregate time of seven years in total).

Persons qualifying for graduate immigration permission of up to twenty-four months

Graduates with an award at Level 9 or above on the National Framework of Qualifications who qualify for the Programme will be granted permission for 12 months initially.

This will be renewed for a further period of twelve months (subject to the overall eight year limit on student conditions not being exceeded) where the graduate satisfies the immigration authorities that he or she has taken appropriate steps to access suitable graduate level employment (for example, attendance at job interviews, signing up with graduate employment agencies).

This page was last updated on March 28, 2024