Post Study Work Visa in Ireland for International Students

Post-Study Work Permit in Ireland: Ireland grants post-time work permits to international students willing to further live and work in the country after the completion of their higher education. However, students must adhere to some specific conditions to be eligible for a post study work visa in Ireland. 

Once you have finished your studies in Ireland, you may wish to stay back a little longer and consider taking up a job to gain invaluable work experience in your related field of study as part of your Irish post-study work visa plan. Time spent working in the same country from where you received your higher education will only strengthen your CV and help establish your career once you decide to return to your home country.

If you are enrolled as a full-time student, with an Irish accredited degree, and have the Visa Stamp 2 you may qualify for the Third Level Graduate Programme. The Third Level Graduate Programme allows non-EU/EEA students to remain in Ireland to look for work for up to 12 months. The steps to the process are as follows

1. Students can apply for a non-renewable extension of up to 2 years after course completion. This extension is granted for the purpose of finding suitable employment.
2. Later on, you can apply for a green card (renamed Critical Skills Employment Permit) or work permit (renamed General Employment Permit).

A new visa stamp – Stamp 1G – is now granted to foreign graduates who are authorised to work under the Third Level Graduate Scheme. So if you are granted Stamp 1G, you don’t need to apply for a visa extension separately.

The extension time also depends on your level of the National Framework of Qualifications. For those pursuing degrees at the level of 8 or above, the period for Graduate Employment Scheme is 12 months. For those with a degree on level 7, a 6-month extension will be provided.

Post-study Work Visa in Ireland Highlights

Related Reads:

Post-Study Work Visa in Ireland - At a Glance

* Only full-time courses would be eligible for the above-mentioned post-study work permit durations.

Student Life in Ireland - Post Study Work Scenario

Conditions to Qualify for the Ireland Post-study Work Visa

In order to qualify for the Third Level Graduate Programme, students must:

• Be notified that they have been granted the degree award for which they were on a student visa. 
• Possess a valid Stamp 2 student immigration permission along with a current immigration registration card. Additionally, the individual must submit their application within six months of receiving notification from their university regarding the attainment of the award of degree for which they were enrolled as a student.
• Not have surpassed the seven-year duration of their authorization as a non-EEA national student within the State.
• Have completed the Third Level Graduate Programme with a level 8 award or higher to re-enter for an additional 12 months upon achieving a level 9 or above, as long as the total duration does not exceed eight years.
• Will not be allowed to access the Programme no more than two distinct times, in accordance with the stipulations outlined in point 4 above.
• Comply with State laws and maintain good character without attracting negative attention from authorities if they are seeking permission to remain in Ireland. 

What is a Critical Skills Employment Permit?

Critical Skill Employment Permit Ireland allows students to work in an occupation where there is a shortage of skills in the country. The list is periodically updated by the government and you can access the same on the official website. The Critical Skills Employment Permit in Ireland acts as an incentive to attract and encourage highly skilled people from foreign countries to contribute to the economy of Ireland.

What are the Eligibility Criteria for Ireland’s Critical Skills Employment Permit?

The general requirements for this type of permit include:

• The employer must be registered in Ireland
• The contract must be permanent or for at least 2 years in the case of fixed-term contracts
• At least 50% of the company employees need to be EEA nationals. This requirement may be waived if the company is a start-up and is supported by Enterprise Ireland or IDA Ireland
• The proposed position can’t be on the Ineligible Categories of the Employment list
• If the proposed position is on the Critical Skills List and the applicant has a relevant qualification at least at a degree level, the base salary (not including bonuses and allowances) must be at least €38,000
• Where the base salary is €64,000 or more, the occupation does not need to be on the Critical Skills List and there is no requirement for a relevant degree

Related Reads:

• Ireland Student Visa
• Student Guide to Ireland
• Job Prospects in Ireland

If you want to know more about post-study work permits in Ireland, get in touch with us in the comments below or get in touch with our counsellors at Shiksha Study Abroad Counselling.