All about Post Study Work Permit in Ireland: Eligibility Criteria, Critical Skills

Post-Study Work Permit 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 post-study work visa plan. Time spent working abroad 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 Scheme. The steps to the process are as follows
- 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.
- Later on, you can apply for a green card (renamed Critical Skills Employment Permit) or work permit (renamed General Employment Permit).
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A new visa stamp – Stamp 1G – is now granted to foreign graduates who are authorized 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 - At a Glance
Level of Education* in Ireland | Ireland Post Study Work Permit Dration |
---|---|
Level 7 – Ordinary Bachelors Degree (three years courses) | 12 months |
Level 8 – Honors Bachelors Degree / Higher Diploma (four years courses) | 12 months |
Level 9 – PG Diploma/Masters Degree | 24 months |
Level 10 – Doctoral Degree / Higher Doctorate | 24 months |
* Only full-time courses would be eligible for the above-mentioned post-study work permit durations
Latest Update
As a major relief to international students who are pursuing higher studies online from their home countries, Ireland has allowed such students to remain eligible for a post-study work visa in Ireland. International students in the second semester of their programmes from an Irish higher education institute are eligible for post-study work rights if they are studying online outside of Ireland due to COVID-19. The students will remain eligible for the Third level graduate programme.
Students need to fulfil the following criteria to be eligible for PSW extension:
- They need a letter from their college/university stating they were their student for the academic year 2020-2021
- They need a letter from their college/university stating that their course was taught online completely and that they need not attend in-person classes to pursue that course
- Students also need to procure a letter from the concerned body or institute that they earned the award for which they were enrolled
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?
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 €32,000
- 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
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.
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With over 8 years of experience in overseas education, Rahul Singha has been previously associated with prominent education houses. He is also responsible for keeping a sharp eye on education policies of major study... Read Full Bio
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(23)
R
3 months ago
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Hello sir, I am going for a 9-level course but the duration of my course is of 9 months. will I be eligible for 2 year's work permit ?
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R
Rahul SinghaStudy Abroad Expert
3 months ago
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Hello student. Kindly note that if it is a level 9 full-time program then stay back is 2 years in Ireland.
k
9 months ago
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Hi would post study work visa allow a spouse to join? what are the option for family reunification after finishing postgraduate course in Ireland?
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R
Rahul SinghaStudy Abroad Expert
8 months ago
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Hello KK. As a general rule, non-EEA students coming to Ireland have no right to bring their family with them. Spouses, partners and children of non-EEA nationals can apply to enter and live in Ireland in their own right, but they cannot apply on the basis of their relationship to a non-EEA stude...Hello KK. As a general rule, non-EEA students coming to Ireland have no right to bring their family with them. Spouses, partners and children of non-EEA nationals can apply to enter and live in Ireland in their own right, but they cannot apply on the basis of their relationship to a non-EEA student. There are some exceptions to this rule, for example, for Ph.D. students or for students who can prove they have sufficient funds to support their family.
a
9 months ago
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Hello sir,
I have over all 6 band and 5.5 in 2 moule i have chances to get admission in masters in ireland?
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Rahul SinghaStudy Abroad Expert
8 months ago
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Hello Anas. You have to check the admissions requirements of the university/course you are looking to apply to. You can check out popular universities in Ireland here: https://studyabroad.shiksha.com/ireland You can also get in touch with our Shiksha counsellors here: https://studyabroad.shiksha....Hello Anas. You have to check the admissions requirements of the university/course you are looking to apply to. You can check out popular universities in Ireland here: https://studyabroad.shiksha.com/ireland You can also get in touch with our Shiksha counsellors here: https://studyabroad.shiksha.com/apply
D
10 months ago
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Hi Rahul
My age is 29 and having 6+ years of exp in IT . Please Suggest should i opt for study or work visa ?
Reply to Deep choudhary
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Rahul SinghaStudy Abroad Expert
10 months ago
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Hello Deep. That is entirely up to you. If you are planning to study in Ireland you would require a study visa to enter the country. If you are looking for direct employment you would have to apply for a work visa. If you want additional guidance regarding university admissions you can get in tou...Hello Deep. That is entirely up to you. If you are planning to study in Ireland you would require a study visa to enter the country. If you are looking for direct employment you would have to apply for a work visa. If you want additional guidance regarding university admissions you can get in touch with our counsellors here: https://studyabroad.shiksha.com/apply
s
a year ago
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I have been selected for masters in food technology in ucd. I want to work in Ireland permanently after completing my studies. What are the conditions for the same?
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Rahul SinghaStudy Abroad Expert
a year ago
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Hello Subhro. On completion of your said course, you would be entitled to a post-study work (PSW) permit. You would be required to find employment during this period. Once you have secured employment you can convert the PSW into a work permit and work towards converting your work visa into PR.
R
Rahul SinghaStudy Abroad Expert
a year ago
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Hello Subhro. one you complete your masters in food technology at UCD in Ireland. you will qualify for Post Study Work permit. once you successfully get work in your field of study during the post-study period you can apply for a work visa and then go ahead and apply for PR.