Stamp 1G Ireland: Graduate Stay-Back Permission & Spousal Work Rights

As a Stamp 1G holder, you are permitted to:

• Work for up to 40 hours per week.
• Work in the ROI without an employment permit.
• Renew the Stamp 1G annually.
• Apply for a Stamp 4 after five years on a Stamp 1G.

Stamp 1G holders may not start a business or become self-employed.

Naturalisation

Periods spent on Stamp 1G either as a graduate student or the spouse or de facto partner of a Critical Skills Employment permit holder or the spouse or de facto partner of a researcher in the ROI on Hosting Agreements are eligible to be counted as ‘reckonable residence’ when it comes to applying for citizenship or naturalisation in the ROI.

Stamp 1G can also be used to allow spouses or partners of Critical Skills Employment Permit holders, Researchers on Hosting Agreements, General Employment Permit holders, and Intra-Company Transfer permit holders to take up employment in Ireland without needing a separate employment permit.

Stamp 1G for Spouses of General Employment Permit Holders

A significant policy change introduced on 15 May 2024 expanded access to Stamp 1G for spouses and partners of employment permit holders. Previously, spouses of General Employment Permit (GEP) and Intra-Company Transfer (ICT) holders were typically granted Stamp 3, which did not allow them to work. Under the updated rules, eligible spouses and partners who are granted family reunification now receive Stamp 1G instead.

This change means they can:

• Work in Ireland without needing a separate employment permit
• Access the labour market in a similar way to spouses of Critical Skills permit holders

There are still important differences depending on the sponsor’s permit type:

• GEP holders must generally complete 12 months of employment before applying for family reunification
• ICT holders can usually bring spouses or partners immediately

This route is distinct from the long-established pathway for spouses of Critical Skills Employment Permit holders and researchers, who have had access to Stamp 1G for a longer period. The 2024 update effectively extends similar work rights to a much broader group of dependants.

Renewal of Stamp 1G registration should be applied for every year. After 5 years on Stamp 1G, you may become eligible to apply for Stamp 4.

Stamp 1G Processing Times and Current Delays

Stamp 1G applications are processed by Immigration Service Delivery, and timelines can vary depending on demand.

In standard conditions, processing takes around 3 to 5 weeks. However, due to application volumes and administrative backlogs, this can extend to 4 to 8 weeks or longer.

As of late 2024, all applicants across Ireland can now renew their permission online through the ISD portal, not just those based in Dublin. This has streamlined the process, but delays can still occur.

You can submit a renewal application when you have up to 12 weeks remaining on your current permission. Applying early is strongly recommended to avoid gaps in your immigration status.

Once approved, your IRP card is issued and posted to the address you provided. You should allow additional time for delivery, particularly during busy periods.

What Happens When Stamp 1G Expires?

Stamp 1G is time-limited, and you cannot remain in Ireland once it expires without securing a new permission.

If you are on Stamp 1G as a graduate and have not secured long-term employment, you will need to apply for an employment permit, such as a General Employment Permit or Critical Skills Employment Permit, to continue working legally.

You cannot simply remain in Ireland on an expired permission. Overstaying can lead to serious consequences, including loss of legal status and difficulties with future immigration applications.

Depending on your circumstances, you may also have the option to:

• Return to education at a higher qualification level, within the limits of the student permission system

It is important to plan your next steps well before your Stamp 1G expires. If your permission lapses, you will not be able to apply again under the Third Level Graduate Programme.

For a level eight (Honours Degree) graduate, the Stamp 1G is valid for a maximum period of 12 months in Ireland.

For Level 9 and Level 10 graduates (Master’s and PhD), Stamp 1G is valid for up to 24 months in total, subject to an overall eight-year limit on combined Stamp 2 and Stamp 1G time in Ireland.

If you are eligible for a Stamp 1G that is valid for 24 months (graduates of level 9 and 10 programmes), you will be permitted to work in the ROI initially for 12 months, and you will then need to renew your visa for a further 12 months.

Once you have permission to stay in Ireland in the form of a Stamp 1G, you must register your permission with the Irish immigration authorities, known as Immigration Service Delivery (ISD) or the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB), within 90 days.

If you cannot register your permission within the 90-day deadline, your permission will not be cancelled. However, it should be noted that you must be able to demonstrate that you have sought an appointment within 90 days and that you have attempted to register as soon as possible.

ISD registers permissions in Dublin city and county, while the GNIB is responsible for permission registrations in the rest of the ROI.

Irish Residence Permit

When you have successfully registered your permission, you will receive an Irish Residence Permit (IRP) card by post at the address you provided when you applied for the Stamp 1G.

An IRP card is not an identity card but it is nevertheless an important document that proves you are resident in the ROI legally.

It is important that you carrythat carry your IRP card with you at all times during your stay in the ROI.

To get a Stamp 1G, you must present evidence that you have achieved the award for which you enrolled as a student.

You must also hold and be able to prove you are a current Stamp 2 student with immigration permission and possess an up-to-date immigration registration card.

Acceptable documentation, which may be verified by the immigration authorities, includes:

• A letter of confirmation from the awarding body institution of the award achieved, typically in the form of an official degree scroll or parchment.
• An official letter from your awarding institution confirming your final results, if your academic parchment has not yet been issued.
• A valid passport.
• A current Stamp 2 student immigration permission and an up-to-date immigration registration card.
• Evidence that you have private medical insurance (purchased in Ireland), which must have a minimum coverage of €25,000 for in-hospital treatment at a medical centre in the ROI.

Applications for a Stamp 1G typically take between 3 to 5 weeks to process, however due to backlogs in visa renewals, the process of acquiring a Stamp 1G can sometimes take longer.

The cost of registering a Stamp 1G is €300 registration fee.

Typically, you will only be able to renew your immigration permission on Stamp 1G as a spouse or partner of a Critical Skills Employment holder or a researcher on a hosting agreement.

You will normally have to renew your permission every year in order to keep it valid.

Renewals must be applied for online via the official ISD website. Applications can be made up to 12 weeks before your permission is set to expire.

In order to apply for a renewal, you must log into your online account and upload your supporting documents, including your current IRP card. You must also fill in the renewal registration form and submit it along with your documents.

If your application is successful, you will typically be sent a new IRP within 10 to 15 working days.