Stamp 1G Ireland
If you’ve just finished studying in Ireland, you don’t have to immediately return home. Getting Stamp 1G permission means you can remain in the country to find work.
Find help with your application by contacting Total Law at +44 (0) 333 305 9375 or visit us online to discover our Irish residence permit (IRP), stamp, and visa services.
What is Stamp 1G in Ireland?
If you are studying for an 8 or 9 level graduate programme or undergraduate degree according to the Irish National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ), you will usually need a Stamp 2 permission to remain in Ireland. A level 8 qualification refers to a bachelor’s degree or higher diploma taking three or four years to complete, while level 9 refers to a master’s degree or post-graduate diploma. This permission will expire when you complete your course and graduate. However, you can continue to live in Ireland by obtaining a Stamp 1G permission.
This permission allows you to work in Ireland without an employment or work permit, which is why it is often referred to as a Stay-Back visa. You may also see it referred to as a Third Level Graduate programme. It is ideal for starting your career in the country.
The other type of individual who can obtain a Stamp 1G visa is the spouse or de facto partner of a foreign national conducting research in Ireland. They must be legally employed in the country on a research hosting agreement or a Critical Skills Employment permit.
Both pathways, converting a Stamp 2 after graduation and being the spouse, civil partner, or de facto partner of a researcher or Critical Skills Employment permit holder, come with similar advantages. This includes the ability to work for an Irish company without obtaining a work permit. Spouses and partners will also be able to study. However, no pathways allow you to become self-employed or establish or operate a business. Make sure to get the correct permission or employment permit, as conducting self-employed work without permission could threaten your status in Ireland.
Page Contents
- What is Stamp 1G in Ireland?
- Eligibility Requirements for Stamp 1G Ireland
- Required Documents for Ireland Stamp 1G
- How to Apply for Stamp 1G in Ireland?
- Stamp 1G Application Cost and Processing Time
- Stamp 1G Validity Period and Renewals
- Registering Your Stamp 1G Permission to Remain in Ireland
- Irish Employment Permits
- Does Stamp 1G count towards citizenship in Ireland?
- How Can Total Law Help?
- Frequently Asked Questions
Eligibility Requirements for Stamp 1G Ireland
Only individuals currently holding Stamp 2 with a valid immigration registration card can apply for Stamp 1G. You also need to have submitted your application within six months of completing your degree and obtaining the qualification.
Alternatively, you can apply for Stamp 1G as the spouse, civil partner, or de facto partner of someone who is legally in Ireland on a Critical Skills Employment permit.
Non-EEA students must also abide by a seven-year limit. Make sure you haven’t exceeded this time in Ireland before you apply.
Another requirement for both pathways to Stamp 1G is that you are of good character. You must show that you have followed Irish laws and haven’t been in trouble with law enforcement during previous stays in the country.
Required Documents for Ireland Stamp 1G
Before you submit your application, make sure that you can gather the following documents:
- A statement of your final results and a proof of qualification. This must show that you passed your degree or educational programme.
- A valid passport.
- Proof that you are in Ireland on a Stamp 2 permission. Your Irish Residence Permit (IRP) will normally show this.
Stamp 1G holders are also not able to access public healthcare while in Ireland. You’ll need to provide evidence of private medical insurance with a minimum coverage of €25,000.
You may also need to provide a graduation letter from your university and proof that you have a suitable address in Ireland.
How to Apply for Stamp 1G in Ireland?
Complete your Stamp 1G application by using the following steps:
- Complete your degree from a recognised Irish awarding body or educational institution. Ensure you have received confirmation of your results and the award of your qualification.
- Ensure that you meet the eligibility requirements for Stamp 1G. Immigration permission applications are time-consuming and expensive, so only complete one if you are sure that you qualify.
- Log in to your Irish Immigration Service (ISD) online portal account.
- Select Stamp 1G, upload your documentation, and submit your application through the online portal.
- Pay the application fee and wait for your Stamp 1G application to be processed.
Once your application is approved, your Irish Residence permit card will be delivered by post within 10-15 working days of processing being complete. Make sure you have given the correct address on ISD to avoid delays in receiving your IRP card.
Please note that a Stamp 1G application can only be made from inside Ireland. You won’t be able to apply if you leave Ireland after completing your studies and allow your Stamp 2 immigration permission to expire.
Stamp 1G Application Cost and Processing Time
You will need to pay the standard Irish Residence Permit fee of €300 before Irish immigration authorities will process your application.
Once your application is complete and submitted, you’ll need to wait three to five weeks for it to be processed.
Stamp 1G Validity Period and Renewals
Overview
The standard validity period for Stamp 1G is 12 months. Level 8 qualification holders will not usually be able to renew. However, Level 9 qualification holders can renew for an additional 12 months, showing the Irish government’s desire to attract such highly educated international students into the domestic labour market.
Stamp 1G permission holders who are partners of foreign nationals on research hosting agreements, or who use the Critical Skills Employment permit, are far less limited. They may apply for a renewal every 12 months until they have done so for five years in a row.
Stamp 1G holders are frequently able to convert to a Stamp 4 visa. This immigration permission allows you to remain in Ireland for two years without relying on your spouse or de facto partner’s status as a researcher in Ireland, and without having to worry about your expiring Stamp 1G status. Stamp 4 status can be renewed.
If you need an update on your renewal application, make use of the Digital Contact Centre. This self-service portal was introduced in October 2024. Use it to check the status of your application and to receive updates on its progress through the Irish bureaucracy. You can also find relevant immigration guidance within this excellent tool.
Eligibility Requirements for Renewals
You won’t automatically qualify for a renewal as a level 9 graduate or researcher’s spouse or de facto partner. Instead, you will need to show that you have been using your immigration permission to seek employment.
Show you have been seeking employment by showing evidence of meetings with graduate employment agencies, job application submissions, and attending job interviews.
Other circumstances beyond being a level 9 graduate or utilising the alternative Stamp 1G pathway could allow you to renew your permission. Common examples include:
- You have a job, but processing delays have meant you haven’t received your employment permit yet. This prevents those who are eligible for an employment permit and have submitted an application from being too hastily asked to leave Ireland.
- A serious illness or injury has prevented you from properly seeking work while holding Stamp 1G.
- You have suffered from bereavement, family emergencies, or other compassionate circumstances outside of your control. As with illness, these difficulties must have stopped your from properly utilising your immigration permission.
If any of these circumstances apply, follow the renewal process as described above. It is also important to note that, although other exceptional circumstances could be grounds for renewal, the fact that you are still looking for a job will usually not be relevant.
Registering Your Stamp 1G Permission to Remain in Ireland
Receiving your Stamp 1G permission isn’t the final stage before you continue living in Ireland and look for work. You need to register your permission with Immigration Service Delivery (ISD) within 90 days. If you fail to do this, you’ll need to show that you had made your ISD appointment within the time limit.
This process is usually done via ISD. However, if you are living outside of Dublin, you need to complete the process with Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB).
Make your registration by getting an appointment, which you will then need to attend, along with the following documentation:
- A photocopy of the biometric page in your passport. This page has your passport number, photograph, and date of birth.
- Proof of at least 12 months of private medical insurance. This must cover you for private treatment following any accidents or inpatient hospital treatment.
- Proof that you have completed your studies in Ireland.
Meanwhile, if you are registering your Stamp 1G permission that you have obtained through your partner’s position as a researcher or Critical Skills Employment permit holder, you will need to provide a copy of their passport’s biometric page and a copy of their permit.
Registering your permission will lead you to receive a residence card. This will clearly display the validity period, during which you will be legally allowed to remain in Ireland and seek employment.
Irish Employment Permits
If your Stamp 1G applications are repeatedly rejected, it is worth looking into the alternative types of Irish employment permits that could be more relevant to your circumstances. The main types of employment permit, and their eligibility criteria, are listed below:
- Critical Skills Employment permit: you have been offered a job that is on the Critical Skills Occupation List or is highly paying.
- General Employment permit: you have a job offer from a business with at least 50% EEA workers, which is not on the list of ineligible occupations, and meets the minimum income requirement.
- Contract for Service Employment permit: you work for a company with a contract to conduct work in Ireland.
- Sports and Cultural Employment permit: you have been offered a role in Ireland’s sports or cultural sectors.
- Intra-Company Transfer Employment permit: you work for a multinational company and are transferring to an Irish branch. There are different minimum income requirements depending on your level of seniority.
- Internship Employment permit: you are a full-time student at a non-EEA college and are coming to Ireland to take part in work experience that is necessary for your studies.
The list above is not exhaustive. Visit Citizens Information for a full list.
Does Stamp 1G count towards citizenship in Ireland?
Overview
Time spent in Ireland under Stamp 1G permission is considered reckonable residence that can count towards your Irish naturalization. You will need to live in Ireland for at least four years within an eight-year period. As a result, you’ll need to convert to a different permission that counts towards reckonable residence after you have been in Ireland on Stamp 1G. Another common requirement is that you have lived in Ireland continuously for the full year before you apply for naturalisation. Make sure you don’t leave the country for more than 70 days during that year.
The standard Irish citizenship by naturalisation fee is €175. If your application is successful, pay the certificate of naturalisation fee of €950 for adults and €200 for minors. You’ll also need to attend a naturalisation ceremony to become a full Irish citizen.
Given the enormous privileges that come with Irish citizenship, it is unsurprising that it takes a long time for ISD to process naturalisation applications. You can expect it to take 19 months, with complex cases taking longer. ISD will also often request additional documentation. During processing, make sure to inform ISD if you change your address or plan to spend longer than six weeks outside of the country.
Application Process for Citizenship by Naturalisation
Even if you are eligible to become an Irish citizen, you still need to successfully complete the naturalisation application process. You can start this once you have ensured that you have achieved the reckonable residence period.
The first stage is to complete the application form. Get this from the Department of Justice’s website. Make sure to fill in every section as incomplete applications will almost always be rejected. You will then need to sign it in the presence of a witness. The form includes information on who you can use as a witness.
Next, submit your application and supporting documents to the Department of Justice. The commonly required documents are listed below, although the Department of Justice can request more if they believe that is necessary:
- Proof of identity, such as a passport or Irish Residence Permit (IRP) card.
- Proof of residence, such as bank or credit card statements, or a rental agreement.
- Your birth certificate or its equivalent.
- Your current valid passport and any of your old, invalid passports.
- Proof that you have fulfilled reckonable residence via a printout of the online residency calculator page from the Department of Justice’s website.
- Three Irish citizen’s details and signatures. These individuals will act as your referees and must be willing to attest to your good character.
- Two coloured passport-style photographs. These must be signed and dated, and also signed by a witness.
The Department of Justice will only accept documents in English, so make sure to get certified translations of any documents in a foreign language. Make sure to properly explain the reasoning if you are unable to provide any of the required documentation.
Next, make your statutory declaration. This swears that you have only provided true information. This must be witnessed by a solicitor, notary, commissioner for oaths, or peace commissioner. This witness must also sign your passport-style photographs.
The final stage is to pay your non-refundable application fee and wait for processing.
How Can Total Law Help?
Getting Stamp 1G permission is the best way to begin your working life in Ireland if you have enjoyed studying on the Emerald Isle and aren’t ready to return home. It allows you to remain in Ireland for an extended period to find the perfect career.
A successful Stamp 1G application will require you to prove that you are suitably qualified, having just graduated from a level 8 or 9 course in Ireland. To maintain your status, you will need to show that you are actively seeking a job in the country. Get help from an immigration law firm like Total Law to increase the chances of a successful application. We can then help you to maintain your status and apply for citizenship once you have achieved reckonable residence.
Contact us at +44 (0) 333 305 9375 to begin your Stamp 1G journey. You can also learn about the other types of Irish immigration permission that you could be eligible for by visiting us online.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Irish immigration authorities limit the amount of work you can conduct on a Stamp 1G permission to 40 hours per week. This work must also be employed rather than self-employed. If you wish to work more in Ireland, you’ll need an alternative stamp or work permit.
Everybody has unique needs for the nation where they should launch their career, but Ireland’s position at the forefront of many industries means you could find the ideal early career role.
Examples of sectors where Ireland performs particularly well include the following:
- Pharmaceuticals. Ireland is a hub for Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson.
- Medical technologies, with a significant presence from Boston Scientific.
- IT and software. Ireland has hubs for Apple, Google, and Microsoft.
- Financial services. This sector is most concentrated in Dublin.
- Agriculture, food, and beverages.
As a result, STEM and computer science qualifications are particularly sought after by firms operating in Ireland.
Graduates of another level 8 or 9 qualification can usually apply for a Stamp 1G permission again. However, they must not have exceeded the limit for the time that non-EEA students can remain in Ireland. Furthermore, you cannot get Stamp 1G permission for a third time.
You will usually not be able to bring dependent children with you to Ireland while you are on a Stamp 1G visa. Instead, you will need to apply for another permit that opens up this possibility. An example is the Critical Skills Employment permit.
Alternatively, your adult dependents may be able to apply to become a permit holder independent of you.
Anybody who spends over 183 days of any tax year is considered an Irish tax resident. If you are employed on Stamp 1G, you’ll need to pay tax through the Irish PAYE system.
Income tax is the main tax that you will need to be aware of. The standard income tax rate is 20%, which you pay on any income up to 44,000 euros. A higher 40% tax is charged on earnings over this amount for single people. The exact tax bands change depending on your family situation.
Legal Disclaimer
The information provided is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. While we make every effort to ensure accuracy, the law may change, and the information may not reflect the most current legal developments. No warranty is given regarding the accuracy or completeness of the information, and we do not accept liability in such cases. We recommend consulting with a qualified lawyer at Total Law before making any decisions based on the content provided.