Post Study Work Visa in Ireland: Your Gateway to Career Success

Are you aware that Ireland had a high student visa acceptance rate, almost 95%, in 2022?

How would you feel if we told you that a postgraduate study is endorsed with a two-year post-study work visa in Ireland? 😲😲😲

Dubbed an Emerald Isle for lush landscapes, Ireland has 2000+ new job opportunities due to its MNC hub.

Doesn’t this justify a 2-year post-study work visa in Ireland?

Table of Contents

What is Post Study Work Visa? Post Study Work Visa in Ireland How to Apply for a Post Study Work Visa in Ireland? Benefits of Post Study Work visa in Ireland What is a Critical Skill Visa in Ireland? Post Study Work Visa Vs Critical Skills Visa Post Study Work Visa in Ireland – What Should You Consider? Post Study Work Visa in Ireland vs Other Countries

What is a Post-study work visa?

A post-study work visa is granted to international graduates to stay in a country and look for a job for two years after graduation.

This visa applies to both bachelorette and postgraduate degrees in many countries. People also refer to this as a graduate post-study visa.

Post-study work visa in Ireland

Non-EU graduates with a level 7 or above are eligible for a post-study work visa in Ireland for 6 or 24 months.

Level of Study	Award granted	No: of years for Post Study Work Visa in Ireland
Level 8	Honours Degree	1 year
Level 9	PG Diploma/Masters Degree	2 years
Level 10	Doctoral Degree	2 years

How to Apply for a Post-study Work Visa in Ireland?

Ireland visa application process is instituted once your offer with an Irish education system is confirmed. Depending on your study duration, you must apply for a short-term or long-term visa.

You will require a registration process after reaching the country if your study in Ireland lasts more than 90 days. Ireland offers postgraduate degrees (levels 9 and above) that last between one and two years.

All full-time students with visa stamp 2 are qualified for the Third Level Graduate Scheme(Higher Education process). The steps to the process are as follows,

• Third Level Graduate Scheme allows non-EEA graduates holding level 8 or 9 awards from a recognized Irish awarding body to stay for 12 months in Ireland after graduation.

• To explain in visa terms, graduate students who currently hold a Stamp 2 are given a Stamp 1G to indicate that they have completed their studies in Ireland and can look for employment there.
• This is for 12 months, and an extension of another 12 months will be given if needed.
• This extension is subjected to the overall eight-year limit on level 9 graduate student conditions not being exceeded. 
• To apply for a visa extension, students must do so within six months of receiving their diplomas from their higher education institutions.
• A graduate student will not be allowed to renew in more than two different circumstances.
• This renewal would cost €300.

Benefits of Post-Study Work Visa in Ireland

• Graduate employment opportunities
• Internship opportunities
• Further studies
• Research opportunities
• Exploring the Emerald Isle
• Chance of securing a critical skill job

What is a Critical Skill Visa in Ireland?

An Irish Critical Skills Employment Visa is issued to skilled workers with qualifications in professions with a skills shortage.

Post-study work visa Vs Critical skill visa in Ireland

A stamp 1G (post-study work permit visa) indicates that you have completed your studies in Ireland and are authorized to look for employment here under the Third Level Graduate Programme. This is for graduates who have finished their level 8 or level 9 of study from a recognized Irish awarding body.

Once the graduate secures a job, he or she should apply for a Stamp 1 visa. This indicates permission to work in Ireland. 

Stamp 1 visa is further classified into two types,

• General work permit
• Critical skill visa

What is a General Work Permit in Ireland?

The work permit allows you to work in any job within the country, as long as it does not fall under the list of ineligible occupations. It is also important that the job should yield a minimum salary of  €30,000/year. 

With this permit, you can apply for a PR after 5 years of work and stay in Ireland. 

What is a Critical Skill Visa in Ireland?

A critical skill visa is granted to people who can secure a job listed under the skill shortage list in Ireland. 

With this permit, you can apply for a PR within 2years of work and stay in Ireland. 

What if your employer doesn’t fall under the skill shortage list, but you still want a critical skill visa? 

In Ireland, you can apply for a critical skill visa if you earn more than 64,000 EURO, regardless of whether your job qualifies.

Post-study work visa in Ireland – What should you consider? 

1. Post-study work permits are not available to Language and Non-Degree Programme students.
2. Graduates are advised to have sufficient time to renew their current visa registration, or the application will be rejected if the current permitted time to stay in Ireland has lapsed.
3. A level 8 award holder has a maximum Ireland stay of seven years, while a level 9 or level 10 graduate has an eight-year limit. All the renewals are subjected to this limitation.
4. Graduates need to demonstrate that they have taken appropriate measures to find suitable graduate-level employment (attending interviews, registering with graduate employment agencies) during the renewal of their second 12-month post-study work visa in Ireland.

Caution:

Post Study Pathways are not available to Language and Non-Degree Programme Students.

Post-study work visa in Ireland vs other countries

Countries	Length of stay (in years)
Ireland	Up to 2
Australia	2-4
United States	Up to 3
Canada	Up to 3
Germany	Up to 1.6
United Kingdom	Up to 2
New Zealand	Up to 3

 

Do you still find yourself lost?

Feel free to contact Sarem Education, our expert counsellors, or leave a comment below if you have any questions about post-study work permits in Ireland.

FAQs

• Does Ireland give PR to non-EU residents?

Ireland considers non-EU residents who’ve lived in the country for five consecutive years and have a valid work permit. Whereas residents with a critical skill visa are eligible to apply for a PR in three years. Ireland PR is valid for 5 years and is renewable.

• What is the best way to settle after Masters in Ireland?

After your Masters (internal link Masters in Ireland), you can use the benefits of the 2-year post-study work visa in Ireland to look out for a job opportunity in Ireland. This lets you procure a general work permit or a necessary skill visa with which you can apply for a PR after 3 or 5 years, as the Irish government states. 

• Is there a time limit for staying in Ireland after you graduate?

Student visas in Ireland (Stamp 2) enable candidates to search for employment for a year or two after graduation. The number of years depends on the level of study from a recognized Irish body. 

• Is Ireland PR easy?

Individuals can easily obtain an Ireland PR by looking for jobs earnestly with intense diligence. There is a constant demand for talent in the Irish market, and the government does not complicate the PR process for non-EU citizens who are working legally in the country.