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Stamp 1G for graduates in Ireland

The Third Level Graduate Programme is a transitional immigration status for graduates of Irish universities: it extends lawful residence in the country for the period of looking for work in their field and arranging an employment permit. The same status is used by the spouses and partners of certain employment permit holders, for whom it opens access to employment without a separate work permit.

Source: Immigration Service Delivery (irishimmigration.ie)

Who can obtain Stamp 1G

There are two possible bases: your own Irish qualification or your status as a family member of an employment permit holder.

Graduates of Irish universities

A qualification at NFQ level 8 (bachelor’s) or above from a recognised Irish institution on a programme from the ILEP list
Written notification from the institution that the qualification has been awarded, dated no earlier than 1 January 2017
A student permission (stamp 2) with a current registration card is valid at the time of the application
The application is made no later than six months after notification that the qualification has been awarded
The total time on the student route does not yet exceed the set limit

Spouses and partners of employment permit holders

The spouse or partner of a Critical Skills Employment Permit holder or of a researcher on a hosting agreement, previously on stamp 3
The spouse or partner of a General Employment Permit or Intra-Corporate Transferee Employment Permit holder who obtained permission through the family reunification scheme
The spouse or partner of a doctor (NCHD) on a Multi-Site General Employment Permit
The spouse or partner whose principal holder has already moved to stamp 4 but previously held one of the permits listed

What it costs

Registration of the permission (IRP) with the ISD	300 EUR
Registration for applicants aged 16–18 and for those granted protection under sections 47 and 49 of the International Protection Act 2015	0 EUR

Documents to gather

To register Stamp 1G you need:

Proof of the qualification awarded: the parchment or an official letter from the institution confirming the award
A valid passport
Medical insurance
For the extension to a second year (NFQ level 9+ qualification) — evidence of actively looking for graduate-level work: interviews, registration with graduate recruitment agencies

How the process runs

How to obtain Stamp 1G after graduating

1
Wait for written notification that the qualification has been awarded
The institution or awarding body confirms in writing that the qualification at NFQ level 8 or above has been awarded.
2
File the application for registration
no later than six months after notification of the award
You have to apply while stamp 2 is still valid and the registration card has not expired; applications from people whose permission has expired are not accepted.
3
Provide the documents and pay for registration
A copy of the parchment or a letter from the institution, the passport, medical insurance and payment of the fee, unless an exemption applies to the applicant.
4
Obtain Stamp 1G
The registration office (ISD online for Dublin, Kildare, Meath and Wicklow; GNIB for the other counties) changes the permission to Stamp 1G. From that moment you can work full time without a separate employment permit.

Timelines and rights

Work

Full-time work is allowed without an employment permit, but you may not run your own business or be self-employed. The purpose of the period is to find graduate-level work and obtain a General Employment Permit, a Critical Skills Employment Permit or a research hosting agreement.

Who you can bring with you

Stamp 1G is available not only to graduates but also to some of their family members and to the families of other employment permit holders

Spouse/partner of a Critical Skills Employment Permit holder or of a researcher on a hosting agreement

Moves from stamp 3 to Stamp 1G and obtains the right to work without a separate employment permit

Spouse/partner of a General Employment Permit or Intra-Corporate Transferee Employment Permit holder

Once family reunification is approved, registers directly on Stamp 1G rather than on stamp 3

Spouse/partner of a doctor (NCHD) on a Multi-Site General Employment Permit

Also covered by the rule on moving to Stamp 1G

Spouse/partner of a holder who has already moved to stamp 4

Retains the entitlement to Stamp 1G if the principal holder previously held one of the employment permits listed

Renewal and the grace period

An extension for a further 12 months is available only to holders of a qualification at NFQ level 9 or above — provided that the total time on stamp 2 and Stamp 1G together will not exceed eight years and the applicant confirms that they are actively looking for graduate-level work (interviews, registration with recruitment agencies). Holders of an NFQ level 8 qualification are not entitled to an extension: their permission is granted once for 12 months, up to a maximum of seven years of total time on the student route. Spouses and partners on Stamp 1G renew their permission annually and after five years on that status may be eligible for stamp 4.

How it differs from the routes next to it

The comparison is built from the official terms of the routes themselves — the source links sit on their own pages.

	Stamp 1G for graduates	Permit for shortage occupations	General employment permit
Visa term	12 months with a qualification at NFQ level 8	Tied to the employer, at least 9 months with the first one, then a flexible status	Usually 1–2 years, renewable
Grounds	An extension of permission after an Irish qualification, in order to find graduate-level work	Shortage occupations	Employment
Money	Registration of the permission with the ISD costs EUR 300 per person	EUR 40,904 for some critical occupations with a degree; EUR 36,848 for graduates; EUR 68,911+ for other roles	A threshold of about EUR 36,605 for most occupations

What comes next: permanent residence and citizenship

Route to citizenship

Time on Stamp 1G counts as reckonable residence when applying for naturalisation. This applies both to graduates and to the spouses and de facto partners of Critical Skills Employment Permit holders and of researchers on a hosting agreement.

Frequently asked questions about Stamp 1G for graduates

Who can obtain Stamp 1G after finishing university?

Graduates who have been notified in writing by a recognised Irish institution that a qualification at NFQ level 8 or above has been awarded, no earlier than 1 January 2017, on a programme from the ILEP list. At the time of the application you must hold a valid student permission (stamp 2) with a current registration card and apply no later than six months after the notification.

How much does Stamp 1G registration cost and are there any exemptions?

Standard registration costs EUR 300 per person. Applicants aged 16–18 are exempt from the fee (for all stamp categories), as are holders of refugee status, subsidiary protection and leave to remain under sections 47 and 49 of the International Protection Act 2015.

How long is the permission granted for and can it be extended?

Holders of an NFQ level 8 qualification are granted permission once for 12 months, subject to the limit of seven years’ total stay on the student route. Holders of an NFQ level 9 or higher qualification are granted permission for 12 months with the possibility of a further 12-month extension (up to eight years in total), if the applicant proves they are actively looking for graduate-level work.

Can you run a business or work for yourself on Stamp 1G?

No. Stamp 1G allows you to work full time for an employer without a separate employment permit, but does not give the right to run your own business or be self-employed.

Do a spouse or partner move to the same status?

Yes, for certain categories. The spouses and partners of Critical Skills Employment Permit holders and of researchers on a hosting agreement move from stamp 3 to Stamp 1G. The spouses and partners of General Employment Permit and Intra-Corporate Transferee permit holders, and of doctors (NCHD) on a Multi-Site General Employment Permit, register directly on Stamp 1G once family reunification is approved.

Does time on Stamp 1G count when applying for naturalisation?

Yes. Time spent on Stamp 1G — both as a graduate of the programme and as the spouse or partner of a Critical Skills Employment Permit, General Employment Permit or Inter-Country Transfer employment permit holder — counts as reckonable residence when applying for Irish citizenship.

How many times can you obtain Stamp 1G while studying in Ireland?

No more than twice. You can enter the programme again only after obtaining a higher qualification (for example level 9 after level 8), and only within the overall eight-year limit on staying on the student route.

Other ways to move to Ireland

Every route in one list — migration programmes: Ireland.

The terms and the amounts are checked against official sources — the link sits under each section.Last checked on: 7 August 2026.