Third Level Graduate Programme (Ireland)

The Third Level Graduate Programme lets non-EEA graduates stay in Ireland after they finish their studies so they can look for work or take a job. The permission is recorded as Stamp 1G.

It is useful because you can work full time without an employment permit during the period, so an employer does not need to sponsor you at the start. That makes it easier to get a first job, and you can then move to an employment permit once you have an offer.

The length depends on the level of your qualification on the National Framework of Qualifications.

• A level 8 award, such as an honours bachelor's degree, gives 12 months.
• A level 9 award or above, such as a master's degree or doctorate, gives 24 months.

The 24 months are not given in one go. You receive two 12-month blocks, and you apply to renew for the second one. The detailed official guidance explains the total time you can spend in Ireland on student and graduate permissions, which is subject to a cap, so read it before you plan around the full period.

You must have completed a qualifying award from a recognised Irish third-level institution, and the award must be at a qualifying level. Your result must have been notified to you, because the application window runs from that notification.

Eligibility depends on the details of your course and permission history, so check your own case against the official guidance. Immigration Service Delivery has published a detailed document for this programme, and one of its short FAQ lines may read slightly differently from the full document. If you see a difference, follow the detailed guidance and contact Immigration Service Delivery to confirm.

You must apply within six months of being notified of your result. Do not wait until the end of that window. Your student permission has its own expiry date, and you need to make sure you do not fall out of status between the two.

Apply to Immigration Service Delivery using the process described on the official page. You will need your passport, your registration card, evidence of your award and evidence that you meet the conditions. Keep copies of everything you send.

You can work full time. You do not need an employment permit while you hold the permission, and you can take any job that suits you, not only jobs in a shortage occupation.

There are limits. You cannot be self-employed or operate a business on this permission. If you want to start a company, look at the Start-up Entrepreneur Programme instead.

Many graduates use the programme as a bridge. If you find a skilled job, your employer can apply for a Critical Skills Employment Permit or a General Employment Permit, depending on the salary and the role. Check the thresholds for each, because they have risen in 2026.

A graduate who has been offered a job should not wait until the last month of the programme. Employment permit applications must be received at least 12 weeks before the proposed start date, so plan the timeline early.

Keep your registration documents valid and keep proof of your qualification and your application. Check the official page for the documents it asks for when you apply.

If you plan to travel during the programme, check the rules before you go.

Treat the programme as a limited window. Employers who have not hired non-EEA workers before may not know that you can work without a permit, so say it clearly on your CV and in interviews.

Target jobs that could lead to an employment permit later. If your salary will meet the Critical Skills thresholds, the route can eventually lead to a Stamp 4 and long-term residence.

Do not miss the six-month window to apply.

Do not assume you can set up a business on this permission.

Do not wait until the last weeks to find a sponsor, because the permit process takes time.