Stamp 1G

Stamp 1G allows employment under several residence categories. These include Irish-educated graduates, eligible spouses and partners granted family reunification with General, Critical Skills and Intra-Corporate Transferee permit holders or Hosting Agreement researchers, and eligible minor children of specified permit holders.

We tailor Stamp 1G preparation to the basis of your permission. Graduate Stamp 1G, spouse or partner Stamp 1G and a child’s Stamp 1G have different requirements, so we start with the grant letter and registration record.

What it allows

For graduates, Stamp 1G allows a legally resident Irish-educated non-EEA graduate to remain in Ireland after study for the purpose of seeking graduate-level employment and applying for a General Employment Permit, Critical Skills Employment Permit or research Hosting Agreement.

ISD states that graduates on Stamp 1G can work full time in accordance with employment law requirements. Eligible spouses and partners granted family reunification with General, Critical Skills and Intra-Corporate Transferee permit holders or Hosting Agreement researchers can work on Stamp 1G without an employment permit. ISD extended this provision to General and Intra-Corporate Transferee permit holders’ spouses and partners in May 2024.

A major change took effect on 26 November 2025. ISD announced that dependant minor children of Critical Skills Employment Permit, General Employment Permit and Intra-Corporate Transferee permit holders, and researchers on Hosting Agreements, who were granted family reunification under the Non-EEA Family Reunification Policy, will be registered on Stamp 1G upon reaching 16 years of age.

Work restrictions and duration

Stamp 1G allows employment within the conditions of the grant. ISD states that graduate Stamp 1G holders may work full time, with business operation and self-employment excluded. The same restriction is listed for spouses and de facto partners on Stamp 1G.

Graduate Stamp 1G is time-limited. To continue working after it expires, the graduate must find a job that supports an employment permit and follow the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment application process.

Children moving from Stamp 3 conditions must meet the category requirements described by ISD. Those already holding Stamp 3 should keep the ISD letter with their IRP card until the replacement card is issued at renewal.

How you get it

Graduate Stamp 1G is linked to the Third Level Graduate Programme. ISD says the programme allows legally resident Irish-educated non-EEA graduates with a level 8 or level 9 award from a recognised Irish awarding body to remain in Ireland after their studies.

The graduate should prepare the award evidence, current Stamp 2 record, passport, IRP card and proof that the programme conditions are met. Course level matters, because ISD distinguishes between level 8 awards and level 9 or above awards.

Spouses and partners rely on the family reunification permission, their relationship to the eligible permit holder or researcher, and the sponsor’s permission. Minor children rely on the family reunification decision and the employment permit or Hosting Agreement category of the sponsor.

Renewal

Graduate Stamp 1G is time-limited. ISD says Stamp 1G is granted for 12 months only, except where a master’s degree programme has been completed, when a further 12 months can be provided subject to conditions.

The stamps page says spouse and de facto partner Stamp 1G should be renewed annually, and that after 5 years on Stamp 1G the person may apply for Stamp 4. For eligible minor children already in the State, ISD says a new Stamp 1G IRP card will issue when they renew their current Stamp 3 permission.

Whether it counts towards citizenship

ISD states that periods spent on Stamp 1G, either as a graduate student or as a spouse or de facto partner of a Critical Skills holder or Hosting Agreement researcher, are considered reckonable residence for citizenship or naturalisation.

The page does not confirm the citizenship position for every Stamp 1G category. Keep records of the basis of grant, dates, renewals and any change from Stamp 3 to Stamp 1G.

Where things go wrong

Graduates need to plan for the end of Stamp 1G, complete the employment permit step and observe the restriction on self-employment. Spouse and partner applications need current relationship and sponsor evidence, with renewal arranged on time.

For minor children, a current card may still show Stamp 3 during the transition. Keep ISD’s published letter explaining the Stamp 1G work conditions with the card so both are available to employers.

Common questions

Is Stamp 1G only for graduates?

No. Stamp 1G is also used for eligible spouses and partners of General, Critical Skills and Intra-Corporate Transferee permit holders, and researchers on Hosting Agreements, who have been granted family reunification. Since 26 November 2025, eligible dependant minor children of certain employment permit holders are also registered on Stamp 1G when they reach 16.

Can a Stamp 1G holder be self-employed?

Immigration Service Delivery says graduate Stamp 1G holders and spouse or partner Stamp 1G holders are not permitted to operate a business or be self-employed. They may work as employees within the conditions of the permission.