Ireland's Student Visa, Stamp 2 and Two-Year Graduate Work Permission for ASEAN Students

Stamp 2: your permission while you study

If you are an ASEAN student admitted to a full-time course on the Interim List of Eligible Programmes (ILEP) , you register in Ireland on Stamp 2 immigration permission. Stamp 2 lets you work part time, up to 20 hours a week during teaching term, and full time during official college holiday periods. You must stay enrolled full time on your ILEP-listed course to keep this permission valid, and you renew your registration each year through Immigration Service Delivery.

Third Level Graduate Programme (Stamp 1G): staying on to work

Once you complete a qualifying Irish degree, you can apply to switch from Stamp 2 to Stamp 1G under the Third Level Graduate Programme. This is Ireland's post-study work permission for non-EU, non-EEA, non-Swiss and non-UK graduates, and it lets you work in Ireland without first securing a job offer or an employment permit.

How long you get

• Bachelor's degree (NFQ Level 8, honours): up to 12 months of Stamp 1G permission.

• Master's or doctoral degree (NFQ Level 9 or 10): up to 24 months, granted as an initial 12 months and then a further 12-month renewal.

Eligibility

To qualify, you need to hold current Stamp 2 permission with an up-to-date Irish Residence Permit card, and your qualification must come from an institution and programme listed on the ILEP at Level 8 or above. Apply within 6 months of getting your official degree result. You also cannot have already used up the 7-year overall limit that applies to non-EU/EEA students staying in Ireland on a student immigration status.

Fee and work rights

The Stamp 1G application carries a EUR 300 fee. Once approved, you can work full time, up to 40 hours a week, for any employer, and you are not restricted to work related to your field of study. You cannot use Stamp 1G to become self-employed or to run your own business.

Using Stamp 1G to move into longer-term work status

Stamp 1G itself is temporary and does not renew beyond its 12 or 24-month grant. Use this window to find an employer willing to sponsor you for an employment permit, most commonly the General Employment Permit or Critical Skills Employment Permit, before your Stamp 1G expires, since that is the route that lets you continue working in Ireland after the graduate programme period ends.

What ILEP means and why it matters

The Interim List of Eligible Programmes is Ireland's official list of courses that qualify international students for student immigration permission and, later, for the Third Level Graduate Programme. A course sitting outside the ILEP will not support your Stamp 2 status or your later Stamp 1G application, regardless of the institution's general reputation. Confirm your specific course is ILEP-listed before you accept an offer, not after you arrive, since this single check determines whether your entire study-to-work pathway in Ireland works as planned.

Health insurance and other Stamp 2 conditions

Alongside full-time ILEP enrollment, Stamp 2 holders need private medical insurance covering their stay in Ireland, since the public health system does not automatically cover non-EU/EEA students. You also register your address and renew your Irish Residence Permit card annually through Immigration Service Delivery, and this card needs to stay current and unexpired at the point you apply for Stamp 1G.

After Stamp 1G: moving to an employment permit

Stamp 1G itself does not renew past its 12 or 24-month grant, so use that window to secure a job and move onto a standard employment permit before it expires. The two main routes are the General Employment Permit and the Critical Skills Employment Permit, both issued by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, and both require an employer to sponsor you rather than being self-service like Stamp 1G. Start your employer search well before your Stamp 1G midpoint, since permit processing itself takes additional time on top of your job search.

Applying for Stamp 1G step by step

1. Confirm your programme and institution sit on the ILEP for the year you studied.

2. Get your official degree result confirmation from your college or university.

3. Gather your current Irish Residence Permit card, passport, and proof of your qualification level.

4. Submit your Stamp 1G application through Immigration Service Delivery within 6 months of your result date, along with the EUR 300 fee.

5. Wait for your permission to be granted, then register your new Stamp 1G status and update your Irish Residence Permit accordingly.

Keep copies of every document you submit, since employers and future permit applications often ask you to show your Stamp 1G approval alongside your original qualification proof.

Practical timeline for ASEAN students

Plan your Stamp 1G application as soon as your final results are confirmed rather than waiting for your formal graduation ceremony, since the 6-month application window starts from your degree result date. Keep your Irish Residence Permit renewal current throughout your studies so the switch to Stamp 1G is not delayed by an expired registration card.