--- title: "Ireland Graduate programme requirements 2026: 1-year stay" url: https://settleanywhere.com/countries/ireland/third-level-graduate-programme/ lang: en updated: 2026-10-11 --- Ireland · Work # Ireland Graduate programme **First stay:** 1 yr Third Level Graduate Programme (Stamp 1G) First checked against official sources on 11 Oct 2026 [Change log](https://settleanywhere.com/changes/) - **First stay:** 1 yr (12 months for a level 8 award; 12 months renewable for a further 12 months for a level 9 or above award.) - **Who can apply:** Most passports (Non-EEA graduates of Irish higher education; EU, EEA, Swiss and UK citizens are excluded.) - **Tax angle:** Tax relief (Ireland: remittance basis for residents who are not Irish-domiciled: An individual resident in Ireland who is not Irish-domiciled is taxed on foreign-sourced income and foreign capital gains only to the extent they are remitted to Ireland; Irish-source income is taxed in full and the income of a non-Irish employment is taxable on the remittance basis only for duties performed outside Ireland.) ## Key facts Graduate programme is a work route for Ireland. Checked 2026-10-11 against the official source. - **Government fees:** €300 ≈ $340 - **First stay:** 1 yr ## Cost, time and long term **Government fees: €300 ≈ $340** - EUR 300 (≈ $340) Registration fee per person. **Renewal: Renewable, 2 years max** 12 months for a level 8 award; a further 12 months can be added for a level 9 or above award. [Immigration Service Delivery, Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration](https://www.irishimmigration.ie/coming-to-study-in-ireland/third-level-graduate-programme/) **Citizenship: After 5 years of residence** Time on Stamp 1G as a graduate is reckonable residence for naturalisation, which needs 5 years in total. [Immigration Service Delivery](https://www.irishimmigration.ie/registering-your-immigration-permission/information-on-registering/immigration-permission-stamps/) **Where to apply: Inside the country** Open to graduates who hold a current Stamp 2 student permission and apply within six months of their results. [Immigration Service Delivery, Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration](https://www.irishimmigration.ie/coming-to-study-in-ireland/third-level-graduate-programme/) ## Why this route may not fit Check this before you apply. - Time on this route is capped at 2 years in total - Needs earlier residence or an existing status in Ireland - Not open to EU, EEA or Swiss passports, or passports from United Kingdom ### What you'll need #### Who can apply - The applicant holds a current Stamp 2 student permission and an up-to-date registration card. - The applicant holds a level 8 or level 9 award from a recognised Irish awarding body, notified in writing on or after 1 January 2017. - Apply within six months of being notified of the award. - Total time on student permission and Stamp 1G cannot exceed seven years, or eight years for a higher award. - A graduate cannot use the programme on more than two separate occasions. #### What you must show - The registration fee is EUR300 (≈ $340) per person. #### Documents - A copy of the award, the passport and medical insurance. #### After you arrive - Level 8 graduates get 12 months; level 9 or above get 12 months, renewable for a further 12 months if graduate-level job-search steps are shown. ## When you become tax resident How Ireland decides tax residence and treats foreign-source income, from its tax records. - **Stay on this route:** **Up to 2 years in total** - **Tax residence:** - **At least 183 days in a tax year** Resident if present in Ireland 183 days or more in the tax year. - **At least 280 days in the current and preceding tax year combined** Resident if present 280 days or more across two years, provided more than 30 days are spent in Ireland in the current year. - **Foreign-source income:** **Remittance basis (non-dom)** An individual resident in Ireland who is not Irish-domiciled is taxed on foreign-sourced income and foreign capital gains only to the extent they are remitted to Ireland; Irish-source income is taxed in full and the income of a non-Irish employment is taxable on the remittance basis only for duties performed outside Ireland. - **Special regime:** **Remittance basis for residents who are not Irish-domiciled** · Tax relief [All tax rules for Ireland](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/ireland/tax/) Tax records checked 10 Oct 2026 **Full official text** Permission for non-EEA graduates of an Irish level 8 or level 9 award to stay 12 months (up to 24 months for level 9 or above) to seek graduate-level employment and a general or critical skills employment permit. (sources 1, 2) #### What you must show and pay - A fee of EUR 300 (≈ $340) · Registration fee per person. (source 1) #### Requirements - The applicant holds a current Stamp 2 student permission and an up-to-date registration card. (source 1) - The applicant holds a level 8 or level 9 award from a recognised Irish awarding body, notified in writing on or after 1 January 2017. (source 1) - Apply within six months of being notified of the award. (source 1) - Total time on student permission and Stamp 1G cannot exceed seven years, or eight years for a higher award. (source 1) - A graduate cannot use the programme on more than two separate occasions. (source 1) - The registration fee is EUR300 (≈ $340) per person. (source 1) - A copy of the award, the passport and medical insurance. (source 1) - Level 8 graduates get 12 months; level 9 or above get 12 months, renewable for a further 12 months if graduate-level job-search steps are shown. (source 1) #### Stay - 12 months for a level 8 award; 12 months renewable for a further 12 months for a level 9 or above award. - Initial permitted stay: 12 months. - Renewable, subject to the conditions in force at renewal. #### Nationality Non-EEA graduates of Irish higher education; EU, EEA, Swiss and UK citizens are excluded. Not open to: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Switzerland, Cyprus, Czechia, Germany, Denmark, Estonia, Spain, Finland, France, United Kingdom, Greece, Croatia, Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Latvia, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, Slovenia, Slovakia. #### Work Work up to 40 hours a week without an employment permit while seeking graduate employment. Checked 2026-10-11 ## Official sources 1. [Third level graduate programme](https://www.irishimmigration.ie/coming-to-study-in-ireland/third-level-graduate-programme/) · Immigration Service Delivery, Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration · checked 2026-10-11 2. [Frequently asked questions for students](https://www.irishimmigration.ie/coming-to-study-in-ireland/frequently-asked-questions-for-students/) · Immigration Service Delivery · checked 2026-10-10 3. [Immigration permission/stamps (which stamps are reckonable)](https://www.irishimmigration.ie/registering-your-immigration-permission/information-on-registering/immigration-permission-stamps/) · Immigration Service Delivery (Department of Justice) · checked 2026-10-11 4. [Become an Irish citizen by naturalisation](https://www.irishimmigration.ie/how-to-become-a-citizen/become-an-irish-citizen-by-naturalisation/) · Immigration Service Delivery (Department of Justice) · checked 2026-10-11 ## Graduate programme and its alternatives | Route | Money needed | Stay | Work | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Graduate programme | – | 1 yr, renewable | – | | [Critical Skills permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/ireland/critical-skills-employment-permit/) | Needs income from €37k a year ≈ $41k | 2 yr, renewable | Yes | | [General Employment permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/ireland/general-employment-permit/) | Needs income from €33k a year ≈ $37k | 2 yr, renewable | – | | [Intra-company transfer permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/ireland/intra-company-transfer-permit/) | Needs income from €37k a year ≈ $41k | 2 yr, renewable | – | | [Blue Card](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/portugal/eu-blue-card/) Portugal | Needs income from €1,726 a month ≈ $1,930 | 2 yr, renewable | Limited | ## Questions people ask ### How much money do I need for the Graduate programme? A fee of EUR 300 (≈ $340). Registration fee per person. ### How long can I stay on the Graduate programme? 12 months for a level 8 award; 12 months renewable for a further 12 months for a level 9 or above award. ### Can I work on the Graduate programme? Work up to 40 hours a week without an employment permit while seeking graduate employment. ### Who can apply for the Graduate programme? Non-EEA graduates of Irish higher education; EU, EEA, Swiss and UK citizens are excluded. Not open to: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Switzerland, Cyprus, Czechia, Germany, Denmark, Estonia, Spain, Finland, France, United Kingdom, Greece, Croatia, Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Latvia, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, Slovenia, Slovakia. ### Is there a tax break for Graduate programme holders in Ireland? Ireland: remittance basis for residents who are not Irish-domiciled: An individual resident in Ireland who is not Irish-domiciled is taxed on foreign-sourced income and foreign capital gains only to the extent they are remitted to Ireland; Irish-source income is taxed in full and the income of a non-Irish employment is taxable on the remittance basis only for duties performed outside Ireland. It's separate from the visa and has its own conditions. ## Tax Special regime ### [Ireland: remittance basis for residents who are not Irish-domiciled](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/ireland/tax/#tax-ie-remittance-basis-non-domiciled) Tax relief Foreign-source income: Remittance basis (non-dom) **Details** - On: Actual sums remitted to Ireland out of foreign-source income An individual resident in Ireland who is not Irish-domiciled is taxed on foreign-sourced income and foreign capital gains only to the extent they are remitted to Ireland; Irish-source income is taxed in full and the income of a non-Irish employment is taxable on the remittance basis only for duties performed outside Ireland. #### Taxed on Actual sums remitted to Ireland out of foreign-source income (Schedule D Case III) and foreign gains; Irish-source income and Irish gains on the arising basis at ordinary rates (20% standard rate band and 40% higher rate in the Revenue example for 2026). #### Who it applies to - Resident in Ireland for the tax year and satisfies Revenue that they are not domiciled in the State (section 71 TCA 1997). #### Exclusions - Duties of a non-Irish employment performed in Ireland are taxed under Schedule E on the arising basis. - UK-source income is taxed on the arising basis (section 18 FA 2008). - Other statutory exceptions are listed in Part 7 of the manual. #### Days in the country - At least 183 days in tax year · Resident if present in Ireland 183 days or more in the tax year. - At least 280 days in current and preceding tax year combined · Resident if present 280 days or more across two years, provided more than 30 days are spent in Ireland in the current year. #### Tax residence Residence is by days of presence under section 819 TCA 1997; domicile is a separate general-law concept. #### Visas Not tied to a visa; SARP is a separate employment-income relief. #### Other taxes USC and PRSI follow their own rules; the Revenue manual notes the remittance basis is also available for foreign gains. Checked against official sources on 10 Oct 2026 [Change log](https://settleanywhere.com/changes/) [Full page →](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/ireland/tax/) ## More in Ireland [Working Holiday](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/ireland/working-holiday/) [Start-up Entrepreneur (STEP)](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/ireland/start-up-entrepreneur-programme/) [Student permission](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/ireland/student-stamp-2/) [Irish citizenship by descent](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/ireland/citizenship-foreign-births-register/) ## Work visas elsewhere [🇪🇸 EU Blue Card](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/spain/eu-blue-card/) [🇬🇪 IT sector permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/georgia/it-residence-permit/) [🇮🇹 Blue Card](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/italy/eu-blue-card/) [🇬🇷 Large-company director permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/greece/company-executive-b3/) [🇩🇪 Blue Card](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/germany/eu-blue-card/) [🇫🇷 Talent · Company officer](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/france/talent-corporate-officer/) ≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated. ## How this was checked **Checked on 2026-10-11 against 4 official sources.** Status: verified against the official sources. Every figure on this page comes from the official source it links to. The record was researched against these sources, then reviewed separately, with special attention to effective dates and amendments. Where a source does not state something, the page leaves it out. 1. [Third level graduate programme](https://www.irishimmigration.ie/coming-to-study-in-ireland/third-level-graduate-programme/) · Immigration Service Delivery, Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration · checked 2026-10-11 2. [Frequently asked questions for students](https://www.irishimmigration.ie/coming-to-study-in-ireland/frequently-asked-questions-for-students/) · Immigration Service Delivery · checked 2026-10-10 3. [Immigration permission/stamps (which stamps are reckonable)](https://www.irishimmigration.ie/registering-your-immigration-permission/information-on-registering/immigration-permission-stamps/) · Immigration Service Delivery (Department of Justice) · checked 2026-10-11 4. [Become an Irish citizen by naturalisation](https://www.irishimmigration.ie/how-to-become-a-citizen/become-an-irish-citizen-by-naturalisation/) · Immigration Service Delivery (Department of Justice) · checked 2026-10-11 Tracked since 2026-10-11. Rule changes and corrections are listed on the [changes page](https://settleanywhere.com/changes/), and the [methodology page](https://settleanywhere.com/methodology/) explains how facts are checked. Found something out of date? Email [contact@stayglobe.app](mailto:contact@stayglobe.app?subject=Correction) with a link to the official source.