Ireland Stamp 1 and Stamp 1A

• You can only start a job or enter employment if you or your employer have secured an employment permit on your behalf; or
• You can only start a job or enter employment if your letter of permission exempts you from needing an employment permit.
• You can’t do any business, trade or profession unless you have authorisation through a letter of permission from the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS).

If you need to remain in Ireland, you must apply for permission and registration renewal before the expiry date of your immigration permit.

Who Is Eligible for Immigration Permission Renewal?

Only applicants working under employment permits or operating a business, trade, or profession can apply for renewal of permission. Suppose your permission is based on Working Holiday Authorisation. In that case, you must leave Ireland on or before the expiry date of your Working Holiday Authorisation.

However, as a non-EEA citizen, you must obtain a valid employment permit to work in Ireland.

Required Documents for Stamp 1

The following are the documents you need to apply for stamp 1:

• Valid passport.
• Authentic Employment Permit or permission letter from the Minister for Justice, along with the supporting documentation listed in the letter, allowing you to work in Ireland.
• Registration fee of €300 (payable with credit or debit card).

One part of the stamp 1 permission is entering Ireland with an employment permit. There are nine types of work permits  in Ireland, which are:

• Contract for services employment permit.
• Critical skills employment permit.
• Dependent/Partner/ Spouse employment permit.
• Exchange agreement employment permit.
• Intra-Company Transfer employment permit.
• General employment permit.
• Internship employment permit.
• Reactivation employment permit.
• Sport and culture employment permit.

As a stamp 1 permission holder, if you need a work permit that can enable you to work anywhere, your best option is General Employment Permit.

Compared to all the types of employment permits, the general employment permit covers a broad range of employment. It provides a one-year employment contract opportunity. However, before applying, you need to be sure your occupation is not on the Ineligible List of Occupations.

Who Can Apply for a General Employment Permit?

Only foreign nationals or potential employers are eligible to apply for General Employment Permits. Once the application is approved, the relevant immigration authority will issue you your permit. At the same time, your employer gets a certified copy of your permit. The copy indicates to your employer that you have been granted permission to work in the occupation and business location stipulated in the application.

A General Employment Permit on the first issue is valid for 2 years. It is valid for three years upon renewal. After five years short-term residency, you are eligible to apply for long-term residency at the Immigration Service Delivery (ISD). If successful, you will be granted permission to work in Ireland for an additional five years without applying for a permit.

Eligibility Requirements

There are requirements the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment will review for eligibility when considering your employment permit applications.

The core of a General Employment Permit eligibility is the employment contract from a credible employer. The employer must meet the following criteria:

• Be registered with the Revenue Commissioners.
• Be registered with the Companies Registration Office or Registry or Friendly Societies (if required).
• Be trading in Ireland.

Other requirements include the following:

• Complete detail of your employment offer. It must not be on the Ineligible List of Occupations.
• Complete detail of your qualifications, skills, and experience relating to the employment.
• Minimum annual income, which is typically €30,000.
• Some categories require a lesser amount of minimum annual income – €27,000. They are:

Healthcare Assistant

As a healthcare assistant applicant:

• You must have previous employment as a healthcare assistant in Ireland.
• Your previous employment must be on an employment permit for two or more years in Ireland.
• You must have a copy of a Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) level 5 qualification.

Irish Non-EEA Student

As a non-EEA, you must:

• Have completed a third-level graduate programme in Ireland in not more than 12 months.
• Have a job offer (graduate role) from the Critical Skills Occupations List.

However, you must have a minimum annual income of €30,000 at the renewal phase.

International Non-EEA Student

As a non-EEA student from an international third-level institution, you must:

• Have completed a third-level graduate programme in the last 12 months from a third-level programme outside Ireland.
• Have a job offer for ICT professional (graduate role) from the Critical Skills Occupations List

However, you must have a minimum annual income of €30,000 at the renewal phase.

Foreign Language

This employment category is for positions requiring persons eloquent with an official language of a non-EEA state. The enterprise development agency must approve the employment. The employment is in the following roles:

• Customer service and sales. Key knowledge of products is necessary for this role.
• Digital marketing specialist and sales.
• Language support specialist.
• Technical sales support specialist.

Although the general employment permit covers critical skills occupation, you can apply directly for a necessary skills employment permit if you have the high skills in demand.

Critical Skills Employment Permit

The Critical Skills Employment Permit enables highly skilled people to access work opportunities in the labour market while taking up permanent residence in Ireland.

This type of work permit makes you eligible for jobs that are critical to Ireland’s economic growth. These jobs are in high demand in the labour market and require high skills. It does not require a labour market needs test.

You are eligible for family reunification as a critical skills employment permit holder. Your dependent family members can apply for an employment permit to work.

Who Can Apply for a Critical Skills Employment Permit?

Like general employment, you or your employer can apply for a critical skills employment permit. Once the application is approved, the relevant immigration authority will issue you your permit. At the same time, your employer gets a certified copy of your permit. The copy indicates to your employer that you have been granted permission to work in the occupation and business location stipulated in the application.

More importantly, your job contract must last two years to qualify for a Critical Skills Employment Permit.

Check here for more information.

Application is online; ensure to follow the application guide for the application step and requirements that apply to your country. Before you apply for immigration permission, ensure to have the following:

• Passport details – number, issue and expiry date.
• Previous Irish Visa/Preclearance application details.
• Previous visa refusals from any country details.
• Prior criminal convictions or pending charges.
• Host or sponsor’s contact information.
• Itinerary.
• Passport photographs.
• Relevant fee.
• Other supporting documents.

Depending on your country, the website may direct you to the Irish Embassy/Consulate/Visa Office for submission. The website details how to submit your application form, documents, and payment.

Suppose you live outside Ireland, and your application is approved. In that case, you need a visa to enter Ireland, especially if you are a citizen of a visa-required country.

You must have processed your employment permit before leaving your country; you must provide it to the immigration officer at the airport or port of entry to Ireland for inspection. You must register with your local immigration office in the area you will reside when you arrive in Ireland to get your Irish Residence Permit (IRP).