Introduced in 2007, Stamp 1G also known as the post-graduate visa or the third level graduate programme was set up to attract and incentivise high performing students to pursue higher education in Ireland and stay back to meet identified skills and language gaps in the economy.
On 24th January 2017, during our meeting with the then-Honourable Minister for Justice and Equality, Frances Fitzgerald, we learned that the Minister had agreed to extend the Stamp 1G from 12 to 24 months following the Department of Education's consultation, and on 31st May 2017, a newly revised scheme was published on INIS's website for students coming to Ireland to pursue a Level 9 (Masters) or above the national framework.
7 Important points for students: This scheme applies to any student who graduated on or after 1st January 2017 and has received written notification from the college/awarding body of accomplishment of their degree.
Students must apply within 6 months of receipt of graduation and hold a valid Stamp 2 IRP card;
The student must have not exceeded the 7-year limit as a student in the state;
Students may re-enter the third level graduate programme and be awarded 12 months of Stamp 1G if they have re-enrolled upon a Level 9 or above, even after the initial 12 months have been utilised post completing the Level 8, subjected to an 8-year limit;
Students must be of good character and not have come to the adverse attention of the authorities in any way;
Graduates with a Level 8 degree are granted permission to work full time in the state for 12 months;
Graduates with a Level 9 degree or above are granted permission to work full time in the state for 24 months, given for 12 months initially: To renew your Stamp 1G for a further 12 months, the student must show evidence that he/she has been registered with recruitment agencies, attending job interviews and copies of rejection emails.
For the Attention of Employers:
Employers may hire such graduates on a full-time basis under the Stamp 1G permission, as opposed to those with limited work permission under the Stamp 2 student terms. Graduates are permitted to work full time in accordance with employment law regulations throughout the term of permission given under the Programme, but are not permitted to establish a company or be self-employed.
Holders of Stamp 1G are free from the requirement to obtain a Department of Jobs, Enterprise, and Innovation work permit. However, in the interest of regulating access to the labour market, that Department may alter this policy at any time if such action is deemed essential.
Lack of awareness on Stamp 1G in the labour market.
We launched a campaign on 7th April 2018 at the National Youth Council of Ireland's Young Voices event, urging the Irish government to uphold its founding principle of opportunity equality.
This initiative advocated for all non-EU students who earned their degrees in Ireland. Those who are familiar with Irish culture, have established themselves in an already overloaded property market, have invested significant amounts in Irish education and are equipped with appropriate expertise to avoid being denied opportunities due to their lack of a stamp 4 or an EU passport.
The government must educate businesses about young non-EU graduates' full-time employment rights under Stamp 1G.
The campaign was later picked up by Dublin Inquirer, an independent weekly online newspaper started in June 2015 with the aim of providing comprehensive coverage of city issues.
Email from the Department
Senator Neale Richmond, the Irish Universities Association, the Irish Council of International Students, the Ireland India Council, and the Ireland India Business Council have all raised concerns about Stamp 1G.
End result, here is an example where recruiters have finally started to recognise and accept Stamp 1G applicants.
We recommend that all individuals include a brief statement on the front page of their CVs describing what Stamp 1G is, as well as the Department's screenshot above.
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