Master prompt
Stamp 1G post-study work + transition pathway (Ireland)
Third Level Graduate Scheme: 1y Bachelor / 2y Master / 2y Doctorate; plan transition to Stamp 1 (CSEP/GEP) or Stamp 4 (long-term).
IrelandStamp 1GThird Level GraduateCSEPStamp 4ILEPISD
You are advising [CLIENT_NAME] on the Stamp 1G Third Level Graduate Programme and the transition pathway to long-term Irish residence. The Stamp 1G regime is governed by the INIS / ISD Policy Document on Non-EEA Graduates (2017, updated 2022 + 2024).
GRADUATE PROFILE
- [CLIENT_NAME], age [CLIENT_AGE], Indian
- Institution: [IRISH_INSTITUTION]
- Programme: [PROGRAMME]
- On ILEP: Yes
- Award date: [AWARD_DATE]
- Current stamp at award: [CURRENT_STAMP]
- Job search: No offer yet
- Intent: Stay in Ireland on CSEP
§1 - STAMP 1G OVERVIEW
The Third Level Graduate Programme grants non-EEA graduates of Irish
ILEP-listed programmes the right to remain in Ireland to seek
employment after award, on a non-renewable Stamp 1G:
- NFQ Level 8 (Honours Bachelor): 1 year Stamp 1G (non-renewable)
- NFQ Level 9 (Master's): 2 years Stamp 1G (non-renewable)
- NFQ Level 10 (Doctorate): 2 years Stamp 1G (non-renewable)
Key conditions:
(a) Must hold Stamp 2 (student) at the date of award
(b) Programme must be on ILEP at time of enrolment AND time of award
(c) Award must be conferred (transcripts insufficient; need a degree
parchment or confirmation of conferral from the institution)
(d) Application within 6 months of award (typically)
(e) Stamp 1G permits any employment up to 40 hrs/wk WITHOUT a
separate employment permit
(f) Cannot be used to maintain residence indefinitely - it is a
bridge, not a destination
§2 - ELIGIBILITY ASSESSMENT FOR [CLIENT_NAME]
Run through gating:
Gate 1 - ILEP status:
Yes - if YES, proceed. If NO, [CLIENT_NAME] is NOT
eligible for Stamp 1G regardless of grade. Recommend the institution
confirm ILEP listing for the cohort year of enrolment.
Gate 2 - Current stamp:
[CURRENT_STAMP] - must be Stamp 2 in date at award. If expired,
must renew Stamp 2 before applying for Stamp 1G.
Gate 3 - Award conferred:
Confirmation needed from registrar that [PROGRAMME] is conferred at
[AWARD_DATE]. If delayed (resit, viva, thesis amendment), the
Stamp 1G window starts at actual conferral.
Gate 4 - NFQ level mapping:
Parse [PROGRAMME]:
- "BSc/BA/BBA" 3-yr -> NFQ 7 (Ordinary Bachelor) -> NOT eligible
unless 4-yr Honours -> NFQ 8 -> 1y Stamp 1G
- "MSc/MBA/MA" -> NFQ 9 -> 2y Stamp 1G
- "PhD/DBA" -> NFQ 10 -> 2y Stamp 1G
State result: [CLIENT_NAME] eligible for [1y / 2y] Stamp 1G / NOT
eligible. If borderline, identify the gating issue.
§3 - APPLICATION MECHANICS
- Apply online via the INIS / ISD AVATS or appropriate portal (or
in-person renewal at Burgh Quay for Dublin residents, regional
registration offices elsewhere)
- Documents:
* Current passport
* Current Irish Residence Permit (IRP)
* Letter from awarding institution confirming conferral, programme,
NFQ level, ILEP status
* Original award parchment (if available)
* Recent transcripts
* Evidence of financial means for the Stamp 1G duration (typically
EUR 7,000+ for 1y / EUR 14,000+ for 2y - verify current ISD figure)
* Private medical insurance for the Stamp 1G duration
* Recent address proof
* Fee EUR 300 IRP card (verify)
- Outcome: new IRP card showing Stamp 1G + expiry date
§4 - WHAT [CLIENT_NAME] CAN DO ON STAMP 1G
- Take ANY employment up to 40 hrs/wk without separate work permit
- Self-employment / freelance - permitted within reason but cannot
take this as a long-term route (no business-permit substitute)
- Cannot leave Ireland for prolonged periods (would jeopardise
continuity of residence for future Stamp 4 calculations)
- Family reunification on Stamp 1G is generally NOT available
(children may join on Stamp 3 in narrow circumstances)
- Reckonable for naturalisation: Stamp 1G time IS reckonable under
INCA 1956 s.15
§5 - TRANSITION OPTIONS AT END OF STAMP 1G
Three principal paths:
Path A - Transition to Stamp 1 via CSEP
- During Stamp 1G, secure an offer that meets CSEP criteria
(CSOL occupation + EUR 38,000+, or unlisted at EUR 64,000+)
- Employer applies for CSEP via DETE EPOS portal
- On grant, [CLIENT_NAME] surrenders Stamp 1G and registers as
Stamp 1 (CSEP)
- Continues toward Stamp 4 at 21 months CSEP
Path B - Transition to Stamp 1 via GEP
- Offer with non-CSOL non-IOL occupation at EUR 38,000+
- Employer must run LMNT (28-day advertising on JobsIreland +
newspaper / recruitment site)
- On grant, Stamp 1 (GEP); Stamp 4 after 5y aggregate Stamp 1
Path C - Transition to Stamp 4 via 5-year reckonable residence
- If Stamp 2 + Stamp 1G combined approaches 5 years and there is
continuous employment + ISD discretion, consider direct Stamp 4
application (rare; depends on stamp history)
- More common path: convert to Stamp 1 first, then build to Stamp 4
For [CLIENT_NAME] given Stay in Ireland on CSEP and No offer yet,
recommended path: A / B / C - state with rationale.
§6 - STRATEGIC SEQUENCING
Best practice:
Month -3 to 0 (pre-award):
- Update CV, LinkedIn
- Begin job applications targeting CSOL employers (Stripe, Workday,
Accenture, HSE, Pfizer, Intel)
- Network at TechIreland / Engineers Ireland / Bar Council events
- If on Stamp 2, ensure renewal not lapsed
Month 0 (award):
- Get conferral confirmation letter from registrar immediately
- Apply for Stamp 1G within 30 days; do not let Stamp 2 lapse
Month 1-12 (Stamp 1G year 1):
- Convert offer to CSEP if possible by month 6-9
- Avoid jobs on IOL (Stamp 1G permits them; transition to CSEP/GEP
will NOT, dead-end the route)
- Maintain payroll evidence, payslips, Revenue records
Month 13-24 (Stamp 1G year 2 if Master's/PhD):
- If still no CSEP offer, this is risk territory - escalate job
search, consider salary negotiation to hit thresholds
- At month 18-21 of Stamp 1G, begin CSEP application paperwork
Month 24 (end of Stamp 1G):
- Stamp 1G is non-renewable - MUST transition to Stamp 1 (CSEP/GEP)
OR depart Ireland
- Cannot "buy time" by enrolling in a second NFQ 9 course at the
same level (ISD will deny Stamp 2; Quality and Qualifications
Ireland progression rules apply)
§7 - LONG-RUN ROADMAP (Indicative)
For an Indian Master's graduate aiming for Irish citizenship:
Year 1 (Stamp 2 - Master's): not reckonable for citizenship
Year 2-3 (Stamp 1G): reckonable; build job market
Year 4-5 (Stamp 1 CSEP): reckonable; family reunification immediate
Year 6 (Stamp 4 application at month 21 of CSEP): reckonable
Year 6-9 (Stamp 4): reckonable
Year 9 - naturalisation eligibility under INCA 1956 s.15
(5y reckonable residence in 9y window + 1y continuous immediately
before application)
For a Bachelor's graduate (1y Stamp 1G), the timeline runs 1 year
shorter overall.
§8 - RISK FLAGS
- ILEP de-listing - if institution loses ILEP status mid-programme,
[CLIENT_NAME] may lose Stamp 1G eligibility despite completing
award. Confirm with registrar.
- Stamp lapse - even 1-day gap between Stamp 2 expiry and Stamp 1G
grant breaks continuous residence and threatens future Stamp 4
application. Apply early.
- IOL trap on Stamp 1G - taking a retail/admin job on Stamp 1G is
permitted (Stamp 1G doesn't gate occupation) but will not convert
to CSEP/GEP. Job-market choice is strategic.
- Spouse on Stamp 3 - if [CLIENT_NAME] sponsored spouse onto Stamp 3
during Stamp 2 student period, that Stamp 3 dependency continues
through Stamp 1G; spouse should plan for Stamp 1G / DPP transition
when [CLIENT_NAME] moves to CSEP.
OUTPUT FORMAT
Sections 1-8. Cite Policy Document on Non-EEA Graduates (2017+) inline.
End with a one-line recommendation: "Stamp 1G duration: [1y/2y]. Target
transition: [Path A/B/C] by month [X]. Citizenship eligible from
[YEAR]."
End with: "DRAFT - for solicitor or qualified immigration consultant review. Verify against current DETE + ISD guidance before submission."Unlock the vault to see the full prompt