Since April this year there has been yet another product from the Dept. of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. This one is called the “Third Level Graduate Scheme“, which allows a “legally resident non-EEA third level graduates to remain in Ireland for the purpose of seeking employment and applying for a Green Card or Work Permit“. This may seem like a mouthful, but what it means is that once you have finished your studies in Ireland, you now apply for permission to look for a job here. They will give you 6 months to find such a position, otherwise you will have to leave.
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Who can Apply
This permit is for anyone who will be receiving a primary, masters or doctorate degree from an Irish third level educational institution.
Length of Permit
The graduate is allowed to stay for 1 stay of up to 6 months after the date they receive their exam results. The purpose of these 6 months is to give the graduate a chance to find a job that would allow them to qualify for an Irish Green Card.
How to Apply
The relevant forms can be picked up from a local Garda station, and you will need to include the following in your application:
- An original signed letter from the college registrar’s office stating your completion of your course.
- Current Passport (this must be valid for at least 6 months after the end of any such permit)
- Certification of Registration issued by Garda National Emigration Bureau.
Conclusion
With this permit you can legally work 40-hours a week without a further employment permit. And unless you receive an Irish Green Card or get another valid permission to stay under some other scheme you will be required to leave the country.



I am currently doing my PgC BMS from the University of Ulster, I am a practicing BMS with a Degree in Medical Lab Sciences from India and have 25 years of work experience (including 15 years experience overseas)my field of specializing is Histology,My date of birth is 04 August 1957.
Please suggest to me if I stand a chance to migrate and work in Ireland as experienced senior skilled medical worker?
Bhaskar : you don’t qualify for the Third Level Graduate Scheme Permit Program as you are not studying in the Republic of Ireland. But if you find a job, in the medical industry, you have a good chance of getting a green card. Remember you need a 2 year contract and at least €30k in wages. Either you or your employer can apply once you have a job offer.
Thank you Mr. Paul for your kind suggestions, please enlighten me as to what value is this 30 currency. how much does it equal in Sterling pound or in Irish currency.
it’s called the Euro , Symbol € , and live exchange rates can been seen on http://www.xe.com/
Hi. I’m currently in law school in the states. After I wrap up my degree, I learned that I can take the New York bar and then qualify to sit for a transfer test to get an Irish Solicitor’s license. Can any kind of lawyer qualify for a green card? And after I take the Qualifying Lawyer’s Transfer Exam in Ireland do I get 6 months to look for work? Thanks for your help! This site is great.
Hi, after completion of bachelors in ireland , can i apply for work permit
hi.should i finish my acca part 3 in ireland, do i qualify for this Third Level Graduate Scheme permit?
hello mr.paul, I am a non-eu, have been living in Ireland as student, finished the graduate diploma in management studies, well intending to study Master of business managent, well i want to knw after finishing the masters in Ireland , can I get a green card or working visa, if yes then how? what catageries of work i wud need to study my masters in..becoz i wud be business studying analyst after finshing tht..? thanks for ur reply
first things first khurram, this is the internet, not a mobile phone platform, so please use proper words. We are not limited here for space. You can find a list of what jobs qualify for a green card here : http://www.greencard.ie/greencard/5-article.html If you find a job in these areas you can get a green card.
jassica : where did you get your ACCA accreditation from ? Is it an Irish third level educational institution. But I fear it fails on the grounds that it’s not primary, masters or doctorate degree.
Jessica : I don’t think so, as it’s not a primary, masters or doctorate degree.
kumar : yes you can.
Paul
hello mr. paul, thanks for your reply, well could you please let us know that what do they mean by primary degree? they mean may be higher national diploma or graduate diploma? what do they mean by that…we are so thankful the way you are helping us.
khurram : Primary Degree is like a Bachelor of Engineering (BE) or Bachelor of Science (BSc), a Higher Diploma is a follow on qualification after you have completed a Bachelors. A Masters would be equivalent to a Graduate Diploma. Again these need to be from a 3rd Level intuition, like UCC or DCU, etc.
paul
thanks again mr.paul, well i have one more question paul that, the colleges and universities on department of justice’s website are the only approved institutions by immigration , if I go for any other college which is not on their list, would I be able to apply for green card after completion of the degree course? please reply me
khurram: you can see the list here http://www.nui.ie/ . If you don’t qualify for the graduate scheme, you will need to leave the country. If you get a job offer you might qualify for a green card. Check http://www.greencard.ie for more info.
paul
hello to all
Myself Amit, I am wandering to know some more specific information in relation to Green Card or Work Permit.
My Question is Under what category of Green Card , do the following job titles comes.
1) Network Administrator
2) Networ Support Engineer
3)System Engineer
4)Technical Support Engineer
5) Deskside Support Engineer
6)IT Administrator.
7)IT Cordinator
Network Analyst
actually recently I have finished Master’s degree in Computing Science degree , and soon I will be on Graduate scheme Visa , and will start looking for jobs.
all these titles jobs offers 30K or near pacakage to an employee.
so is it necessary to have same titles of Job as mentioned in Green Card Catalogues at http://www.entemp.ie ? do all these jobs comes under Netwrok Professionall category ? I will be very thankful, if anyone can reply my questions… all my future depends on these answers because I need to have correct information with me .
is there anybody else who is under processing of Green Card/ Work Permit after getting a Graduate Scheme Visa . who can Advise me what steps do i
follow??
Please reply all replies are Welcome .. thanks to all in advance ..
Amit
Hello Paul can you plesase advise me on my last Post
Hi,Paul, I will be appreciated if you could answer my question.
I am in Ireland on base of green card, my wife is here also on student visa(stamp 2), she is due to complete here master degree next year. I just wonder if she finish her degree and wants to apply for the spouse work permit, does she have to leave the country to apply for the spouse work permit or she can stay in Ireland while applying for the spouse permit?
Thanks a lot.
Hello Mr Paul, This is Naveen completed MBA in India, righ now studing in Limerick Ireland, Doing my post graduation Diploma in Management Studies… I have 3 years of work experience in India I have worked for insurance company and Us recruiting companies… Kindly suggest me how can i get work permit in ireland Thanks for your valable time
Hi Paul,
I am a non-eu, have been living in Ireland in spouse visa. I heard that the spouses of a working visa holder will get the permit to work in Ireland. Could you please tell me the procedure to get that permit and the eligibility criteria?…or please tell me where i can get this information? thanks for your valuable time
hi,i live in pakistan.i have done masters in economics.i am married with towo toddlers.i wish to immigrate to ireland via availing third level graduate scheme.can i come to study with my kids?i have extended family residing in dublin.thank you for your time.
tabassum : This offer is ONLY available for people who have studied IN Ireland.
Martin : you need to contact the DETE as far as I know
Naveen : Naveen find a job that will get you a work permit. There is a list of jobs that qualify, so simply find one of those
Hui : I am not 100% but I think she can still apply while in Ireland. But do ask the DETE directly
Amit: it sounds more like ICT Professional. Here is the list of jobs that qualify for a green card.
hi everyone I am adil and economics graduate from UCD and currently holding graduate visa (6 month graduate visa). I am wondering what catogaries of job should i apply in order to qualify for work permit/green card scheme. Thanks
hi i am doing my masters in business strategy in grafton college .can anyone tell me if grafton cllg is in the list of third level institutions.
i am in spouse visa. i have done three year diploma in electronics and communication engg. in India. 12 years work experience. eployers asking work permit to offer a job. how can i get a work permit. thanks
Hi.
I’m doing the professional diploma in accounting at DCU. It’s one year full time study. Does this count for the graduate scheme 6 month visa? Cheers
Hi Paul,
I am on graduate visa right now, I have done B.Tech from DIT Bolton street. just wanted to know that can i qualify for green card. also mechanical engineering is not in the list of jobs which qualify for green card. and does 30k rule apply to graduates also. Thanks.
Hi Paul,
I am Kumar, a non-EU Citizen. I have completed my Higher Diploma in computers in Sept 2007 and have registered for masters in Computing Science(Due this sept). My Visa was extended on the same basis. I have not availed the graduation scheme which is actually available to all the graduates from the reputed College.
I wish you can answer the following questions and help me regarding the same.
Actually, I got the job in IT with all the requirements to start filing for the Green Card. But, the company manager is in doubt about the conversion and the possible time for the conversion from a student Visa to Work visa/green card. Moreover, Can I avail the graduation scheme, as there are 10 days left for the 6 months of my graduation? Actually, the exam results were posted on 18th of September.So will the Scheme be available till the end of march or just till 18th of march?
I hope you answer these Questions and help me out in this for further contacts with my employer.
Thanking you.
Warm regards.
Hi sir,
I am Srilatha,a non-Eu Citizen.I have completed my Post graduation degree in Msc Home Science(Human Development)in India.In Ireland iam staying with my husband with stamp 3,dependent spouse visa.I applied here for Foreign Qualification recognition in Ireland.They have compared to an Irish Qualification and given me Level 9.Am i eligible to apply Third Level Graduate Scheme Permit?
Hi Paul,
Please, sir I need answers to the following questions to enables me make a decision. (1)What is Third Level Degree? (2)I am a non EU citizen, do I qualify to work in Ireland? (3)What do I need to do to qualify for the Irelan Green Card?
Thank you
Johnson:a 3rd level degress is a qualification form a 3rd level institute, i.e a University in Ireland.
As for a greencard, use the search function. There is more than enough info on here about it.
srilatha : only degrees from Ireland qualify.
my name is rajiv pal singh advocate,
i am bca. llb. and i wanna be lawyer in eu.kan u
suggest me relevent course of study in ireland.