International Students and Working in Ireland (part 1)

In the first of a 2 part article, Caroline Kennedy looks at the various eligibility for international students who wish to work while studying in Ireland. Part 2 tomorrow.

Published 10 September 2009

The number of foreign students in Ireland has increased by 170% over the past decade and in 2008 there were over 12,000 of full-time international third level students bringing over €500million to the economy annually. 

Students from over 114 countries are currently studying in Ireland.  20% of those are from the United States and other countries in the Top 5 include Malaysia, Britain, Germany, and China.  
A number of different schemes are in operation that allow for the employment of non EEA graduates.  

As expected the number of work permits granted has decreased over the last two years – 2007 saw 10, 134 new permits, 2008 recorded 8,481 new permits and to date in 2009 there have been 2,623 work permits issued.

In April the Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment (DETE) announced a number of changes to the employment permit system, enforceable since 1 June 2009.


Who can work in Ireland without a permit?

All EEA/Swiss citizens except those from Bulgaria or Romania who still need work permits to work in Ireland, (http://www.entemp.ie/labour/workpermits/index.htm ).  The EEA includes all the countries of the EU plus the states of Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein.
Stamp 4 holders. These are issued to people on work visas, refugees, people with Leave to Remain status, and spouses of Irish and EU citizens.
Stamp 2 holders. International Students who are on full-time courses can work part-time during the academic year and full-time during the summer holidays
People on Working Holiday Visas

Work Permissions

Graduates of Irish Higher Education institutions from outside the EEA require one of three different types of permission depending on their circumstances.
·    Third Level Graduate Scheme,
·    Green Cards
·    Work Permits

Another option for graduates studying accountancy includes:
·    Stamp 1a

1. Third Level Graduate Scheme

Under the Graduate Scheme, third level degree students can remain in Ireland for six months from the date of their examination results to allow them sufficient time to seek employment. Thereafter, if they secure employment, an application can be made for either a Green Card or Work Permit.


·    The new graduate may work for up to 40 hours per week in any sector without an employment permit. They cannot engage in self-employment or operate a business within Ireland.
·    Once the six-month extension to stay has expired, the graduate is no longer legally resident in Ireland, unless they switch over to another immigration scheme.

Details are available
on www.entemp.ie/labour/workpermits/graduatescheme.htm.





2. Green Card Scheme

The Green Card permit is issued for an initial period of two years and is an employment permit that allows employees to be employed in the State by the named employer, in the occupation specified on the permit.
·    For occupations with annual salaries of €60,000 or more regardless of the job title.
·    For a restricted list of occupations with annual salaries of €30,000 to €59,999.
·    The company must be registered and trading in Ireland
·    The international student must be employed, salaried and paid directly by the employer.
·    An employment permit will not be granted to companies where a consequence of granting the permit would be that more than 50% of employees in the firm would be non-EEA nationals.
·    A labour market needs test is not required for a Green Card application
·    Employees can apply for immediate family re-unification


Green Card applications since 1 June 2009 - Eligible occupations (annual salary between €30,000 – €59,999)
As a skills shortage no longer exists in certain occupations and industries, these occupations were removed from the Green Card eligible list, where the salary is in the range €30,000 – €59,000 . The changes to the Green Card system only apply to first-time permit applicants who apply on or after 1 June 2009.   The updated list is below.

   
       
      
       
      
       

  
       
        
    


Caroline Kennedy is the Communications Officer for Graduate Careers Ireland - the representative body for Careers Services in higher education in Ireland, north and south and is the Careers and Opportunities Officer at National College of Ireland