The short answer
- Two groups get Stamp 1G: graduates of Irish colleges, and the partners and children of employment permit holders and researchers.
- Work: full time, for any employer, without an employment permit.
- No business: you can’t be self-employed or run a business on Stamp 1G.
- What next: partners and children can move to Stamp 4 after 5 years. Graduates need an employment permit first.
Find your path to Stamp 4
Tell us how you’re on Stamp 1G and when it started. You’ll see when Stamp 4 becomes possible, and what changes when it does.
1G to 4 path finder
When you could move from Stamp 1G to Stamp 4, and what changes when you do.
What changes on Stamp 4
Worked out in your browser: nothing you enter is sent to us or saved. Based on ISD’s stamps and Stamp 4 upgrades pages and its family reunification policy; ISD decides each application.
Stamp 1G at a glance
| Graduate | Partner | Child | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who | Level 8 or above from an Irish college | Spouse, civil or de facto partner of a permit holder or researcher | Dependent child of a permit holder or researcher |
| Work | Full time, no permit | Full time, no permit | Stamp 1G conditions once they register at 16 |
| Business or self-employment | No | No | No |
| How long | 12 months, or 24 at level 9 | Renewed every year | Renewed with the parent’s permit and IRP card |
| Leads to Stamp 4 | Only through an employment permit | After 5 years as a dependant | After 5 years as a dependant |
| Counts for citizenship | Yes | Yes for partners of Critical Skills holders and researchers | Not stated separately |
| Counts for Stamp 5 | Yes | Yes, except partners of Intra-Company Transfer holders | Yes, except children of Intra-Company Transfer holders |
As a partner
ISD’s required documents page and its family reunification policy give Stamp 1G to the spouse, civil partner or de facto partner of someone on a:
- Critical Skills Employment Permit;
- General Employment or reactivation permit;
- Intra-Company Transfer permit;
- multi-site NCHD permit (hospital doctors);
- hosting agreement as a researcher.
You can work without a permit and study, but not run a business. You renew every year, and after 5 years as a dependant, or sooner if your partner becomes an Irish citizen, you can apply for Stamp 4 at your next renewal.
To register for the first time: both your and your partner’s passport biometric pages, your partner’s permit, medical or travel insurance, and proof of your relationship if you’re de facto partners. To renew: both passports and both IRP cards, your partner’s permit and proof your de facto relationship continues.
If your partner moves to Stamp 4, you don’t move with them: ISD’s policy keeps your permission type as it was.
As a child
Dependent children of the same permit holders also get Stamp 1G. Under-16s don’t register; they register as soon as they turn 16, with the permit, their parent’s IRP card and proof of the relationship, such as a birth certificate. The 5-year route to Stamp 4 covers dependent children too.
As a graduate
If you’ve finished an Irish level 8 award or higher on an ILEP course, the Third Level Graduate Programme gives you Stamp 1G for 12 months, or up to 24 with a level 9 award, to find graduate-level work. Apply within 6 months of your result, while your Stamp 2 is still valid. To stay on after it, you need a job with an employment permit.
Common mix-ups
Common questions
Who gets Stamp 1G?
Graduates of an Irish level 8 award or higher on the Third Level Graduate Programme, and the spouses, partners and dependent children of Critical Skills, General Employment, reactivation, Intra-Company Transfer and multi-site NCHD permit holders and researchers on hosting agreements.
Can I work on Stamp 1G?
Yes, full time for any employer, without an employment permit. You can't be self-employed or run a business.
Can I study on Stamp 1G?
ISD's stamps page says partners on Stamp 1G can take courses. Graduates keep the other conditions they had on Stamp 2.
How long does Stamp 1G last?
For graduates, 12 months, or up to 24 with a level 9 award. Partners renew every year, and each renewal needs the permit holder's current permit.
When can I move from Stamp 1G to Stamp 4?
As a partner or child, after 5 years as a dependant, or sooner if your sponsor becomes an Irish citizen. As a graduate, only through an employment permit, after 21 months on a Critical Skills permit or 57 on a General one.
Does Stamp 1G count for citizenship?
ISD says it counts for graduates and for partners of Critical Skills permit holders and researchers. For partners of other permit holders, ISD's citizenship guidance doesn't say.
Isn't it Stamp 3 for partners of General Employment permit holders?
ISD's stamps page still says so, but its family reunification policy (June 2026) and required documents page both give Stamp 1G to partners of General Employment, reactivation and Intra-Company Transfer permit holders. Check your permission letter.
Sources
All sources checked on 3 Oct 2026.
- Immigration permission/stamps (Stamp 1G)Immigration Service Delivery
- Required documents (Stamp 1G partners, children and graduates)Immigration Service Delivery
- Non-EEA Family Reunification Policy, 12 June 2026 (section 6.6 and Appendix C)Immigration Service Delivery
- Third Level Graduate ProgrammeImmigration Service Delivery
- Without Condition As To Time (Stamp 5)Immigration Service Delivery