Irish Immigration Stamps (Stamp 1, 1G, 2)
The system of numbered permissions on an Irish Residence Permit that define what a non-EEA national is allowed to do in Ireland, including whether and how much they can work.
Reading the stamp correctly is a legal obligation under right-to-work checks. Stamp 1 means the person can work only with a valid employment permit. Stamp 1G covers graduates (full work rights, time-limited) and spouses of Critical Skills holders. Stamp 2 is for students — capped at 20 hours per week in term time and 40 in holidays, a limit hospitality employers breach at their peril. When in doubt, ask for the IRP card and check the stamp before rostering anyone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Stamp 4 gives unrestricted work rights, and Stamp 1G gives work rights without a permit (though graduate 1G is time-limited and holders are expected to transition to a permit or Stamp 4 route). Stamp 1 requires an employment permit, and Stamp 2 limits students to 20 hours in term. When in doubt, verify against the person's IRP card, not their verbal description.
Stamp 1 means the person may work only with a valid employment permit — the stamp alone gives no work rights. Stamp 1G grants work rights without a permit, and is typically held by recent graduates under the Third Level Graduate Programme and by spouses/partners of Critical Skills permit holders. Check which stamp is on the IRP card before assuming anything.
Yes, within strict limits: 20 hours per week during term time and up to 40 hours per week during official holiday periods. Exceeding these limits jeopardises the student's permission and exposes you as the employer. Roster software rarely enforces this automatically, so flag Stamp 2 staff and check their hours weekly.