Briefing on International Graduates Work Prospects in Ireland

The legislation regulating Non-EEA workers has changed. These changes have a potentially negative effect on the work prospects of Trinity’s International Students. There are three, short, easy to read PDF documents availalbe from the department of enterprise, trade and employment. Go to http://www.entemp.ie/labour/workpermits/ and see the New Employment Permit Schemes.

A concise, non-legal summary of the relevant legislation follows:

1. Applying for work after graduation

"A non-EEA student who has acquired a primary, masters or
doctorate degree from an Irish third level educational institution
will be permitted to apply to the Irish Naturalisation and
Immigration Service to remain in Ireland for six months after the
receipt of their examination results."

"This period will allow them to seek employment and, if
appropriate, apply for a work permit or green card permit."

-Guide to Graduate Scheme, Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment.

2. Getting a legal, permanent job

In order to secure employment in Ireland, the non-EEA graduate must apply for a Green Card Permit or a Work Permit.

The Green Card permit is restricted to two cases:
(1) Where the annual salary, excluding bonuses, is over €60,000, and
(2) Where the annual salary is in the range €30,000 - €59,999 and the job falls into a strategically important occupation, as specified in Appendix A of the Guide to Green Cards.

A Work Permit is restricted to two cases:
(1) Where the annual salary, excluding bonuses, is over €30,000 and the prospective employer produces evidence (FAS/EURES and newspaper advertising) that the position cannot be filled by an EEA, Swiss, Romanian, or Bulgarian candidate.
(2) For a limited number of occupations where the annual salary is below €30,000.

Work permits will not be considered for job categories outlined in Appendix A of the Work Permit Guide. The appendix lists a significant number of low paying service, craft, and lower-skilled jobs. Perhaps most worrying is the protection of administrative jobs, a common, intermediate job graduates take before launching into a more serious career.

-Guide to Green Card Permits & Guide to Work Permits, Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment.