Immigration Service Delivery (ISD) has announced that dependent minor children of Critical Skills Employment Permit, General Employment Permit and Intra-Corporate Transferee Irish Employment Permit holders, and Researchers on Hosting Agreements, who have applied for and been granted family reunification in accordance with the Non-EEA Family Reunification Policy, will now be registered on a Stamp 1G permission upon reaching 16 years of age, rather than a Stamp 3. This will allow the holder to take up employment without the need to obtain a separate Employment Permit of their own.
This is as an outcome of the Non-EEA Family Reunification Policy review.
The application process to be joined by minor children in Ireland remains in place and has been revised.
Arrangements for eligible dependent minor children in Ireland who already hold a ‘Stamp 3’ permission
As an exceptional measure, eligible dependent minor children with a Stamp 3 endorsed on their current in-date Irish Residence Permit (IRP) card have had their permission to remain in the country varied to the same conditions as Stamp 1G.
- Eligible dependent minor children do not need to make a new application to the Registration Office to change their current permission from Stamp 3 to Stamp 1G, or acquire a new IRP card.
- The amended Stamp 3 permission came into effect from November 26, 2025.
- A new Irish Residence Permit on Stamp 1G conditions will be issued to eligible persons when they seek to renew their current Stamp 3 permission upon its expiry.
- Eligible dependent minor children do not need to acquire a new IRP card to engage in employment. During the transition period until November 26, 2026, they can provide this explanatory letter to prospective employers in conjunction with their current IRP card endorsed with a Stamp 3.
Who is eligible?
This varying of permission applies to those who met the following criteria on November 26, 2024:
- They are the child of:
- A General Employment Permit (GEP) holder;
- A Critical Skills Employment Permit (CSEP) holder;
- An Intra-Corporate Transferee (ICT) permit holder;
- A Researcher on a Hosting Agreement; or
- A person who previously held one of the above and is now on Stamp 4 permission.
- They hold a current, valid permission to reside in Ireland under the Non-EEA Family Reunification Policy;
- That permission was originally granted while they were an unmarried, dependent minor child aged under 18 of their sponsor (this includes those aged 18 – 23 in full-time education);
- They are legally resident in Ireland on a valid Stamp 3;
- They wish to engage in employment in Ireland;
- They are not a citizen of the EU/EEA/UK/Switzerland.
Who is not eligible?
- Adult children of any sponsor who have been granted permission under the Non-EEA Family Reunification Policy based on exceptional circumstances;
- All other family members of Employment Permit, Hosting Agreement or Intra-Corporate Transferee Permit holders;
- A dependent minor child of an Employment Permit, Hosting Agreement or Intra-Corporate Transferee Permit holder, who is present in Ireland on a different type of permission, such as visitor conditions or Stamp 2 (study);
- A minor child of an Employment Permit, Hosting Agreement or Intra-Corporate Transferee Permit holder who does not have permission be in Ireland;
- Stamp 3 holders, who have been issued Stamp 3 permission for other reasons and are not dependent minor children of an Employment Permit, Hosting Agreement or Intra-Corporate Transferee Permit holder.
Immigration conditions attached to a Stamp 1G permission
- Permitted to work in the State without the requirement to obtain an employment permit;
- Permitted to undertake courses of study in the State;
- Not permitted to establish or operate a business;
- Not permitted to be self-employed;
- Renewal of the Stamp 1G registration is required annually.
Erickson Insights & Analysis
Erickson Immigration Group will continue monitoring developments and sharing updates as more news is available. Please contact your employer or EIG attorney if you have questions about anything we’re reporting above or if you have case-specific questions.