As an outcome of the Non-EEA Family Reunification Policy review, dependant 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.

The application process to be joined by minor children in Ireland remains in place and has been revised.

Further information can be found at the following link.

The revised policy document can be accessed at the following link.

Arrangements for eligible dependant minor children who already legally reside in the State and hold a ‘Stamp 3’ permission.

As an exceptional measure, eligible dependant 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 State varied to the same conditions as Stamp 1G.

Eligible dependant 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 comes into effect from 26/11/2025.

A new Irish Residence Permit on Stamp 1G conditions will issue to eligible persons when they seek to renew their current Stamp 3 permission upon its expiry.

Arrangements to engage in employment for eligible dependant minor children who already legally reside in the State and hold a ‘Stamp 3’ permission

Eligible dependant minor children do not need to acquire a new IRP card to engage in employment. You can provide prospective employers the following letter in conjunction with your current IRP card endorsed with a Stamp 3, which explains this temporary administrative arrangement.

The letter can be accessed here.

Please note that this arrangement is only valid during the transition period until 26/11/2026. After this date, eligible minor children will have renewed their IRP cards to Stamp 1G.

Whom does this apply to?

If you currently reside in the State, to be eligible for this varying of permission, you must meet the following criteria on the 26/11/2024. You 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.

And:

  • You hold a current, valid permission to reside in Ireland under the Non-EEA Family Reunification Policy;
  • That permission was originally granted while you were an unmarried, dependant minor child aged under 18 of your sponsor (this includes those aged 18 – 23 in full-time education, who were previously treated the same as dependant minor children under a derogation which has now ended);
  • You are legally resident in the State on a valid Stamp 3;
  • You wish to engage in employment in Ireland;
  • You are not a citizen of the EU/EEA/UK/Switzerland.

Whom does this not apply to?

  • 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 dependant minor child of an Employment Permit, Hosting Agreement or Intra-Corporate Transferee Permit holder, who is present in the State 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 the State;
    Stamp 3 holders, who have been issued Stamp 3 permission for other reasons and are not dependant minor children of an Employment Permit, Hosting Agreement or Intra-Corporate Transferee Permit holder.

Summary of 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.