Internship Employment Permit

Explore the five recorded questions, answers and sources for this pathway.

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What type of worker, employment situation, occupation or professional activity is this pathway actually designed for?

The permit is for full-time students, including postgraduates, enrolled in a third-level institution outside Ireland who are taking up an internship in Ireland to gain work experience.

See recorded sources

https://enterprise.gov.ie/en/what-we-do/workplace-and-skills/employment-permits/permit-types/internship-employment-permit/
Internship Employment Permits are designed to facilitate the employment in the State of foreign nationals who are full-time students, enrolled in a third level institution outside the State, for the purpose of gaining work experience.

Does the applicant need a job offer, employer, sponsor, transfer relationship or other employer involvement? What is important about that employer relationship?

The permit requires an internship offer from an employer in Ireland who employs and pays the intern directly; no Labour Market Needs Test is required, and at least 50% of the employer’s staff must be EEA nationals.

See recorded sources

https://enterprise.gov.ie/en/what-we-do/workplace-and-skills/employment-permits/permit-types/internship-employment-permit/
Have an offer of an internship with an employer in the State.
https://enterprise.gov.ie/en/what-we-do/workplace-and-skills/employment-permits/permit-types/internship-employment-permit/
That an employer – employee relationship will exist in that the prospective employee concerned will be employed, salaried and paid directly by the employer.
https://enterprise.gov.ie/en/what-we-do/workplace-and-skills/employment-permits/permit-types/internship-employment-permit/
A Labour Market Needs Test is not required for an Internship Employment Permit.
https://enterprise.gov.ie/en/what-we-do/workplace-and-skills/employment-permits/permit-types/internship-employment-permit/
An Employment Permit will not issue unless at the time of application 50% or more of the employees in a firm are EEA nationals.

What are the few decisive professional characteristics of the pathway: occupation, qualifications, experience, salary, skill level, shortage status, labour-market condition or equivalent?

The internship must be in an occupation on the Critical Skills Occupations List; the student must be pursuing a degree course or higher that is wholly or substantially concerned with the skills shortages on that list and that requires work experience in those skills for completion; pay must be at least the National Minimum Wage.

See recorded sources

https://enterprise.gov.ie/en/what-we-do/workplace-and-skills/employment-permits/permit-types/internship-employment-permit/
The internship must be in respect of one of the employments on the Critical Skills Occupations List
https://enterprise.gov.ie/en/what-we-do/workplace-and-skills/employment-permits/permit-types/internship-employment-permit/
Are pursuing a Degree course or higher, and
https://enterprise.gov.ie/en/what-we-do/workplace-and-skills/employment-permits/permit-types/internship-employment-permit/
The course of study must be wholly or substantially concerned with the skills shortages identified on the Critical Skills Occupations List
https://enterprise.gov.ie/en/what-we-do/workplace-and-skills/employment-permits/permit-types/internship-employment-permit/
It must be a requirement for the completion of that course of study, to obtain experience in the practice of those skills or qualifications, in an employment that requires the practice of those skills or qualifications.
https://enterprise.gov.ie/en/what-we-do/workplace-and-skills/employment-permits/permit-types/internship-employment-permit/
Remuneration must be National Minimum Wage or higher.

What work does the permission allow? Is the holder tied to an employer, occupation or sector? Can family accompany where clearly established?

The permit allows employment only with the named employer in the occupation and location on the permit; during the 12 months the holder may apply for a Critical Skills or General Employment Permit. Dependants, partners and spouses cannot get a Dependant Employment Permit and must apply for their own; the official source does not state whether family members may accompany the intern.

See recorded sources

Limits of the record

Source does not say whether family members may accompany the intern.

https://enterprise.gov.ie/en/what-we-do/workplace-and-skills/employment-permits/permit-types/internship-employment-permit/
which permits his or her employment in the State by the employer in the occupation and location/s specified on the permit.
https://enterprise.gov.ie/en/what-we-do/workplace-and-skills/employment-permits/permit-types/internship-employment-permit/
However, the Department will permit an Internship Employment Permit holder to apply for a Critical Skills Employment Permit or General Employment during that 12-month period.
https://enterprise.gov.ie/en/what-we-do/workplace-and-skills/employment-permits/permit-types/internship-employment-permit/
Dependants/partners/spouses of Internship Employment Permit holders cannot apply for a Dependant/Partner/Spouse Employment Permit

How long is the permission normally granted for, how is it renewed, and what longer-term residence direction exists if officially stated?

The permit lasts a maximum of 12 months and is non-renewable; the intern must leave Ireland at the end and return to their institution, and no long-term residency rights accrue.

See recorded sources

https://enterprise.gov.ie/en/what-we-do/workplace-and-skills/employment-permits/permit-types/internship-employment-permit/
Internship Employment Permits can only issue for a maximum period of 12 months and are non-renewable.
https://enterprise.gov.ie/en/what-we-do/workplace-and-skills/employment-permits/permit-types/internship-employment-permit/
At the end of the internship the employee must leave the State and it is expected that they will return to the third level institution to complete the course of study.
https://enterprise.gov.ie/en/what-we-do/workplace-and-skills/employment-permits/permit-types/internship-employment-permit/
Holders of Internship Employment Permits do not accrue rights for long term residency purposes

These are the answers currently recorded in the catalogue. A missing or partial answer is not an eligibility decision.

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Internship Employment Permit

What type of worker, employment situation, occupation or professional activity is this pathway actually designed for?

Does the applicant need a job offer, employer, sponsor, transfer relationship or other employer involvement? What is important about that employer relationship?

What are the few decisive professional characteristics of the pathway: occupation, qualifications, experience, salary, skill level, shortage status, labour-market condition or equivalent?

What work does the permission allow? Is the holder tied to an employer, occupation or sector? Can family accompany where clearly established?

How long is the permission normally granted for, how is it renewed, and what longer-term residence direction exists if officially stated?

Your story.Your next step.

Your story.
Your next step.