Irish employers
Irish employers offering paid internships to non-EEA students
What you get
- An eligibility check of the course, the internship role and the pay
- A review of the internship contract and the university's confirmation letter
- Preparation and submission of the application on Employment Permits Online
About this service
Internship Employment Permit
The Internship Employment Permit lets full-time students at universities outside Ireland gain paid work experience with an Irish employer for up to 12 months. The internship must be in an occupation on the Critical Skills Occupations List and linked to the student's course. There's no Labour Market Needs Test. We manage the application for the employer or the student. The permit suits students on technology, engineering, science and other Critical Skills courses who need a structured, paid placement in Ireland. The link between the course and the internship role is central, so we make sure the university's letter and the job description fit together.
€1538
Fixed fee
5
Areas we cover
5
Documents to prepare
5
Simple steps
Who it's for
Who this is for
Whether you're moving, hiring, staying or starting over, this is the place to begin.
Students abroad
Students enrolled full-time at a university or college outside Ireland
At a glance
Eligibility
01
Enrolment
The student is enrolled full-time, including postgraduate study, at a third-level institution outside Ireland
02
Course
The student is studying for a degree or higher in a course wholly or substantially concerned with skills on the Critical Skills Occupations List
03
Internship role
The internship is in an occupation on the Critical Skills Occupations List
04
Pay
Pay is at least the National Minimum Wage (€14.15 an hour from 1 January 2026)
05
Employer
The employer is registered with Revenue and trading, and at least 50% of its staff are EEA nationals
Our promise
What's included
Internship Employment Permit
€1538
Before you start
Documents you'll need
Tick each item as you gather it. Bring whichever apply to you.
Your preparation checklist
0 of 5 ready
Tap items as you go
You're fully prepared. Let's get you booked in.
5-step journey
How it works
- 1Step 1
We check the student's course and the internship role.
- 2Step 2
You send us the documents, and we prepare the application.
- 3Step 3
We submit it at least 12 weeks before the start date where possible.
- 4Step 4
We track the application and respond to queries.
- Step 5
After approval, we guide the student through the visa and registration steps.
Good to know
Our fee
€1,538 VAT included.
Government fee
€500 for 6 months or less, or €1,000 for 6 to 12 months. 90% is refunded if refused.
Processing time
DETE, October 2026: about 8 weeks for this type of new application.
Permit length
The permit lasts a maximum of 12 months and can't be renewed.
Pay
The employer must pay the intern directly and at least the National Minimum Wage.
Answers
Frequently asked questions
The Internship Employment Permit allows full-time students enrolled at a third-level institution outside Ireland to complete a paid internship with an Irish employer. It's designed for students on degree or postgraduate courses linked to Ireland's skills shortages: the course must be wholly or substantially concerned with skills on the Critical Skills Occupations List, and the internship must be in an occupation on that list. The intern must be paid at least the National Minimum Wage, which is €14.15 an hour from 1 January 2026. There's no Labour Market Needs Test, but the employer must meet the normal requirements, including the 50:50 rule. The permit lasts for a maximum of 12 months and can't be renewed. Interns who want to stay on afterwards need a different permit, such as a Critical Skills or General Employment Permit. Unpaid internships of up to 90 days that are part of a course use the short stay Unpaid Internship visa instead.
Not on this permit. They can apply for a Critical Skills or General Employment Permit if they meet those rules.
An unpaid internship of up to 90 days that's essential to a course is covered by the short stay Unpaid Internship visa, which we also offer.
Family members can't get a Dependant/Partner/Spouse permit through an intern. They would need their own permission.
Not on a new Internship permit within 12 months of starting work, although they can apply for a Critical Skills or General Employment Permit.
No. The permit is for students still enrolled full-time at a university outside Ireland. Recent graduates should look at the General or Critical Skills permits.
Ready when you are
Get started with Internship Employment Permit
€1538
€1538
Internship Employment Permit