Unpaid Internship
Visa

The unpaid internship visa is a short stay 'C' visa for full-time third-level students at universities outside Ireland who need to complete an unpaid internship as an essential part of their course. The placement can last up to 90 days, must be in a field on Ireland's highly skilled occupations list and must respect Irish employment law. Two letters are central. The student's course director confirms the course, the year of study, the internship's nature and length, who pays for it and how it links to the course. The Irish host organisation confirms the placement, its length and the supervision provided. In the online application, the student enters "Unpaid" where the form asks for an employment permit number. Internships longer than 90 days must be paid and need a permit, such as the Internship Employment Permit, or permission under the Atypical Working Scheme for placements that are an integral part of an accredited course.

Longer internships must be paid and need a permit, such as the Internship Employment Permit or permission under the Atypical Working Scheme. We can advise you on the right route.

No. The visa doesn't allow any other work, paid or unpaid, or access to public funds.

The letters must say who pays for the internship. If you'll receive pay, the internship isn't unpaid and a different permission is needed, so tell us the full arrangement.

Short stay refusals can no longer be appealed (since 1 June 2026). You can reapply, addressing the refusal reasons.

Your course director at your university, and a manager at the Irish host organisation. Both letters must describe the same internship, dates and arrangements.