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The International Office remains available at this time to offer support and assistance to all our International Learners.

Contact Us

Email: General queries will continue to be answered through the International Office email account, [email protected] This account is monitored from 09:30 to 17:30 each Monday to Friday.

Phone: You can continue to contact our International Student Services team on 01-416 3333. Phone lines are open from 09:30 to 17:30 Monday to Friday.

Zoom Meetings: If you would like to have a one-to-one meeting with a member of our International Student Services team, please email [email protected] to set up an appointment.

Immigration Information

Due to the ongoing health emergency as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, as of Friday March 20th the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) is now closed for in-person registration.

  • This applies to the INIS office in Burgh Quay and registration/renewals at all local Garda stations.
  • Appointments up to May 20th have been cancelled.
  • INIS have published an emergency notice on their website which can be viewed here.
  • FAQs from INIS are available here.

Letters

All International Office learner support letters can be ordered through MyGriffith.ie as normal. Letters will be sent to students by email in PDF format.

Working in Ireland

Working in Ireland

Non-EU students with an IRP (Immigration) Card that was still valid by 20th March (when INIS closed) are still entitled to work part-time in the State. Please see Immigration Information section for full details.

COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment

This emergency Social Welfare payment It is available to employees who have lost their job on (or after) March 13 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Students on a Stamp 2 are eligible to apply for this unemployment payment. Please see further information on the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection website.

PPS Number

Students wishing to work in Ireland must have a Personal Public Service Number (PPS Number). In an effort to contain the spread of the Covid19 virus, in-person appointments for PPSN applications have been suspended. Students can now make applications online. Please see the relevant information from the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection here.

Non-EU students who have a valid permission that is due to expire between March 20th and May 20th will have their permission automatically extended for two months.

I came to Ireland in January/February 2020 and have not yet registered with INIS, so what happens to me?

When you arrive in Ireland you get a “landing stamp”, which is your permission to remain in the State, and that permission is usually for a 90-day period. Under these new directives, that permission has automatically been extended for another two months and you can register with INIS when they re-open.

Can students with just a “landing stamp” take up part-time work in Ireland?

No. This landing stamp does not give you permission to work in Ireland. When INIS re-opens and you get your Stamp 2 Student Permission you will then be permitted to take up part-time employment.

I have a valid IRP Card (Immigration Card)* and was due to renew it soon – what happens to me?

*Valid means an IRP Card which has not expired before 20 March

Your IRP Card has automatically been extended for another two months. You can register with INIS when they re-open.

If my IRP Card is valid and has been extended automatically until May 20th, can I still work part-time?

Yes, if you have a valid permission you are still permitted to work part-time.

The College is closed, so can I work full-time now (up to 40 hours per week)?

Classes are being delivered online and students have the same workload and academic commitments as those associated with the regular semester, so the College is not supporting students in obtaining full-time employment.

My IRP Card expired before 20 March 2020 because I could not get an appointment to re-register with INIS. What happens to me?

This extension period does not apply to you. As the INIS/GNIB public offices are now closed, you must email INIS at [email protected] and they will have to examine your case on an individual basis.

I have recently completed my programme I want to apply for the Third Level Graduate Programme – Stamp 1G. What happens now?

If your IRP Card had not expired by 20th March then your permission has been automatically extended and you can work legally in the State.

If your IRP Card had expired by 20th March then you cannot work at all and you will have to email INIS at [email protected] for further advice in relation to your particular case.

What if I want to leave Ireland?

If you plan to return to Ireland, you will need a valid IRP Card.

  • If you have a valid IRP Card by the time you return to Ireland you will be able to enter Ireland as normal.
  • If you do not have a valid IRP Card by the time you return to Ireland
    • If you are a Visa Required student you will need to apply for an entry visa from your home country.
    • If you are a non-Visa Required student you will need a letter from the College to verify that you are a registered student.