Last updated: 12 November 2026 | Information verified: 12 November 2026 against the Irish Immigration Service (ISD) stamps page and students FAQ, and Citizens Information (non-EEA students, minimum wage, public holidays and PPS number pages).
If you study in Ireland on a student permission, you can usually take part-time work, but only within limits. The rules for part-time jobs for students in Ireland depend on your immigration stamp, the time of year and the type of work you do.
This guide sets out the hours you can work, what the minimum wage pays, how to get a PPS number and what part-time staff are owed for public holidays. It covers rules only. It does not list employers or promise that any job is open to you.
Quick answer
- Hours: on Stamp 2 you can work in casual employment for up to 20 hours a week in term time and up to 40 hours a week in the holiday periods (ISD).
- Holiday periods: June, July, August and September, and 15 December to 15 January.
- Business or trade: ISD says Stamp 2 holders must not engage in any other business or trade.
- Stamp 2A: you must not work at all.
- Pay: the national minimum wage is €14.15 an hour for workers aged 20 and over in 2026. Lower rates apply under 20.
Key Facts at a Glance
| Question | Answer | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Term-time limit (Stamp 2) | 20 hours a week | ISD |
| Holiday limit (Stamp 2) | 40 hours a week | ISD |
| Holiday periods | June to September, and 15 December to 15 January | ISD, Citizens Information |
| Stamp 2A | No work allowed | ISD |
| Employment permit for casual work | ISD describes the 20 hour allowance as working without an employment permit | ISD |
| Minimum wage, age 20 and over | €14.15 an hour (2026) | Citizens Information |
| Public holiday pay for part-timers | You must have worked at least 40 hours in the 5 weeks before the holiday | Citizens Information |
Part-Time Jobs for Students in Ireland: The Hours You Can Work
The Irish Immigration Service describes the student work allowance as a concession to work 20 hours a week during term time without an employment permit. ISD’s Stamp 2 page says you can work in casual employment for a maximum of 20 hours per week during the school term, and up to 40 hours per week during the holidays.
Citizens Information gives the same limits: up to 20 hours a week during term time and up to 40 hours a week in the holidays. It lists the holidays as June to September inclusive and 15 December to 15 January.
| Period | Maximum hours a week (Stamp 2) |
|---|---|
| Term time | 20 |
| June, July, August, September | 40 |
| 15 December to 15 January | 40 |
Neither page defines exactly when term time starts and ends for each course. Check your college’s calendar and ask your international office if your course does not follow the usual pattern.
If you take a Christmas job, the 15 December to 15 January window is the period when the higher limit applies. Our guide to Christmas jobs in Ireland explains pay and rights for seasonal work.
Which Stamp Do You Hold?
Your right to work comes from the stamp on your immigration permission, not from your course or your college. These are the three student-related stamps on the ISD stamps page.
| Stamp | Who it is for | Work rules (ISD wording) |
|---|---|---|
| Stamp 2 | Full-time study on a course on the Interim List of Eligible Programmes (ILEP) | Casual work up to 20 hours a week in term time and 40 in the holidays. You must not engage in any other business or trade. |
| Stamp 2A | Full-time study on a course that is not on the ILEP | You must not work or engage in any business, trade or profession. |
| Stamp 1G | Graduates who held Stamp 2 and have finished their studies | You can work full time. You are not permitted to operate a business or be self-employed. |
ISD’s students FAQ adds that English language students must attend at least 85% of their classes. If your stamp or course is not clear, ask your college or your local immigration office before you accept a job. Our Stamp 1 guide explains what happens after you graduate.
No Other Business or Trade
The Stamp 2 condition is short: you must not engage in any other business or trade. That means the 20 and 40 hour limits cover casual employment only. They are not a general allowance to earn money in other ways.
We do not publish side-income or self-employment advice for people on student permission. If you are unsure whether something you plan to do counts, ask ISD or your college’s international office before you start.
How Much Do Students Earn at the Minimum Wage?
Citizens Information lists the national minimum wage by age. The rates have applied since 1 January 2026.
| Age | Hourly rate |
|---|---|
| 20 and over | €14.15 |
| 19 | €12.74 |
| 18 | €11.32 |
| Under 18 | €9.91 |
For a worker aged 20 or over, the minimum rate gives €283.00 for a 20-hour week (20 x €14.15) and €566.00 for a 40-hour week, before tax. These are our own sums at the minimum rate. Many employers pay more, and the figures are not take-home pay.
Citizens Information says the rate for people aged 20 and over will rise by €0.79 to €14.94 an hour from 1 January 2027, but that this requires legislation. At that rate the same weeks would be €298.80 and €597.60 before tax. Our minimum wage guide tracks the change, and the salary calculator turns hourly pay into weekly and monthly figures.
Public Holidays, Annual Leave and Sick Leave for Part-Time Staff
Part-time workers have employment rights too. On public holidays, Citizens Information says you must have worked for your employer for at least 40 hours in the 5 weeks before the public holiday to qualify. Annual leave counts as time worked toward the 40 hours.
- If the public holiday falls on a day you normally work, you are paid for the day even if you do not work. If you do work, you are entitled to an extra day’s pay.
- If it falls on a day you do not normally work, you are compensated with a fifth of your weekly pay, as long as you meet the 40 hour condition.
See our guides to bank holidays in Ireland, annual leave and sick leave for the full rules.
Getting a PPS Number Before You Start Work
You register with Revenue using your Personal Public Service (PPS) number when you start work. Citizens Information says an employer should only ask for your PPS number when you are actually taking up employment, not during recruitment.
- Online: apply on MyWelfare.ie with a basic MyGovID account. You must be at least 18 and attend an in-person appointment. The number arrives by post.
- Paper: use form REG1 and post it.
- Documents: non-EU citizens use their current passport. You also need proof of address that shows your name and address and is no more than 3 months old.
The Citizens Information page does not say which immigration documents to bring. Check with Client Identity Services if you are unsure. You cannot apply from abroad if you intend to move to Ireland, so wait until you arrive. Our PPS number guide has the full steps.
Check the Job Before You Accept
- Ask how many hours you will work each week and add up your total across all jobs. The limit applies to everything together.
- Check the hourly rate against the minimum wage for your age.
- Keep your payslips and your hours.
- Never pay a fee to get a job, a placement or a start date. A genuine employer does not charge you to work for them.
Where to Look for Part-Time Work
Your college careers service is the first place to ask. After that, read the employer’s own vacancy page, and apply only to jobs that state the hours. Our guides can help you prepare:
- How to get a job in Ireland and the Irish CV format
- Entry-level jobs with no experience
- Jobs in Ireland with accommodation and the cost of living
- City guides: Dublin, Cork, Galway and Limerick
After You Graduate
If you finish your studies on Stamp 2, ISD says you can apply for Stamp 1G, which gives permission to look for employment. Its students FAQ says graduates on Stamp 1G may work 40 hours a week without an employment permit while seeking graduate-level employment. Check the current conditions on the ISD site when you apply. See also jobs in Ireland for foreigners.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many hours can a student work in Ireland?
On Stamp 2, ISD says you can work in casual employment for a maximum of 20 hours a week during term time and 40 hours a week during the holidays. The holiday periods are June to September and 15 December to 15 January.
Do I need a work permit to work part time as a student?
ISD describes the 20 hour allowance as a concession to work without an employment permit during term time. Its Stamp 2 page does not ask for an employment permit for casual work within the limits.
Can students on Stamp 2A work?
No. ISD says Stamp 2A holders must not work or engage in any business, trade or profession. Stamp 2A is for full-time study on a course that is not on the Interim List of Eligible Programmes.
Can I run a business or work for myself on a student stamp?
ISD says Stamp 2 holders must not engage in any other business or trade. If you are unsure whether an activity counts, ask ISD or your college international office before you start.
What is the minimum wage for students?
Citizens Information lists the national minimum wage by age: €14.15 an hour for people aged 20 and over, €12.74 at 19, €11.32 at 18 and €9.91 under 18, from 1 January 2026. A rise to €14.94 from 1 January 2027 has been announced and requires legislation.
Do part-time workers get paid for public holidays?
You qualify if you worked for your employer for at least 40 hours in the 5 weeks before the public holiday. Annual leave counts toward the 40 hours. If you meet the condition, you are paid for the day or compensated with a fifth of your weekly pay, depending on whether you normally work that day.
Can I work full time after I graduate?
ISD says graduates on Stamp 1G can work full time and are not permitted to operate a business or be self-employed. Its students FAQ says Stamp 1G graduates may work 40 hours a week without an employment permit while seeking graduate-level employment.
What happens if I work more than the limit?
The ISD pages we checked do not list penalties. Speak to your college international office or your local immigration office if you are worried that you have gone over the limit or your job hours are not clear.
Related Guides
- minimum wage in Ireland
- salary calculator for Ireland
- PPS number in Ireland
- bank holidays in Ireland
- annual leave in Ireland
- sick leave in Ireland
- Christmas jobs in Ireland
- Stamp 1 in Ireland
Sources
- ISD: Immigration permission stamps (Stamp 2, 2A and 1G)
- ISD: Frequently asked questions for students
- Citizens Information: Immigration rules for full-time non-EEA students
- Citizens Information: Minimum wage
- Citizens Information: Public holidays
- Citizens Information: PPS number
Last verified: 12 November 2026. This guide explains the published rules and is not legal advice. Weekly pay figures are our own arithmetic at the minimum rate, before tax. Rules and rates change, so confirm your own conditions on irishimmigration.ie and with your college’s international office.
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