Ireland Atypical Working Scheme (2026 Legal Guide) — Rules & Requirements
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Sourced from Irish Acts of the Oireachtas, statutory instruments, and official guidance. Written in plain language for general understanding — this is educational content, not legal advice. Our editorial standards
What is this right?
The Atypical Working Scheme covers non-EEA work that does not fit the Employment Permits system: short or specialist assignments, intra-company transfers under 90 days, locum doctors, nurses sitting NMBI/RCSI assessments, and integral paid internships. Unlike CSEP/GEP, it is administered by ISD (not DETE) and applied for from outside the State only.
The general permission runs up to 90 days, which may be spread across a 6-month window. Locum doctors and nurses have a 6-month AWS; integral paid internships can run up to 12 months. AWS is not a bridge — time on AWS does not count toward Stamp 4, and family cannot accompany. The fee is €250 non-refundable; visa fees are extra; IRP €300 only if the stay exceeds 90 consecutive days.
When does it apply?
This applies when:
- The role is specialist, short-term, or locum and does not fit CSEP/GEP
- The applicant is outside Ireland
- A locum doctor, a nurse in NMBI adaptation/exam, or a paid intern needs permission
Categories and durations:
- General category: up to 90 days, spread intermittently across a 6-month window; 1-month cooling-off afterwards.
- Locum doctors (hospital sector): up to 6 months. Medical Council of Ireland registration evidence required.
- Nurses seeking NMBI/RCSI registration: up to 6 months; AWS authorises only the adaptation/exam — practice requires an Employment Permit. Contract at least 2 years. One AWS per 12 months.
- Paid internships integral to graduation: up to 12 months.
Eligibility essentials:
- Apply outside the State only
- Salary meets the GEP MAR (with up to 25% of the NMW–MAR gap met by registered health insurance)
- Contract signed in ink by both parties
- Role not on the DETE Ineligible List
- Assignment more than 14 days
- Not eligible under Van der Elst, ICT elsewhere, or within the 50/50 rule
Not a bridge: AWS time does not count toward Stamp 4. Family members cannot accompany.
Fee: €250 non-refundable; visa extra where required; IRP €300 only if stay >90 consecutive days.
Processing target: at least 20 working days from a complete application; no expedited route; visa processing then adds ~8 weeks.
What to Do If You Need an Atypical Working Scheme Permission
Step 1 — Receive a job offer from an Irish-registered host on the Companies Register.
Step 2 — Apply at inisonline.jahs.ie — passport copy, contract signed in ink with salary/job description/dates, host-body letter, and category-specific evidence (Medical Council registration, NMBI letter, RCSI exam confirmation, university internship confirmation).
Step 3 — Pay €250 by credit card at submission (non-refundable).
Step 4 — Receive the Letter of Approval, valid 90 days from issue.
Step 5 — Visa application (if required): apply via AVATS for a C or D visa and attach the Letter of Approval. Allow at least 8 weeks.
Step 6 — On arrival, enter Ireland. Only register with ISD if the stay exceeds 90 consecutive days.
Step 7 — Nurses: on passing NMBI assessments, have the employer file a full Employment Permit before practicing.
What should you NOT do?
Don't apply from inside Ireland. AWS is out-of-State only — an in-State application is automatically ineligible.
Don't use AWS as a bridge to another application. Time on AWS does not count toward Stamp 4 or naturalisation.
Don't submit contract defects. ISD rejects unsigned contracts, digitally inserted signatures, unverified handwritten changes, and 'letters of offer' used in place of a contract.
Don't price the role below the GEP MAR. The MAR applies to AWS too.
Don't book the visa before the Letter of Approval issues. ISD warns against filing the visa application first — it leads to refusals.
Don't breach the 6-month window / 1-month cooling-off (general category) or apply more than once per 12 months (nurse category).
Don't assume family can accompany. They cannot.
About Immigration Pathways in Ireland
If you're applying to work or live in Ireland, the Immigration Act 2004, the Employment Permits Act 2024, and the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956 set the rules. ISD runs visas and IRP cards (€300 fee under SI 421/2025); DETE runs employment permits through EPOS. The two main work routes are the Critical Skills Employment Permit and the General Employment Permit, with MAR thresholds rising in 2026 and every permit salary needing to meet €14.15/hour. EU/EEA/Swiss nationals enter freely under SI 548/2015. Track IRP expiry — overstaying ends in a section 3 deportation notice.
Common Questions
Who uses Ireland's Atypical Working Scheme?
Non-EEA workers in specialist short-term roles that don't fit CSEP or GEP — locum doctors (up to 6 months), nurses sitting NMBI or RCSI assessments (up to 6 months), integral paid interns (up to 12 months), and short assignments under 90 days. ISD administers AWS, not DETE. Applications must be made from outside Ireland only.
How much does an Irish AWS application cost?
€250 non-refundable. Visa fees are extra where required, and a €300 IRP fee applies only if the stay exceeds 90 consecutive days. Processing takes at least 20 working days from a complete application, with no expedited route, plus roughly 8 weeks for any required visa. Salary must meet the GEP Minimum Annual Remuneration.
Is AWS time a bridge to Stamp 4 in Ireland?
No. Time on the Atypical Working Scheme does not count toward Stamp 4 or naturalisation, and family members cannot accompany the AWS holder. Nurses passing NMBI assessments must have the employer file a full Employment Permit before starting to practise. Applying from inside Ireland makes the application automatically ineligible.
What is the atypical working scheme (aws) right in Ireland?
The Atypical Working Scheme covers non-EEA work that does not fit the Employment Permits system: short or specialist assignments, intra-company transfers under 90 days, locum doctors, nurses sitting NMBI/RCSI assessments, and integral paid internships. Unlike CSEP/GEP, it is administered by ISD (not DETE) and applied for from outside the State only.The general permission runs up to 90 days, which may be spread across a 6-month window. Locum doctors and nurses have a 6-month AWS; integral paid internships can run up to 12 months. AWS is not a bridge — time on AWS does not count toward Stamp 4,...
When does it apply — atypical working scheme (aws)?
This applies when:The role is specialist, short-term, or locum and does not fit CSEP/GEPThe applicant is outside IrelandA locum doctor, a nurse in NMBI adaptation/exam, or a paid intern needs permissionCategories and durations:General category: up to 90 days, spread intermittently across a 6-month window; 1-month cooling-off afterwards.Locum doctors (hospital sector): up to 6 months. Medical Council of Ireland registration evidence required.Nurses seeking NMBI/RCSI registration: up to 6 months; AWS authorises only the adaptation/exam — practice requires an Employment Permit. Contract at least...
What should I do if I am a locum doctor or NMBI-registering nurse who needs to work in Ireland short-term?
Step 1 — Receive a job offer from an Irish-registered host on the Companies Register.Step 2 — Apply at inisonline.jahs.ie — passport copy, contract signed in ink with salary/job description/dates, host-body letter, and category-specific evidence (Medical Council registration, NMBI letter, RCSI exam confirmation, university internship confirmation).Step 3 — Pay €250 by credit card at submission (non-refundable).Step 4 — Receive the Letter of Approval, valid 90 days from issue.Step 5 — Visa application (if required): apply via AVATS for a C or D visa and attach the Letter of Approval. Allow at l...
What should you NOT do — atypical working scheme (aws)?
Don't apply from inside Ireland. AWS is out-of-State only — an in-State application is automatically ineligible.Don't use AWS as a bridge to another application. Time on AWS does not count toward Stamp 4 or naturalisation.Don't submit contract defects. ISD rejects unsigned contracts, digitally inserted signatures, unverified handwritten changes, and 'letters of offer' used in place of a contract.Don't price the role below the GEP MAR. The MAR applies to AWS too.Don't book the visa before the Letter of Approval issues. ISD warns against filing the visa application first — it leads to refusals.D...