The Atypical Working Scheme (AWS) fills a specific gap. Sometimes Ireland needs a specialist for a short stretch of work, a locum doctor covering a hospital rota, a nurse completing registration, an engineer commissioning a piece of biotech equipment, and the job is too short or too unusual for the normal employment permit system to reach. The AWS lets that work happen.
It is important to be clear about what this is not. The AWS is not an employment permit. It is an immigration facility operated by Immigration Service Delivery, part of the Department of Justice, by agreement with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. It is built for short, defined pieces of work, and the time you spend here does not count toward Stamp 4 or bridge you into any longer permission.
Made for people like you
Locum doctors and healthcare specialists
Agency-employed locum doctors in the hospital sector or primary care, and clinical adaptation or RCSI examination candidates completing short placements.
Nurses registering with NMBI
Nurses coming to Ireland to have overseas qualifications assessed and to complete registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland.
Students on required internships
Students studying outside the State whose course requires a paid internship in Ireland to graduate.
Short-term specialists
Highly skilled people needed briefly in areas such as entertainment, biotech, pharma and tech, where the work is too short or specialised for an employment permit.
Do you qualify?
The AWS is for a defined, short piece of specialised work that falls outside employment permit legislation. You must be outside Ireland when you apply, and the role must fit one of the recognised categories.
You will need
- A specialised or highly skilled role in Ireland, generally lasting less than 90 days, that no employment permit covers
- To apply from outside the State, before you travel to Ireland
- A role that fits a recognised AWS category, for example locum doctor, nurse registering with NMBI, or a specialist short-term post in entertainment, biotech, pharma or tech
- The €250 fee, paid by card on the online portal, and a full set of supporting documents
- A passport valid for the period you will be in Ireland
This route is not for you if
- You are already in the State, you must apply from outside Ireland
- You want family members to accompany you, they may not join an AWS holder
- Your work will run beyond 90 days and does not fall under one of the named exceptions
- You are hoping the time will count toward Stamp 4, AWS time is not reckonable and cannot bridge you to a longer permission
- The role is really a standard job that an employment permit would cover, in which case a permit is the correct route
How the journey works
- 01
Confirm the AWS is the right route
Day 1We check that the work is short, specialised and outside employment permit legislation, and that you are outside the State. If a General Employment Permit or Contract for Services permit fits better, we tell you.
- 02
Match your role to an eligible category
Week 1We confirm which AWS category applies, whether that is a locum doctor, a nurse registering with NMBI, a required student internship, or a specialised short-term post, because the category shapes the documents and the allowed duration.
- 03
Gather your supporting documents
Week 1You collect your passport, evidence of the role and its dates, qualifications, and any registration or agency letters. We check the pack against the ISD requirements before anything is submitted.
- 04
Apply online and pay the fee
The application is made on the ISD online portal, with the €250 fee paid by card at the point of application. Everything is submitted from outside the State.
- 05
Wait for the ISD decision
20+ working daysAllow a minimum of 20 working days from the point where ISD has all of your documents. Incomplete applications take longer, which is why the document check matters.
- 06
Use the Letter of Approval
If approved, you receive a Letter of Approval, not a stamp. It is valid for 90 days from the date of issue and must be used within that window, or it lapses and you must apply and pay again.
- 07
Travel and present at the border
You travel to Ireland and present your Letter of Approval with your passport to immigration on arrival. Visa-required nationals still need the correct entry visa alongside the approval.
What to gather
Start collecting these early. Weak or missing documents are the most common avoidable cause of delays and refusals.
Passport bio page
Valid for the full period of your stay
Passport-standard photo
Recent, plain background
Offer or engagement letter
From the Irish host or employer, setting out the role
Dates of the work
Clear start and end dates within the 90-day limit
Agency contract
For agency-employed locum doctors
Qualification certificates
Relevant to the specialised role
Registration evidence
For example NMBI correspondence for nurses, or RCSI examination details
Course and internship letter
For students, confirming the internship is required to graduate
Clinical placement details
For locum doctors or clinical adaptation candidates
Card for the fee
To pay the €250 online at application
Up-to-date CV
Consistent with the role and your qualifications
Evidence of address abroad
Showing you are applying from outside the State
Every case is different. We confirm your exact list at consultation.
What it costs
| Item | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| AWS application | €250 | Per application, paid by card on the ISD online portal. |
| New application if approval lapses | €250 again | A Letter of Approval not used within its 90-day validity means a fresh application and a new fee. |
| Entry visa (visa-required nationals) | €60 to €100 | Single entry €60, multi entry €100, where a visa is also required. |
| Our consultation | Fixed fee | Agreed up front at booking, no surprises. |
The €250 fee is set by ISD and can change. There is no separate IRP registration for AWS holders, since you receive a Letter of Approval rather than a residence permission. We confirm the current figures with you before anything is paid.
How long it takes
Guide figures from current official processing information. Individual cases vary.
ISD decision
20+ working days
Allow a minimum of 20 working days from receipt of all documents. Missing documents extend this, so apply well ahead of the start date.
Letter of Approval validity
90 days
Valid for 90 days from the date it issues. It must be used within that window or it lapses.
Entry visa, if required
Varies by office
Visa-required nationals apply for the entry visa alongside the AWS approval, so build in extra time.
Maximum stay in Ireland
Up to 90 days
Can be used intermittently across a 6-month period, followed by a one-month cooling-off period before a new AWS permission can be used.
Why applications get refused
Most refusals are preventable. These are the patterns we see and design out of every application.
You are already in the State
The AWS must be applied for from outside Ireland. An application made once you are already here does not qualify.
Avoid it: Apply and receive your Letter of Approval before you travel to Ireland.
The work runs longer than 90 days
The scheme is built for short-term work of generally less than 90 days. Longer engagements are refused unless they fall under a named exception.
Avoid it: Keep the engagement within 90 days, or check whether an exception applies to your case, for example a locum doctor placement or a required internship.
The role should be an employment permit
The AWS only covers work that employment permit legislation does not. A standard, permit-eligible job filed as an AWS application will be refused.
Avoid it: Let us check the role against the permit routes first, so you apply on the correct basis the first time.
Incomplete documents
The 20 working day clock only starts when ISD has everything. Missing letters, dates or registration evidence stall or sink an application.
Avoid it: Use a full document checklist before submitting, which is part of our standard review.
The category does not fit
Applications are assessed against the recognised AWS categories. Work that does not sit within one of them, and is not a genuine short-term specialist need, is refused.
Avoid it: Confirm which category your role falls under, and gather the evidence that category expects, before you apply.
Common questions
Is the Atypical Working Scheme an employment permit?+
No. It is an immigration facility run by Immigration Service Delivery, part of the Department of Justice, by agreement with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. It exists for short, specialised work that employment permit legislation does not cover.
How long can I stay under the scheme?+
The scheme is for work of generally less than 90 days, with a maximum of 90 days. Those days can be used intermittently across a 6-month period, after which a one-month cooling-off period applies before a new AWS permission can be used.
Are there any exceptions to the 90-day limit?+
Yes. Locum doctors in the hospital sector can be approved for up to 6 months, nurses seeking NMBI registration on overseas qualifications for 6 months, and paid internships that are an integral part of a course of study for up to 12 months.
Can my family come with me?+
No. Family members may not accompany an AWS holder. The scheme is designed for short-term work only, so if you need to bring family, a different route such as an employment permit would be the one to look at.
What do I actually receive if I am approved?+
You receive a Letter of Approval, not a stamp. It is valid for 90 days from the date it issues and must be used within that window. If it lapses, you have to make a new application and pay the fee again.
Does AWS time count toward Stamp 4 or longer residence?+
No. Time spent in Ireland under the AWS is not reckonable toward Stamp 4, and the scheme cannot be used as a bridging permission into a longer immigration status.
Can I apply while I am already in Ireland?+
No. You must apply from outside the State. If you are already here, the AWS is not open to you, and we would look at whether another permission fits your situation.
How much does it cost and how long does it take?+
The fee is €250 per application, paid by card on the online portal. You should allow a minimum of 20 working days for a decision from the point where ISD has received all of your documents.
Grounded in official sources
Ready to talk through your next step?
Book a consultation with our team and leave with a clear, personal plan grounded in the official rules.
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