{"id":1025,"date":"2025-09-26T07:57:13","date_gmt":"2025-09-26T07:57:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thementorscircle.com\/blogs\/post\/stamp-1a-visa-ireland-who-qualifies-and-how-to-apply"},"modified":"2026-05-11T04:51:26","modified_gmt":"2026-05-11T04:51:26","slug":"stamp-1a-visa-ireland-who-qualifies-and-how-to-apply","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thementorscircle.com\/blogs\/post\/stamp-1a-visa-ireland-who-qualifies-and-how-to-apply\/","title":{"rendered":"Stamp 1A Visa Ireland: Who Qualifies &#038; How to Apply"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><!-- \u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500 QUICK READ \u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500 --><\/p>\n<div class=\"quick-read\">\n<p class=\"qr-label\">Quick Read &middot; Updated May 2026<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Stamp 1A is Ireland&apos;s trainee accountant immigration permission.<\/strong> It lets non-EEA graduates &mdash; including Indian students &mdash; live and work full-time in Ireland under a training contract while qualifying with CAI, ACCA, or CPA Ireland.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Duration:<\/strong> Up to 4 years for the training contract + 6 months grace for membership formalities. Renewable annually.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Pay:<\/strong> Minimum is Ireland&apos;s National Minimum Wage &mdash; <strong>&euro;14.15\/hour for age 20+ from 1 January 2026<\/strong>. Most Dublin firms pay trainees <strong>&euro;30,000&ndash;&euro;38,000\/year<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Indian-student advantage that few blogs mention:<\/strong> Indian CA Inter, CA Final and B.Com \/ M.Com graduates qualify for substantial <strong>ACCA exemptions<\/strong> (up to 9 papers). This can shorten the route from 4 years to 18&ndash;24 months in some cases.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Where to apply:<\/strong> Big 4 (PwC, EY, KPMG, Deloitte) and mid-tier firms (Mazars, Grant Thornton, BDO, Crowleys DFK) recruit on annual cycles &mdash; early-bird applications open <strong>October&ndash;November<\/strong> for the following September intake.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Long-term route:<\/strong> Stamp 1A &rarr; Stamp 1 (after qualifying) &rarr; Stamp 4 &rarr; eligibility for Long-Term Residency at year 5 &rarr; citizenship at year 5 of reckonable residence.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<p><!-- \u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500 HERO \/ LEAD \u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500 --><\/p>\n<p>If you&apos;re an Indian graduate aiming to qualify as a chartered or certified accountant in Ireland, Stamp 1A is the immigration permission that makes the path work. It allows you to live in Ireland and work full-time as a paid trainee accountant under a training contract with an Irish employer &mdash; while you complete your professional exams and gain the practical experience needed to qualify with CAI (Chartered Accountants Ireland), ACCA, or CPA Ireland.<\/p>\n<p>This guide is updated for May 2026 with the current National Minimum Wage rates, the ACCA exemption schedule for Indian CA and Commerce graduates (a section most India-side blogs leave out), Big 4 and mid-tier hiring cycles, and the long-term route from Stamp 1A through to citizenship eligibility. The Mentors Circle has placed thousands of Indian students into Irish degree programmes that feed into the Stamp 1A route.<\/p>\n<h2>What Is Stamp 1A?<\/h2>\n<p>Stamp 1A is a special immigration permission, distinct from a general work visa or a student visa. It is tied to two things at all times:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Your <strong>training contract<\/strong> with an Irish employer (a registered training office for accountancy)<\/li>\n<li>Your <strong>registration<\/strong> with a recognised accountancy body &mdash; CAI, ACCA, or CPA Ireland<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Lose either, and the permission becomes invalid. You can&apos;t take a second job. You can&apos;t freelance. You can&apos;t use Stamp 1A as a back door into other employment routes.<\/p>\n<h2>What You Can Do vs What You Cannot Do<\/h2>\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>Allowed<\/th>\n<th>Restricted<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>Work full-time in your trainee accountant role<\/td>\n<td>Take up a second job or freelance<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Sit professional exams and record competencies<\/td>\n<td>Switch employers or modify your training contract (except in rare approved cases)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Renew your Stamp 1A annually while making progress<\/td>\n<td>Use Stamp 1G after starting or completing Stamp 1A<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Apply for Stamp 1 (Critical Skills or General Employment Permit) after qualifying<\/td>\n<td>Bring dependants on Stamp 1A in most cases (different from Stamp 1)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h2>Time Limits<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Core duration:<\/strong> Up to 4 years for training and exams<\/li>\n<li><strong>Extra time:<\/strong> 6 months to complete membership formalities<\/li>\n<li><strong>Overall cap:<\/strong> If you&apos;ve studied in Ireland before, total time on student\/trainee stamps (Stamp 2, Stamp 1G, Stamp 1A) is capped at <strong>8 years<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>For the rules around how Stamp 2 and the post-study Stamp 1G work before you transition to Stamp 1A, see our <a href=\"\/blogs\/post\/working-while-studying-ireland-stamp-2-rules-2026\/\">Stamp 2 working rules guide for Indian students 2026<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2>Pay Expectations for Stamp 1A Trainees (2026)<\/h2>\n<p>Stamp 1A trainees must be paid at least Ireland&apos;s National Minimum Wage (NMW), based on age. This is a legal requirement, not a guideline, and it applies regardless of training status &mdash; Ireland abolished trainee wage discounts in March 2019.<\/p>\n<h3>Current Legal Minimum (Effective 1 January 2026)<\/h3>\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>Age<\/th>\n<th>Hourly rate<\/th>\n<th>Weekly (39 hrs)<\/th>\n<th>Annual estimate<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>20+<\/td>\n<td><strong>&euro;14.15<\/strong><\/td>\n<td>&euro;551.85<\/td>\n<td>~&euro;28,696<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>19<\/td>\n<td>&euro;12.74<\/td>\n<td>&euro;496.86<\/td>\n<td>~&euro;25,837<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>18<\/td>\n<td>&euro;11.32<\/td>\n<td>&euro;441.48<\/td>\n<td>~&euro;22,957<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Under 18<\/td>\n<td>&euro;9.91<\/td>\n<td>&euro;386.49<\/td>\n<td>~&euro;20,098<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><em>Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.ie\/en\/department-of-enterprise-tourism-and-employment\/publications\/national-minimum-wage-increase-on-1-january-2026\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">gov.ie<\/a> &middot; Enforcement: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.workplacerelations.ie\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Workplace Relations Commission<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<h3>Market Reality &mdash; What Trainee Accountants Actually Earn in Dublin (2026)<\/h3>\n<p>The legal floor is one thing; what firms actually pay is another. Across our recent decision records and current Big 4 \/ mid-tier published trainee scales:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Big 4 trainees (PwC, EY, KPMG, Deloitte) &mdash; Year 1:<\/strong> &euro;32,000&ndash;&euro;38,000 per year (Dublin)<\/li>\n<li><strong>Mid-tier firm trainees (Mazars, Grant Thornton, BDO, Crowleys DFK) &mdash; Year 1:<\/strong> &euro;28,000&ndash;&euro;33,000<\/li>\n<li><strong>Industry placements (in-house finance teams):<\/strong> &euro;30,000&ndash;&euro;36,000 typical<\/li>\n<li><strong>Year 2 onwards:<\/strong> Usually a 10&ndash;15% uplift each year as you pass exam stages<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Many firms also reimburse exam fees, give paid study leave, and offer a small bonus on first-time exam passes &mdash; ask about these in the offer-stage conversation.<\/p>\n<h2>ACCA \/ CAI Exemptions for Indian Students &mdash; the Section No-One Else Covers<\/h2>\n<p>Here&apos;s what most India-side guides on Stamp 1A skip entirely: <strong>Indian commerce graduates and CA-track candidates qualify for substantial exemptions from the professional accountancy bodies.<\/strong> This can compress the qualification timeline materially.<\/p>\n<h3>ACCA exemptions for Indian qualifications<\/h3>\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>Indian qualification<\/th>\n<th>ACCA exemptions (out of 13 papers)<\/th>\n<th>Practical effect<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>B.Com (3-year, recognised university)<\/strong><\/td>\n<td>3&ndash;4 papers (BT, MA, FA &mdash; sometimes LW)<\/td>\n<td>Skip Applied Knowledge level entirely<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>M.Com<\/strong><\/td>\n<td>4&ndash;5 papers<\/td>\n<td>Plus partial Applied Skills credit<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>CA Inter (both groups passed, IPCC)<\/strong><\/td>\n<td>5 papers (BT, MA, FA, TX, AA)<\/td>\n<td>Start at Performance Management (PM) level<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>CA Inter + B.Com<\/strong><\/td>\n<td>6 papers<\/td>\n<td>Faster runway to Strategic Professional<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>CA Final \/ Qualified Indian CA (ICAI member)<\/strong><\/td>\n<td>9 papers (max allowed) &mdash; full Applied Knowledge + Applied Skills<\/td>\n<td>Sit only the 4 Strategic Professional exams<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>The Strategic Professional level (Strategic Business Leader, Strategic Business Reporting, plus 2 options) cannot be exempted &mdash; you must sit those 4 papers. But for a CA Final passer, you go from 13 exams to 4 exams. That can compress the practical training contract from 4 years toward the lower end of the 18&ndash;36 month range.<\/p>\n<p>Always verify your exact exemption entitlement using the official <a href=\"https:\/\/www.accaglobal.com\/in\/en\/help\/exemptions-calculator.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">ACCA exemptions calculator<\/a> &mdash; specific exemptions can vary by university and year of qualification.<\/p>\n<h3>CAI (Chartered Accountants Ireland) recognition for Indian CAs<\/h3>\n<p>CAI has a <strong>Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) with ICAI India<\/strong>. Qualified ICAI members can apply for direct CAI membership through the MRA route after completing additional Irish-context modules and meeting practical experience criteria. For non-qualified Indian commerce graduates, CAI&apos;s standard CAP1 entry route is the path &mdash; with credits available for B.Com \/ M.Com from recognised universities.<\/p>\n<h3>CPA Ireland<\/h3>\n<p>CPA Ireland offers a flexible exemption framework for Indian commerce and accounting qualifications, assessed individually on application. The body is smaller than CAI and ACCA but is fully recognised under the Stamp 1A scheme.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Practical TMC tip:<\/strong> If you&apos;re an Indian CA Final-cleared student or an ICAI member considering Ireland, run your exemptions through the ACCA calculator <em>before<\/em> applying to firms. A clear exemptions letter strengthens your application materially.<\/p>\n<h2>Who&apos;s Eligible? The Practical Pathway<\/h2>\n<p>Stamp 1A is a targeted route for non-EEA graduates &mdash; including Indian students &mdash; who want to become professionally qualified accountants in Ireland through a structured training contract. The most common route looks like this:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Complete your <strong>undergraduate or postgraduate degree in Ireland<\/strong> (any discipline &mdash; not necessarily accountancy. Many trainees come from BSc \/ MSc backgrounds).<\/li>\n<li>After graduation, you become eligible for <strong>Stamp 1G<\/strong> &mdash; the Third Level Graduate Programme &mdash; allowing full-time work for up to 24 months (12 months for NFQ Level 8, 24 months for Level 9+).<\/li>\n<li>Either during Stamp 1G or instead of it, you secure a <strong>training contract<\/strong> with an Irish employer registered as a training office.<\/li>\n<li>Register with your chosen body (CAI \/ ACCA \/ CPA), confirm your exemptions, and switch to <strong>Stamp 1A<\/strong> at your local Irish Residence Permit (IRP) appointment.<\/li>\n<li>You work full-time as a paid trainee for typically 3&ndash;4 years (less if you have substantial exemptions), pursuing your qualification.<\/li>\n<li>By the end of the contract, you&apos;ve completed your exams and can move to <strong>Stamp 1<\/strong> (a normal employment permission) or onward to <strong>Stamp 4<\/strong> via the long-term residency route.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h3>Why choose Stamp 1A over staying on Stamp 1G?<\/h3>\n<p>Stamp 1G allows you to work full-time after graduation &mdash; but it&apos;s time-limited (24 months max) and isn&apos;t structured around a professional qualification. Stamp 1A is the right choice if your goal is to become a chartered or certified accountant in Ireland. Many Indian students use Stamp 1G for the first 6&ndash;12 months to land a trainee role, then transition to Stamp 1A once the contract is signed.<\/p>\n<h2>Big 4 and Mid-Tier Firms &mdash; Where to Apply and When<\/h2>\n<p>The Stamp 1A route depends on a training contract. The biggest hiring engines for trainee accountants in Ireland are the Big 4 plus a band of mid-tier firms. Each runs an annual graduate \/ trainee recruitment cycle.<\/p>\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>Firm<\/th>\n<th>Programme name<\/th>\n<th>Application window opens<\/th>\n<th>Application window closes<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>PwC Ireland<\/strong><\/td>\n<td>Trainee \/ Graduate Programme (Audit, Tax, Consulting)<\/td>\n<td>Early October<\/td>\n<td>End November (rolling thereafter)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>EY Ireland<\/strong><\/td>\n<td>Graduate Programme (Assurance, Tax, Strategy &amp; Transactions)<\/td>\n<td>September<\/td>\n<td>End November<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>KPMG Ireland<\/strong><\/td>\n<td>Graduate Programme (Audit, Tax, Advisory)<\/td>\n<td>September<\/td>\n<td>End October (early-bird) \/ December (standard)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Deloitte Ireland<\/strong><\/td>\n<td>Graduate Programme (Audit &amp; Assurance, Tax, Risk Advisory)<\/td>\n<td>September<\/td>\n<td>December<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Mazars Ireland<\/td>\n<td>Trainee Accountant Programme<\/td>\n<td>October<\/td>\n<td>February<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Grant Thornton Ireland<\/td>\n<td>Trainee Programme<\/td>\n<td>October<\/td>\n<td>February<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>BDO Ireland<\/td>\n<td>Audit &amp; Tax Trainee<\/td>\n<td>October<\/td>\n<td>March<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Crowleys DFK<\/td>\n<td>Trainee Accountant<\/td>\n<td>November<\/td>\n<td>March (rolling)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>Indian students applying for September 2027 trainee starts should target the <strong>September&ndash;November 2026 window<\/strong> for Big 4 applications. Mid-tier firms have longer windows but earlier is always better &mdash; trainee places fill, and overseas applicants are routinely asked for additional documentation.<\/p>\n<p>For the realistic admission and visa application timeline alongside this trainee recruitment cycle, see our <a href=\"\/blogs\/post\/september-2026-ireland-intake-month-by-month-action-plan\/\">September 2026 Ireland Intake action plan<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2>How to Enter This Route<\/h2>\n<h3>If you&apos;re already in Ireland (on Stamp 2 or 1G)<\/h3>\n<ol>\n<li>Choose your accountancy body (CAI \/ ACCA \/ CPA Ireland) and verify your exemptions.<\/li>\n<li>Apply to trainee accountant roles &mdash; the Big 4 \/ mid-tier cycle above is the main route. Local advertised roles also fill via professional networks.<\/li>\n<li>Secure a training contract with role details, start date, and study leave terms.<\/li>\n<li>Register with your chosen body and obtain your registration \/ exemptions letter.<\/li>\n<li>Book your IRP appointment and switch to Stamp 1A with all required documents.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Time spent on Stamp 1G counts toward the 8-year cap on Irish student\/trainee residence. You cannot use Stamp 1G after starting or completing Stamp 1A.<\/p>\n<h3>If you&apos;re applying from India<\/h3>\n<ol>\n<li>Identify Irish firms hiring trainee accountants on Stamp 1A. Most prefer candidates already in Ireland with local university degrees, but some Big 4 offices recruit internationally for specific roles.<\/li>\n<li>Secure a training contract and register with CAI \/ ACCA \/ CPA Ireland.<\/li>\n<li>Apply for a <strong>Long-Stay (D) visa<\/strong> if required (Indian nationals require entry visas for Ireland).<\/li>\n<li>Travel to Ireland with all your documents and register for Stamp 1A within 90 days of arrival.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h2>Documents Checklist<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Passport (bio-page) and current IRP card (for renewals)<\/li>\n<li>Registration confirmation from CAI \/ ACCA \/ CPA Ireland and any exemption letters<\/li>\n<li>Training contract (maximum 4 years) with pay terms and study leave terms specified<\/li>\n<li>Annual supervisor report (for Stamp 1A renewals)<\/li>\n<li>Private medical insurance covering accidents and hospital stays<\/li>\n<li>Proof of address (utility bill, bank statement, or letter from landlord)<\/li>\n<li>Recent payslips (renewals) confirming pay at or above NMW<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Keep digital PDF copies of all documents &mdash; immigration officers and employers may request them at any point.<\/p>\n<h2>After You Qualify &mdash; The Full Long-Term Route<\/h2>\n<p>Stamp 1A is not the end of the road. Once you complete your training contract and qualify with CAI \/ ACCA \/ CPA Ireland, you have several routes forward.<\/p>\n<h3>Route 1: Stamp 1A &rarr; Stamp 1 (employment permit)<\/h3>\n<p>The most common path. Once qualified, you apply for either a <strong>Critical Skills Employment Permit<\/strong> (for roles paying &euro;38,000+ on the Critical Skills Occupations List &mdash; chartered accountants are listed) or a <strong>General Employment Permit<\/strong>. With this, you switch to Stamp 1, which is a full employment permission with broader rights.<\/p>\n<h3>Route 2: Stamp 1 &rarr; Stamp 4 &rarr; Long-Term Residency<\/h3>\n<p>After 21 months on a Critical Skills Employment Permit, you can apply for <strong>Stamp 4<\/strong> &mdash; permission to work without an employment permit. This is a major step toward permanent residence. After <strong>5 years of legal reckonable residence<\/strong> on Stamp 1 \/ Stamp 4, you can apply for <strong>Long-Term Residency<\/strong>. Time spent on Stamp 1A does <strong>not<\/strong> count toward Long-Term Residency &mdash; only Stamp 1 \/ Stamp 4 time counts.<\/p>\n<h3>Route 3: Citizenship (typical 10-year timeline from arrival)<\/h3>\n<p>For Irish citizenship by naturalisation, you need 5 years of reckonable residence (Stamp 1 \/ Stamp 4) in the 9 years before application, plus 1 continuous year immediately before application. Practical timeline for a typical Indian student: 4 years on Stamp 1A + 5 years on Stamp 1\/4 = ~9&ndash;10 years from first arrival to citizenship eligibility.<\/p>\n<p>This long-term arc is what makes the trainee accountant route attractive to Indian families thinking generationally. It&apos;s a structured, documentable pathway from study to settlement.<\/p>\n<h2>Quick FAQs<\/h2>\n<h3>Do I need an employment permit for Stamp 1A?<\/h3>\n<p>No &mdash; not under current Irish Immigration policy. Stamp 1A is a stand-alone permission tied to your training contract and accountancy body registration. The employment permit only enters the picture <em>after<\/em> you qualify and move to Stamp 1.<\/p>\n<h3>Can I change employers during Stamp 1A?<\/h3>\n<p>Only in rare, approved cases. The training contract is the basis of your permission, so changing employers requires registering a new training contract and re-notifying both your accountancy body and Irish Immigration.<\/p>\n<h3>What are the fees?<\/h3>\n<p>The standard IRP registration fee applies (currently &euro;300). You also pay registration and annual subscription fees to your accountancy body (typically &euro;200&ndash;&euro;400\/year for ACCA; CAI varies). Exam fees are separate and usually reimbursed by your training employer.<\/p>\n<h3>Can I bring my spouse on Stamp 1A?<\/h3>\n<p>Stamp 1A typically does not include dependant rights for non-EEA family members. This is one of the key differences from Stamp 1 (which does, under specific Critical Skills criteria). Confirm at your IRP appointment.<\/p>\n<h3>Can I apply if I haven&apos;t studied in Ireland?<\/h3>\n<p>Yes &mdash; technically the Stamp 1A route is open to non-EEA graduates with a recognised degree from any country who secure a training contract with an Irish employer. In practice, the path is much easier if you&apos;ve already done your degree in Ireland and built a network here. Most Indian Stamp 1A trainees follow the BSc\/MSc-in-Ireland &rarr; Stamp 1G &rarr; Stamp 1A pathway.<\/p>\n<h3>Does my time on Stamp 1A count toward Long-Term Residency?<\/h3>\n<p>No. Only Stamp 1 \/ Stamp 4 \/ Stamp 5 time counts toward the 5-year reckonable residence requirement for Long-Term Residency. This is why the move from Stamp 1A to Stamp 1 (post-qualification) matters so much for the long-term plan.<\/p>\n<h3>Is Stamp 1A available for non-accountancy professional training?<\/h3>\n<p>Stamp 1A is specifically the Professional Training (Accountancy) permission. Other professional training routes &mdash; medical (intern doctors), legal &mdash; have their own immigration pathways.<\/p>\n<h3>How does Stamp 1A compare with Stamp 1G?<\/h3>\n<p>Stamp 1G is a time-limited graduate work permission (12 or 24 months); Stamp 1A is a structured trainee accountant route (up to 4 years + 6 months grace). Stamp 1G is more flexible (any job); Stamp 1A is locked to your training contract. Many students use Stamp 1G first to find a trainee role, then convert to Stamp 1A.<\/p>\n<h3>Can I sit Indian CA Final \/ ACCA exams while on Stamp 1A?<\/h3>\n<p>Yes &mdash; sitting professional exams is part of the trainee role. Most training contracts include 4&ndash;6 weeks of paid study leave per year specifically for this. Some firms also pay a first-time pass bonus.<\/p>\n<h3>What if I don&apos;t complete the qualification within the 4-year contract?<\/h3>\n<p>You have a 6-month grace period to complete membership formalities. Beyond that, you would need to transition to Stamp 1 (with an employment permit), apply for an alternative permission, or leave Ireland.<\/p>\n<h2>5-Step Starter Plan for Indian Students Considering Stamp 1A in 2026<\/h2>\n<ol>\n<li>Pick CAI \/ ACCA \/ CPA Ireland based on the firms you want to target. Run your Indian qualifications through the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.accaglobal.com\/in\/en\/help\/exemptions-calculator.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">ACCA exemptions calculator<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>Plan the Irish degree route first &mdash; an MSc in Accounting \/ Finance \/ Business at UCD Smurfit, Trinity, UCC, or DCU sets up your trainee application strongly. See our <a href=\"\/blogs\/post\/september-2026-ireland-intake-month-by-month-action-plan\/\">September 2026 Ireland intake plan<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>During your final year of study (or Stamp 1G year), apply to Big 4 \/ mid-tier trainee programmes in the September&ndash;November window.<\/li>\n<li>On securing a training contract, register with your chosen body and request the registration \/ exemptions letter.<\/li>\n<li>Book your IRP appointment, take all the documents from the checklist above, and switch to Stamp 1A. Renew annually with progress evidence.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h2>Need help mapping your route?<\/h2>\n<p style=\"background:#fff8eb;border-left:4px solid #c8a04a;padding:16px 22px;margin:18px 0;font-size:15px;line-height:1.65;\">\n  <strong>Talk to a TMC counsellor.<\/strong> 15,000+ students placed since 2014. 98% visa success rate. Free 30-minute session, no sales pitch &mdash; <a href=\"\/connectus.php\">book here<\/a>.\n<\/p>\n<h2>Final Note<\/h2>\n<p>This guide is for informational purposes only. Always verify details on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.irishimmigration.ie\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Irish Immigration<\/a> or consult a qualified adviser &mdash; rules can change without notice and are sometimes interpreted differently at IRP appointments.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500 KEEP THE EXISTING AUTHOR BIO BLOCK BELOW THIS LINE \u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500 --><br \/>\n<!-- \u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500 REPLACE THE EXISTING REFERENCES LIST WITH THIS UPDATED ONE \u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500\u2500 --><\/p>\n<h2>References<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.irishimmigration.ie\/coming-to-study-in-ireland\/professional-training-accountancy\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Irish Immigration &mdash; Professional Training (Accountancy) \/ Stamp 1A policy<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.irishimmigration.ie\/registering-your-immigration-permission\/information-on-registering\/immigration-permission-stamps\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Irish Immigration &mdash; Immigration Permission Stamps<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.irishimmigration.ie\/registering-your-immigration-permission\/how-to-register-your-immigration-permission-for-the-first-time\/required-documents\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Irish Immigration &mdash; Required Documents (Stamp 1A registrations)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.irishimmigration.ie\/my-situation-has-changed-since-i-arrived-in-ireland\/third-level-graduate-programme\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Irish Immigration &mdash; Third Level Graduate Programme (Stamp 1G)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.irishimmigration.ie\/my-situation-has-changed-since-i-arrived-in-ireland\/long-term-residency\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Irish Immigration &mdash; Long-Term Residency<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.ie\/en\/department-of-enterprise-tourism-and-employment\/publications\/national-minimum-wage-increase-on-1-january-2026\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">gov.ie &mdash; National Minimum Wage 2026 (effective 1 January 2026)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.citizensinformation.ie\/en\/employment\/employment-rights-and-conditions\/pay-and-employment\/minimum-wage\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Citizens Information &mdash; Minimum Wage<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.workplacerelations.ie\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Workplace Relations Commission<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.accaglobal.com\/in\/en\/help\/exemptions-calculator.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">ACCA &mdash; Exemptions Calculator<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.charteredaccountants.ie\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Chartered Accountants Ireland (CAI)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cpaireland.ie\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">CPA Ireland<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Trainee accountant route to Ireland: eligibility, documents, pay, time limits, renewal, and entry after UG\/PG.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1124,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[134,135,49,51,52,50],"class_list":["post-1025","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-study-in-ireland","tag-acca-exemptions-ireland","tag-big-4-ireland-trainee-accountant","tag-stamp-1a-ireland","tag-stamp-1a-requirements","tag-stamp-1a-vs-1g","tag-trainee-accountant-visa-ireland"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thementorscircle.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1025","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thementorscircle.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thementorscircle.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thementorscircle.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thementorscircle.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1025"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/thementorscircle.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1025\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1125,"href":"https:\/\/thementorscircle.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1025\/revisions\/1125"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thementorscircle.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1124"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thementorscircle.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1025"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thementorscircle.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1025"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thementorscircle.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1025"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}