Regulations

14-15 Year Olds

If you are a 14- or 15-year-old, you are allowed to work up to 7 hours per day, or 35 hours per week, during school holidays. If you are enrolled in a work experience programme, you are entitled to work up to 8 hours per day or 40 hours per week. That is the limit by the law. Are you 15 years old or more? You can work up to 8 hours per week during school term if you are attending secondary school. Click here for more information about what kind of work you can do.

16-17 Year Olds

Are you a 16 or 17 year old? Then you are entitled to work as many hours as you want, and you are entitled to the the minimum wage(s) which vary depending on your experience. Click here for more information about the kind of work you can do.

Child labour is illegal, however, children over the age of 14 can work a limited amount of time during school holidays. It should be noted, if you are under the age of 16, you are not allowed to do any heavy work. This may include, but is not limited to, hard labour, for example, on a construction site, working in dangerous environments, for example, in coal mines, working at heights or on unstable platforms. For more information on this issue, you should speak with your parents/guardians, contact the local authorities and speak with the appropriate people working in your school. Find more information here.

If you are from an EU/EEA member state and studying in Ireland, you are permitted to work the same amount of hours as Irish citizens. As an EU/EEA citezen, you do not have to apply for a work permit to work in Ireland whether you are a student or not. You can find out more information here.

If you are from a non-EU/EEA country studying in Ireland, you are allowed to work up to 20 hours per week. In addition, you need to apply for a work permit. There are 9 different permits, which differ depending on the nature of your work. You need to make sure you apply for the right one. Click here for more information.

If you are attending college in Ireland, you are entitled to work up to 20 hours per week during term time. During the summer holidays and during the holiday in the run-up to Christmas, you can work up to 40 hours per week. These rules apply if you are 18 years old and over. The same rules apply for EU/EEA nationals. If you are not from an EU/EEA country, you must have an Irish Resident Permit Card.