 Stokes played for the Republic of Ireland at youth international levels, earning promotion to the under-21 team in August 2006.Stokes earned his first full cap for the Republic of Ireland national football team in their 2–1 win away to San Marino on 7 February 2007, coming on as a substitute.He earned three full caps in 2007, but was not selected during 2008 or 2009 as he fell out of favour at Sunderland.