2026 Ireland Residency Guide for Canadians

To apply for residency in Ireland, Canadians either need a legal Employment Permit, or they may take part in the Irish government’s Start-up Entrepreneur Programme (STEP).

Alternatively, you can obtain residency via the family route. You may claim residency in Ireland based on:

• A civil partnership with an Irish citizen
• A marriage to an Irish citizen
• A relationship with an EEA/ Swiss citizen who is a resident in Ireland
• Other qualifying familial ties to Irish citizens, such as immediate family members

Routes That Do Not Qualify for Long Residency in Ireland

Some circumstances will not qualify you for residency in Ireland. These include:

• Residing in Ireland on a Study Visa
• Residing in Ireland as an employee of a foreign embassy or as an intra-company transferee
• Residing in Ireland on passive income (as a retiree)

In case that you have been residing in Ireland as a Canadian under non-qualifying circumstances, contact Total Law to review your options.

If you have been legally residing in the Republic of Ireland (also referred to as the State) for a minimum of five years (60 months) with long-term work authorization, you are eligible to apply for a Long Term Residency permit, provided you fulfil other eligibility requirements.

EEA (the EU countries, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway) and Swiss nationals are entitled to permanent residence in Ireland if they have been residing in the State legally for five years. They may apply for a permanent residence certificate, but this is not mandatory.

So, if you are a Canadian national who also holds dual citizenship in an EEA country that permits it or in Switzerland, you are entitled to permanent residence in Ireland.

Canadian spouse/civil partner or dependent(s) of an Irish citizen or Long Term Residency permit holder are eligible to apply for Long Term Residency, provided they have legally been residing in Ireland for a minimum of five years.

The spouse or dependant(s) of an Irish resident will be granted either a Stamp 1G or a Stamp 3 permission. This depends on the type of employment permit the Irish resident holds. Note that Stamp 3 permission holders will not be allowed to work in Ireland on this permission.

For EEA, UK and Swiss citizens legally residing in Ireland, their Canadian spouses/dependants must apply for residence to join family in the State.

Children aged less than 16 years do not need to register for a residency permit until they reach 16 years of age.

The Irish government launched the STEP in 2012, to encourage high net worth investors and business professionals from outside the EEA and Switzerland (except Russian and Belarusian citizens) to invest in the country. Such investors will, in return, acquire a secure residency status in Ireland.

Canadian STEP participants must set up their own businesses in Ireland and must work in the said business on a full-time basis. They are not permitted to be employed in any other capacity, and they must not become a financial burden on the Irish State.

In 2012, the Irish Government also launched the Immigrant Investor Programme (IIP) with a similar intent, which were closed from 15 February 2023 onwards.

We have listed below the supporting documents that you will need to submit as part of your application process for Long Term Residency permission:

• Completed application form, signed and dated
• Full colour copies of your past and current passport(s) or IRP cards showing all your immigration stamps
• A copy of your current IRP card or Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) card
• A copy of your employment contract, or a letter from your employer detailing commencement and terms of your employment
• Full colour copies of all employment permits issued by the DETE
• Residence proofs that certify you have been residing continuously in Ireland for 60 months

If you are applying for residency via the marriage/civil partnership route, you will need to submit the following documents:

• Completed application form, signed and dated (by you and your Irish citizen or resident spouse/civil partner)
• Your original marriage/civil partnership certificate
• Your original past and current passport(s) and birth certificate
• Certified copies of your and your spouse’s/civil partner’s passports
• Divorce papers from the applicant and/or their Irish citizen or resident spouse (if applicable)
• Yours and your Irish citizen/resident spouse’s/civil partner’s bank statements for the previous 12 months
• Copy of your private medical insurance
• Evidence that your Irish citizen or resident spouse/civil partner meet the income requirements
• Proofs of your joint accommodation
• Proof of address in your and your spouse’s/civil partner’s names

Please note that either of the above lists is by no means exhaustive in nature. The Irish Immigration Service may ask for additional documents depending on your personal circumstances.

If you intend to leave Canada to establish permanent residency in Ireland, you may be able to become an Irish permanent resident if you qualify.

Unlike in Canada, where you can obtain permanent resident status without having lived in the country before (Express Entry and other routes), you must have lived in Ireland for the qualifying period or be coming through the Join Family route. Only a few routes/permits give access to what is called a Stamp 4 which is similar to permanent residency.

The Long Term Residency is granted for five years without the need for a further work permit, and is renewable after five years provided you still fulfil the other eligibility conditions.

After eight years of legal residence, you can apply for a ‘Without Condition As To Time’ endorsement, also known as a Stamp 5 permission to remain, which does not come with a pre-specified time validity.

For more information, advice, or support with any of the routes to Irish residency as a Canadian citizen or resident, reach out to us today at +1 844 312 4979

Canadian citizens who plan to claim residency in Ireland will need to apply for pre-clearance prior to traveling. Certain programs, such as the Immigrant Investor Program, have their own online process you will need to follow prior to your residency application.

Fill out the online forms carefully as inaccurate or incomplete forms are the most common cause of refusal.

Applicants can access the residency application at the Irish Immigration Service Delivery Website. Submit your application to the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service, or INIS by filling out the written physical application forms and submitting them along with your required documentation.

If you have entered the country legally within the last 90 days, you may be able to apply from within Ireland.

The cost to obtain residency can vary depending on the path you are taking.

• The fee for an Irish Residence Permit is €300 (paid by bank draft or money order)
• The fee for a work permit can range from free up to €1,000
• You may incur additional fees for services such as translation or certification of documents

You may be exempt from paying the residency fee if you meet several requirements including being under the age of 18, having refugee status due to a natural disaster, or if you are applying for residency on a certain basis.

The processing time for a Canadian citizen to achieve Irish residency can vary based on pre-clearance requirements and other factors. Generally, Irish residency applications are processed between 6 and 8 months from when you submit your application.

Be sure to fill out all forms correctly and completely and submit all requested documents promptly. Inaccurate or missing information is the most common cause of delayed processing or refusal of applications.

When you are approved for Irish permanent residency, you will receive a Stamp 4 on your passport. The Stamp 4 is valid for 5 years. After 5 years you may be eligible to renew.

After 8 years total of reckonable residence in Ireland, you may apply for a “Without Condition As To Time” endorsement which will allow you to stay in the country indefinitely. You may also become eligible to apply for Irish citizenship.