Stamp 0 for Canadian Citizens and Residents

Stamp 0 is for people who are eligible, such as the people in the following instances:

• One wishes to retire or live in Ireland as a person of independent means, meaning they are fully financially self-sufficient
• Those coming to live in Ireland as an elderly dependent relative of a non-EEA/non-Swiss citizen
• A visiting academic or research in academics at an Irish university
• Applicants wanting to extend a short-term visit to Ireland due to exceptional humanitarian circumstances
• Those who want to engage in employment while in Ireland for an overseas company to carry out a specific task

Elderly relatives eligible for Stamp 0 are those who meet the financial requirements and provide the financial documents.

Academics who receive this immigration permission are those visiting an Irish university. They must be paid from outside Ireland and must not be in Ireland to work for more than 12 months.

There are a number of financial documentation that must be met for Stamp 0 to prove you are fully financially self-sufficient. They are as follows:

For a person of “independent means”, you should have an individual income of €50,000 or 67,868.99 Canadian Dollars per year.

You must also have access to savings to take personal complete financial responsibility to cover any emergency/major expenses. This money needs to be equal to, for example, the price of a home in Ireland. It is worth knowing that the asking price of a property in Ireland varies depending on location, but, generally, this lump sum figure is approximately €100,000 or $135,727.00 Canadian Dollars.

Financial documentation needs to be presented in spreadsheet form and converted from Canadian dollars into Euros. It also must state all income and a realistic spending budget for each month. This must be certified by an Irish-based accountant that has the expert knowledge to understand the format of overseas banking/accountancy documentation.

Only bank statements from accessible funds or pension income will be accepted. Money from investments is not accepted.

Elderly dependent relatives will have to prove financial support from their sponsor by providing proof the sponsor bears the entire financial burden of their elderly dependent relative.

To prove that information, the sponsor must show that they received income (after tax and deductions) of a minimum of €60,000 or $81,431.40 Canadian Dollars for one elderly dependent and €75,000 or $101,789.25 Canadian Dollars if there are two elderly dependent relatives.

The income must be guaranteed income that is consistent for three years prior to the visa application. However, in the case that the elderly relative has another income, including a pension income, this is permitted to be used to offset some of the financial criteria.

Folks with Stamp 0 are not granted permission to receive publicly funded services or state funds, or benefits, including being treated in a public hospital.  They must arrange private medical insurance, and their private medical insurance must fully cover their healthcare at private hospitals during their time in Ireland.

Stamp 0 is not permitted to work or engage in business, trade, or a profession unless they have a letter of permission or conditional letter from the immigration authorities that clearly states they are permitted to do so and are given an employment permit.

Canadians are considered non-visa-required persons for tourist visas for less than 90 days stay. However, for a Stamp 0, that is a longer stay, so Canadians will have to make their application from outside of Ireland. There are many steps behind the application. The first step is to obtain immigration pre-clearance.

To apply for immigration preclearance, or permission to travel to Ireland, with a letter and required documentation. If you are successful in preclearance, you will get a Stamp 0 Conditional Letter of Offer and a signed Agreement Form from Unit 2, Domestic Residence and Permissions Division of Ireland.

Step two is applying for your relevant visa. Long Stay D, Family visa category, and other appropriate Long Stay visas are examples of visas that count towards a Stamp 0. As part of your visa application, it is imperative to include your Stamp 0 Conditional Letter of Offer.

If your application for your required visa is a success, the Irish Immigration Service department, you’ll be granted permission. This, along with your Letter of Offer, is presented on the conditions that you meet the visa checks and satisfy other requirements from an Immigration Officer when at the Irish border with the immigration officer.

Step three is to travel to Ireland. While at the border, you will need to present all the paperwork to the immigration officers. The officers will review everything, and if everything is okay, they will permit you to enter Ireland.

Please note that despite your visa, you are not automatically guaranteed permission to remain in the country.

The last step, which is important,  is to register at your local immigration office to receive permission to remain within Ireland.

To register, you will need to make an appointment at the Garda National Immigration Bureau located in Dublin or another local visa office, depending on where you reside in Ireland. It might require some travel.  During your appointment, should all go accordingly, you will receive an Irish Residence Permit (IRP card).

To be given  your IRP, you will need to provide the following information:

• A valid passport
• Proof of address
• Proof of your employment (if applicable)
• Details about your situation in Ireland. For example, if you are married to an Irish citizen, you should bring your marriage certificate and proof that you are living together with your spouse.

To obtain your IRP, you will need to pay €300, or $407.24 Canadian Dollars. Please note that you will not need to pay this fee if:

• Hold refugee status
• Hold subsidiary protection status
• Hold leave to remain under Section 49 of the International Protection Act 2015
• Are you under 18 years old
• You’re a resident based on your marriage to an Irish citizen
• You’re a family member of a citizen of the European Union

The documents that are needed completely depend on your personal circumstances.

If you are an Elderly dependent relative, you must provide:

• Passport
• Copy of birth certificate
• Evidence of relationship to sponsor, such as the sponsor’s birth certificate showing the dependent as a parent
• Details of other family members in Ireland, including their legal status
• Proof of available funds the applicant has, such as bank statements
• Evidence that the sponsor meets the financial requirements
• Details on accommodation
• Proof of full private medical cover
• Details on intentions in Ireland

If you are a Visiting academic, you must provide:

• Valid passport
• Reasons for the request for permission to remain in Ireland
• Details of other family members that are in Ireland
• Proof of all funds available, such as bank statements
• Letter from the host Irish university that confirms they will be working within the university for a set period (not longer than 12 months)
• Letter from the university in their home country specifying their position in the college and that the home university will pay them while in Ireland
• Proof of private medical insurance with full coverage
• Police Clearance Certificate

If you are a person of independent means, you must provide:

• Valid passport
• Copy of birth certificate
• Copy of marriage certificate or its equivalent, such as proof of civil partnership
• Details of other family members resident in Ireland, including their immigration status
• Proof of all funds available, such as bank statements
• Financial documents that an Irish-based accounting firm has verified
• Health declaration
• Police clearance certificate
• Proof of private medical insurance with full coverage
• Reasons for the request for permission to remain in Ireland