Stamp 1 Ireland

Overview

Individuals applying for a Stamp 1 permission will need to show that they meet the eligibility requirements. This usually revolves around the specific grounds on which the Stamp is being applied for, specifically the planned professional or other economic activities the applicant is planning to engage with once in Ireland.

You should note that this stamp is generally only available to individuals who are not EU, EEA, or Swiss citizens or nationals.

Eligibility for Stamp 1 applicants may depend on specific circumstances, but can generally be divided into categories based on the nature of work, such as general employment or business activities and entrepreneurship. Furthermore, individuals applying on grounds of specific research assignments, to work with a Working Holiday Authorisation, via a Ministerial permission, or through other hosting agreements may need to consider specific criteria for each.

Eligibility for General Employment Permit Holders

When applying for a Stamp 1 in Ireland for a traditional employment route, candidates will need to obtain a valid employment permit from the DETE (Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment). It is necessary to show that you are qualified for the job, and you should keep in mind that your Stamp 1 will only be valid while you are working for the employer and role specified on your permit. Depending on your line of work, additional permits or qualifications may be relevant.

Eligibility for Business Owners

Individuals who wish to obtain a Stamp 1 in Ireland with the intent to carry out entrepreneurial activities or to run a business will need to obtain appropriate authorisation for their venture in Ireland from ISD (Immigration Service Delivery). This means that the business will need to be formally established and accredited , such as under the Start-up Entrepreneur Programme, also referred to as STEP.

It is important to note that there are restrictions placed on possible self-employed pathways, and this must be specifically permitted by ISD to be allowed. A letter of permission will usually outline the exact trade or profession for which independent employment may be undertaken via this route.

Eligibility via a Hosting Agreement

Researchers or other individuals who are applying for a Stamp 1 via this route will need to obtain an official Hosting Agreement, which may be issued by the DETE (the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment). It is important that this only permits work for the specific organisation or research centre which has been specified in the permission.

Eligibility via a Working Holiday Authorisation

Stamp 1 permits for working holidays are only available to individuals of a limited age range (usually from about 18 years to early or mid-30s) who are citizens of a participating country (such as Canada, USA, New Zealand, Australia, Japan, or South Korea).

Individuals who are coming to Ireland for a working holiday and need a Stamp 1 via this route will usually need to obtain a Working Holiday Authorisation from the Department of Foreign Affairs. This facilitates work without needing a new employment permit, but you will need to be registered with ISD (Immigration Service Delivery). Keep in mind that this is only intended to facilitate casual or very limited work, and isn’t a path towards establishing a long-term career.

Eligibility via the A-typical Working Scheme (AWS)

AWS offers access to a Stamp 1 permission for qualifying individuals, but will require an official Letter of Approval from the Department of Justice. It offers an especially limited opportunity to carry out highly specialised work that is usually set to take less than 90 days, with only a few exceptions usually within the medical sector.

Eligible applicants will need to show that their working engagement both meets the specified period and that it fits a category of eligible work that may be considered for this pathway.

Eligibility Via Alternative Pathways

Depending on the occasion, there may be alternative paths to qualify for a Stamp 1 in Ireland. While individuals carrying out ministerial duties may apply via a specialised permission, and non-EU or EEA nationals who are otherwise employed in the EU and require a temporary transfer to carry out professional duties in Ireland may obtain a Van Der Elst visa, there are many nuances to the specifics of obtaining a Stamp 1.

Depending on your personal and professional circumstances, it can be a good idea to consult with an experienced immigration lawyer to explore the viable options that may be available in your case. Our team of experts at Total Law have long-standing and up-to-date experience with all aspects of Irish Stamp 1 permissions as well as all surrounding immigration matters, and can help set you onto a suitable path. You can call us today at +44 (0) 333 305 9375 for immediate assistance with your Ireland Stamp 1 needs.

While Stamp 1 is generally considered the key stamp for individuals who are in Ireland with the intention to work or run a business on a more limited timeframe, this is not the only stamp that is available.

There are sub-categories of the Stamp 1 permission, such as the Stamp 1A, which caters specifically to individuals who are training as an accountant.

Stamp 1G, also referred to as a third level graduate programme, covers Graduate Students but may also be offered to Spouses of professionals who are undertaking research in Ireland via a Hosting Agreement or who hold a Critical Skills Employment Permit.

Stamp 1H is geared towards doctors from outside the EEA, who are working as NCHD (Non Consultant Hospital Doctors) with a specific Multi-Site General Employment Permit.

Meanwhile, other stamps range from 0 to 6, with some sub-categories that each cover specific areas.

Stamp 0 offers limited permission to stay in Ireland for short periods based on independent means without undertaking any paid labour or seeking employment.

Stamp 2 covers Students in full time education who are enrolled in one of the eligible programmes, while Stamp 2A covers full-time students whose programme is not on the Interim list of Eligible Programmes (ILEP).

Stamp 3 offers another permission to stay in Ireland for a set period and may be offered to individuals who reside in Ireland to engage in volunteering work or to act on ministerial duties. It may also be offered to Spouses of some work permit holders, but does not itself permit employment.

Stamp 4 may be offered to non-EEA individuals who have been in Ireland on a Critical Skills Employment Permit for at least two years. It may also be offered to general permit holders after five years. It allows individuals to change employment freely, as a work permit will no longer be required.

Stamp 4D may be issued to family members of UK citizens who are moving to Ireland after January first, 2021.

Stamp 5 may be issued to non-EEA nationals who have been in Ireland for at least 8 years. It offers non-conditional presence in Ireland (regarding time, usually until the expiry of the individual’s passport) and allows individuals to work without an employment permit.

Stamp 6 may be issued on a non-Irish passport for individuals who hold dual citizenship. It offers freedom to live and work or retire in Ireland indefinitely.

Obtaining a Stamp 1 in Ireland involves several steps and can sometimes seem like a confusing process if you are expecting a simple one-and-done application, as may be associated with some other visas. It is important to keep in mind that Stamp 1 is generally the final step of the process, which means that key stages need to be completed prior to obtaining this stamp, which is considered the pre-registration phase.

During the pre-registration phase, you will need to obtain your initial permission, which is the thing that will give you the overall ‘okay’ to work in Ireland or to run a business. Usually, this will mean that you need to obtain a suitable approval for your intended nature of professional activity.

This may be an employment permit in Ireland if you are applying via a traditional employment route. Alternatively, you may need to secure your confirmation of a Hosting Agreement if you are coming to Ireland on a research assignment.

Finally, some individuals may instead need to obtain a letter of permission from Immigration Service Delivery or the Minister of Justice, which allows for certain professional activities without the need for an employment permit.

Obtaining the appropriate permit or letter of permission will set you up for the next necessary steps during the Ireland immigration process. Depending on your circumstances, you may need to apply for an entry visa or pre-clearance to come into Ireland to begin with.

This usually considers your intention, such as the nature of work, as well as your circumstances, meaning that personal documents and all appropriate permits may need to be presented when applying.

Once you have navigated these essential steps, you should have obtained the necessary permission for you to travel to Ireland. While this may seem confusing, as you have not yet received the Stamp 1, a key stage of the Irish immigration process happens after you have arrived, as you will need to register.

When you have arrived in Ireland, you are entering the second and final phase of this process. While you may have obtained a permit and a visa, you will now need to formalise your status in Ireland to receive your Irish Residence Permit card (also referred to as an IRP card).

This should usually happen as soon as possible, and you need to make sure that you register within the first 90 days of your arrival. To do this, you will need to book an appointment.

Traditionally, first-time registrations usually need to be undertaken at Burgh Quay, Dublin, where you will need to attend your registration meeting with an immigration officer, provide all relevant documents, and pay the registration fee.

However, this process is gradually moving to become more digital and certain steps may now be done digitally, with the initial steps towards booking your appointment now commonly accessible via the ISD Customer Service Portal, online.

If your registration was successful, you will usually receive a physical Stamp 1 in your passport. While more processes are moving digital, this and the IRP card are still issued as before, and while you will usually receive a confirmation email too, it is important that you carry your physical IRP card with you.

During the registration process for your Stamp 1, you will need to provide relevant documentation to show all necessary permissions and other relevant evidence that proves your eligibility to the Irish immigration authorities.

There may be different ways to submit this documentation, but for first-time registrations, you are usually expected to bring all relevant documents to your appointment in Burgh Quay in Dublin.

Should you require Stamp 1 renewals further down the line, it will usually suffice to submit digital copies of your evidence, as long as it is clearly legible.

The documents you will need to provide highly depend on the specifics of your situation, but there is a general expectation for these documents:

• Your Passport (this should have biometric data and be in date)
• Your landing stamp or confirmation
• Your entry visa or any alternative pre-clearance, if required

• Your Approval Letter, Employment Permit, or equivalent permission
• Proof of your address in Ireland
• Proof of adequate private medical insurance
• Your registration fee payment

Depending on your circumstances, you may also need one of the following:

• Your Hosting Agreement (for researchers)
• Details of your accountancy training contract (for Stamp 1A)
• Details of your course completion, plus previous residence documents (for Graduate Stamp
• Details of your partner’s employment permit, their passport, and proof of your relationship (for Spouse/Partner of Permit Holder Stamp 1G)
• Your Multi-Site General Employment Permit and letter of employment (for Stamp 1H)
• Details of your hosting confirmation from an Irish employer, EU employment proof, and employer letter (for Stamp 1 Van Der Elst Visa)

It is important to submit all required documents to avoid any problems during your registration process, so ensure that you have everything prepared beforehand.

Stamp 1G may be offered with two main categories: for graduates, or for spouses or partners of employment permit holders or researchers.

Stamp 1G for graduates is available to non-EU or EEA individuals who have graduated from an eligible higher-education course in Ireland. It allows them to live and work full-time in Ireland for 12 months or up to two years, without the need for an additional work permit.

This Stamp is intended to help graduates navigate the employment market and to establish a professional footprint upon graduation. Once this period has elapsed, graduates will need to obtain alternative permission to stay in Ireland and continue working, which usually means finding an employer to sponsor a traditional employment permit.

It should be noted that while traditional employment is permitted under this stamp, this does not include other entrepreneurial activities such as starting and running a business or other self-employed trading.

Stamp 1G may also be offered to spouses or civil partners of individuals who hold an eligible employment permit in Ireland. Usually, this applies to spouses or partners of individuals with a Critical Skills Employment Permit (CSEP), but it may also cover partners of Researchers on a specific Hosting Agreement or individuals with a General Employment Permit (GEP).

Individuals who are offered a Stamp 1G will be permitted to seek work in Ireland without needing to obtain an additional employment permit, as long as the work is legal in Ireland.
Stamp 1G also offers permission to study in Ireland.

It should be noted that despite its freedoms, Stamp 1G for partners does not allow individuals to establish alternative entrepreneurial presence, such as running a business or undertaking self-employed labour.

While offered with a limited duration of usually one year, stamp 1G for spouses may be renewed, provided that the partner continues to meet eligibility.

Stamp 1 generally permits individuals to engage in professional activities in Ireland, including employment and entrepreneurial activities.

While nuances depend on personal circumstances, associated permits or approvals, and the specific stamp granted, the following can offer an overview of the key functions of Stamp 1 in Ireland:

• Traditional employment: Stamp 1 holders may engage in traditional full-time employment for a specified employer and the role stated in their employment permit
• Entrepreneurial activities and operation of a business: Stamp 1 holders may be permitted to run a business or engage in an alternative independently employed trade, provided that permission was obtained from Immigration Service Delivery
• Professional activities without a permit: Individuals with a Stamp 1 may be permitted to work without a permit if they obtained a letter from the Immigration Service Delivery stating an exemption

Of course, there are additional aspects to the Stamp 1 in Ireland, beyond its implications for professional activities. Individuals who have obtained a Stamp 1 will be permitted to live and study in Ireland, though it should be noted that education is limited to courses but does not cover full primary or secondary studies.

Additionally, individuals may travel with a Stamp 1, though it should be noted that this is relevant only to re-entry into Ireland, as any visa or other immigration permissions will still be required as usual, depending on the destination and the individual’s circumstances.

Stamp 1 holders may also apply to have family members and dependents join them in Ireland, provided that there is an immediate family connection. This includes a spouse or civil partner, children under the age of 18 or adult children who still require care, classifying them as dependent. Individual circumstances should be considered when exploring this option.