Stamp 4 Ireland

Ireland’s Stamp 4 is a type of Irish immigration permission which allows the holder to live and work in Ireland without an Employment permit. It is intended for non-EU citizens.

There are a number of circumstances in which you may be eligible for Stamp 4 permission, such as if you have possessed an Irish Critical Skills Employment permit for at least 2 years or if you have worked as a researcher under a valid Hosting Agreement for at least 2 years.

Time spent in Ireland with Stamp 4 permission also counts towards the minimum residency period required when applying for Irish citizenship.

Additionally, Ireland offers a Stamp 4D, which is distinct from Stamp 4. Stamp 4D is intended for eligible non-EU family members of UK citizens who are looking to live in Ireland. Whilst UK citizens do not require a visa in order to live in Ireland, non-EU citizens generally will. This will be discussed in more detail later in the article.

Additionally, Ireland offers a range of other immigration stamps, each intended for different situations. These will also be briefly discussed later in the article.

Obtaining Ireland’s Stamp 4 immigration permission brings a range of benefits, including the freedom to work in your chosen role within Ireland, to start your own business and, in most cases, to access state funds and services.

Page Contents

• What is an Ireland Stamp 4 Visa?
• Who is Eligible for the Irish Stamp 4?
• What Documents are Required for the Ireland Stamp 4 Visa?
• How to Apply for Stamp 4 Visa Ireland?
• Application cost and processing time
• Applying for Irish Citizenship with Stamp 4
• What is Stamp 4D?
• Other Common Irish Immigration Stamps
• What’s It Like to Live in Ireland?
• How Can Total Law Help?
• Frequently Asked Questions

Ireland’s Stamp 4 is a highly-sought after immigration permission as it allows the holder to live and work in Ireland, in a profession of their choice, without requiring an Employment permit.

There are a number of situations in which you may be granted Stamp 4 immigration permission. These are as follows:

• You have held a valid Critical Skills Employment permit for at least 2 years
• You have held a relevant Employment permit for at least 5 years
• You have worked as a researcher under a valid Hosting Agreement for at least 2 years
• You are applying to join your Irish spouse/ civil partner or de facto partner in Ireland
• You have convention or programme refugee status or are joining a family member with recognised refugee status
• You wish to remain in Ireland with your Irish-citizen child
• You are applying through (or are the spouse or eligible family member of someone applying through) the Investor and Entrepreneur Programme
• You are applying for long-term residence

Stamp 4 immigration permission provides long-term residence in Ireland, allowing the holder to either work for an Irish company or start their own company. Additionally, time spent in Ireland with Stamp 4 permission counts towards the minimum residence requirement when applying for Irish citizenship.

There are a number of documents which you will need to provide when applying for Ireland’s Stamp 4 immigration permission.

While the exact documents required will depend on the nature of your application, they will generally be a combination of the following:

• Valid passport
• Copies of both sides of your Residence permit (if applicable)
• Copies of your Employment permits/Hosting Agreement(s) (if applicable)
• Details of your employment (if applicable)
• Proof of familial relationship to an Irish citizen (if applicable)
• Proof of refugee status or eligible familial relationship with someone with refugee status (if applicable)

You should make sure to gather the required documentation before submitting your application.

Ensuring that you have gathered the correct documents can often be confusing; contact Total Law today for further guidance.

When applying for Stamp 4 immigration permission in Ireland, you should apply online via the Irish Immigration Service. You will need to make sure that you gather the required documentation before applying.

When submitting your application, you will need to select ‘Stamp 4’ as the desired permission type. You will also need to upload your required documentation, including any previous Residence permits, and to pay the registration fee.

If your application is successful, you will receive a Stamp 4 Irish Residence permit. This will then allow you to live and work in Ireland without requiring an Employment permit. Your permission will generally last for 2 years and can be renewed upon expiry, provided that you continue to meet the eligibility criteria.

It can also be used to count towards satisfying the minimum residence period when applying for Irish citizenship.

You will generally need to pay a registration fee of €300 when obtaining or renewing Stamp 4 permission. However, there are some exceptions, such as in the following circumstances:

• You are the spouse, partner, or widow of an Irish citizen
• You have refugee status or are the eligible family member of someone with refugee status
• Your change of permission has been granted due to domestic violence

In general, you may have to wait approximately 12 weeks for a decision to be made on your application. Waiting times fluctuate depending on how many other applications are simultaneously being processed.

In order to minimise delays, make sure to submit all of the required documentation and to promptly provide any additional information which is requested. You may also choose to seek legal assistance with your application in order to ensure that it runs as smoothly as possible.

Obtaining a Stamp 4 provides a direct route to Irish citizenship. This is because time spent in Ireland with Stamp 4 immigration permission counts towards the minimum residency period required for Irish citizenship through naturalisation.

When applying for Irish citizenship through naturalisation, there are certain criteria which you will need to satisfy. These are as follows:

• Be at least 18 years old
• Be able to verify your identity
• Plan to live in Ireland upon obtaining Irish citizenship
• Be willing to attend a citizenship ceremony and declare your fealty to Ireland
• Be of good character
• Satisfy the minimum residence conditions
  • You will need to have continuously lived in Ireland for at least 1 year prior to the point at which you submit your citizenship application. During this period, you must not have been away from the country for more than 70 days (with an additional 30 days of absence sometimes allowed in exceptional circumstances)
  • During the 8 years prior to that 1 year of constant residence, you must also have spent at least 4 of those years residing in Ireland
  • You must be able to prove your Irish residency for each of the years which you are counting towards your minimum residence period. Any years when residency cannot be verified will not count towards satisfying the residency requirements

Note that not all stamps count towards your minimum residency period. Time spent in Ireland on a Student visa will not count, for example. However, time spent in Ireland with Stamp 4 permission will count towards your minimum residency period when applying for Irish citizenship.

Once you have successfully obtained Irish citizenship, you will gain access to a variety of appealing benefits, such as the ability to vote in Irish elections and apply for an Irish passport. The Irish passport is amongst the strongest in the world, granting you access to substantial travel benefits.

Obtaining Irish citizenship also automatically grants you EU citizenship, meaning you will gain the ability to live, work and study in any EU country without requiring a visa.

Stamp 4D was introduced post-Brexit in response to UK citizens no longer having freedom of movement within the EU. It allows the close family members of UK citizens living in Ireland to join them in Ireland.

The following familial relationships are eligible for Stamp 4D permission:

• Spouse or partner of the sponsoring UK citizen
• Dependent child (of either the sponsoring UK citizen or their partner/spouse)
• Elderly dependent parents (of either the sponsoring UK citizen or their partner/spouse)

The following considerations will be taken into account when a decision is being made on whether or not to grant Stamp 4D permission:

• The conduct of both the applicant and the sponsor
• Whether the applicant has come to the attention of the garda national immigration bureau
• Whether the sponsor has sufficient financial means to support the applicant(s) for the duration of their stay
• Whether the relationship between the sponsor and applicant is indeed close and genuine
• The immigration history of the applicant

There is no automatic right to Stamp 4D immigration permission even when the eligibility criteria are generally met; decisions are made on a case by case basis.

Ireland offers a wide variety of appealing residential options. Dublin boasts a rich culture, numerous professional opportunities, and thriving food scene. Galway offers beautiful architecture and a thriving music scene, and Dingle and Westport offer beautiful coastal scenes and warm communities.

Ireland also offers numerous world-class universities, such as Trinity College Dublin, University College Dublin, and the University of Galway. Additionally, it has a thriving tech scene, strong travel links, and excellent healthcare.

Overall, Ireland is a popular and appealing residential destination, offering numerous exciting benefits and opportunities. It offers access to a high quality of life, frequently scoring highly in the World Happiness Index. Whether you are a young professional or looking for somewhere to retire, Ireland has a residential option for you.