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Stamp 3 (Volunteer / Dependent)
IrelandIreland•Europe
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Stamp 3 (Volunteer / Dependent)

Residency Pathway PR PathwayThis visa can lead to permanent residency, the right to live and work here indefinitely without renewing your visa.

At a Glance

Processing Time

1–4 weeks

Estimated Cost

EUR €300

Stay Duration

Up to 1 year

Renewable

Renewal

Renewable

Family

Not specified

PR Pathway

Yes

Sponsor

No job offer needed

Work

Remote not required

Apply Now Official Information

Overview

Irish residency for non-EEA volunteers with approved charities and dependents of certain employment-permit holders, with no general right to work.

Stamp 3 is an Irish residency permission issued by Immigration Service Delivery (ISD) to non-EEA volunteers with approved charities and to dependent family members of certain employment permit holders. It does not, by itself, grant the right to work, and applicants must enter Ireland with either a long-stay D visa or, for non-visa-required nationals, a preclearance letter.

A €300 IRP registration fee applies on first registration and at each renewal. Volunteer permission runs up to 1 year initially, capped at 2 years aggregate. From 15 May 2024, qualifying spouses/partners of GEP, ICT, CSEP and Researcher permit holders move to Stamp 1G and may work without an employment permit; time on Stamp 3 remains reckonable for naturalisation.

This visa is ideal for non-EEA volunteers placed with ISD-approved charities and for accompanying family members of long-term Irish permit holders who do not need independent work rights.

Conversion Paths

Visas you can typically switch to from this status.

GEP — General Employment Permit
Ireland flagIreland

GEP — General Employment Permit

ValidityUp to 24 months
Processing2–3 months
View Visa Details
CSEP — Critical Skills Employment Permit
Ireland flagIreland

CSEP — Critical Skills Employment Permit

ValidityDuration of contract
Processing2–4 weeks
View Visa Details
Stamp 1G (Graduate / Spousal)
Ireland flagIreland

Stamp 1G (Graduate / Spousal)

ValidityUp to 24 months
ProcessingVaries
View Visa Details
Stamp 4 Residency
Ireland flagIreland

Stamp 4 Residency

ValidityIndefinite
Processing1–2 months
View Visa Details

Requirements

PUBLISHED REQUIREMENTS

Volunteers: placement letter from an ISD-approved non-profit/charity meeting volunteering criteria

Dependents: proof of relationship to a qualifying sponsor (Irish national or Stamp 1/4/5 permit holder; not Stamp 2 or Stamp 3)

Sponsor must support applicant(s) without recourse to public funds

Applicant must have entered Ireland lawfully (D-Join Family visa required for visa-national dependents)

Good character and law-abiding

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

Valid passport (and any prior passports showing relevant travel)

Volunteer placement letter from an ISD-approved organisation (volunteers)

Marriage or civil partnership certificate / proof of de facto relationship (dependents)

Sponsor's IRP card and proof of immigration status (dependents)

Evidence of financial support without recourse to public funds

Proof of address in Ireland

Advantages & Considerations

Key Benefits

  • Time on Stamp 3 is reckonable for Irish citizenship and naturalisation
  • Allows family reunification for dependents of qualifying permit holders
  • Spouses/partners of GEP, ICT, CSEP and Researcher permit holders can now work via Stamp 1G (from 15 May 2024)
  • Renewable annually in line with the primary permit holder's permission
  • Volunteer route open to both visa-required and non-visa-required nationals

Worth Knowing

  • No general right to paid employment for volunteers or non-spouse dependents
  • Volunteer stay capped at 2 years aggregate (limited 3rd-year extension only)
  • €300 IRP registration fee due at first registration and at each renewal
  • Cannot access public funds or claim Irish state benefits
  • Dependents must enter Ireland lawfully; D-Join Family visa required for visa nationals
  • Volunteers cannot bring family members or undertake paid work
  • Sponsor must hold qualifying status (not Stamp 2 or Stamp 3) and support dependents without public funds
  • Cannot change immigration status while in Ireland under the volunteer scheme

Application Process

1

Check whether you are visa-required for Ireland

2

Visa-required

apply for a long-stay D visa via AVATS up to 3 months before travel; non-visa-required: apply for a preclearance letter

3

Travel to Ireland with approved documents (entry still subject to border control)

4

Book an ISD first-registration appointment via the Customer Service Portal and attend in Burgh Quay (or designated office)

5

Pay the €300 IRP registration fee and receive Stamp 3; IRP card issued ~10 working days later

6

Renew online via the ISD portal up to 12 weeks before expiry

Application Forms

Go to application portal
AVATS Online PortalFill online

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