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Stamp 4 Residency

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

At a Glance

Processing Time

1–2 months

Estimated Cost

Not confirmed

€300 (IRP)

Stay Duration

Indefinite

Renewable

Renewal

Renewable

Family

Dependents allowed

PR Pathway

Yes

Sponsor

Job offer required

Work

Remote not required

Apply Now Official Information

Overview

Long-term residency after 2 years on Critical Skills permit or 5+ years on any work permit.

Stamp 4 is Ireland's long-term residency permission for non-EEA workers who have completed a qualifying period on a Critical Skills Employment Permit, researcher Hosting Agreement, or Multi-Site General Permit (NCHD). Administered by Immigration Service Delivery, it ends employer-tied authorisation and lets the holder work for any Irish employer or be self-employed without further permits.

The stamp is granted for two years and is renewable online through the ISD portal at a €300 IRP fee. ISD currently processes renewals in around 6–7 weeks plus up to 15 business days for the new card. Spouses can work without restriction, and time on Stamp 4 counts toward the five-year residence usually needed for Irish naturalisation.

This visa is ideal for Critical Skills Employment Permit holders who have completed 21 months in Ireland and want unrestricted labour-market access plus a runway to citizenship.

Stay & Extensions

Status type

Permanent / indefinite

Requirements

PUBLISHED REQUIREMENTS

Must have held a Critical Skills Employment Permit (CSEP) for at least 21 months.

Must have been legally resident in Ireland for the duration of the permit.

Must be of good character and not have come to the adverse attention of An Garda Síochána.

Must not have breached any conditions of previous immigration permissions.

Must be currently employed in a qualifying occupation.

KEY CRITERIA

Experience

2+ years

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

Biometric passport page

Current IRP card (front and back copy)

All relevant Employment Permits or Hosting Agreements from DETE

Most recent payslip

Employer letter dated within last 3 months (job title, location, employment dates)

Employment Detail Summary from Revenue (myaccount.revenue.ie) for each year of employment

Advantages & Considerations

Key Benefits

Unrestricted right to work for any Irish employer or to be self-employed
Renewable 2-year permission with a clear path to Irish naturalisation
Spouses and partners can work in Ireland without restriction
No labour-market test or employer sponsorship required after upgrade
Time on Stamp 4 counts toward the 5-year residence rule for citizenship
Online renewal via ISD portal up to 12 weeks before IRP expiry

Worth Knowing

Qualification requires 21 months on a Critical Skills Permit (57 months on a General Employment Permit)
€300 IRP card fee on every issuance and renewal
Current ISD processing around 6–7 weeks plus up to 15 business days for card delivery
First-time Stamp 4 registration in Dublin/Meath/Kildare/Wicklow/Cork/Limerick is in-person at Burgh Quay
Cannot apply without 21 months of qualifying CSEP/Hosting Agreement/NCHD permit residence
DETE no longer issues Stamp 4 support letters (since 30 November 2023) — must use Registration Office route

Application Process

Confirm qualification

Hold a Critical Skills Employment Permit, researcher Hosting Agreement or NCHD Multi-Site General Permit for at least 21 months (or 57 months on a standard General Employment Permit).

Gather documents

Biometric passport page, current IRP card (front/back), all employment permits or Hosting Agreement, most recent payslip, dated employer letter, Employment Detail Summary from Revenue for each year.

Submit via ISD

Apply through the ISD Online Portal (Customer Service Portal for first-time stamp change; Online Renewal Portal for renewals up to 12 weeks before IRP expiry).