Stamp 4 - Ireland Immigration Permission
Immigration stamps enable non-EEA nationals to live, work, invest, do business, and study in Ireland. The stamps vary by number and are subject to conditions. If you want to work or do business and access publicly funded services, you must meet the requirements of Stamp 4.
For more information on Ireland immigration, call us on (+353) 061 518 025 for immediate help and assistance with your situation. We’re here to help you in person, via the phone, or online.
What is Stamp 4?
Stamp 4 is immigration permission for foreign nationals to work, live, study, and operate businesses in Ireland without an employment permit. Stamp 4 stands out among all Irish immigration stamps as the ultimate boon for immigrants that are non-EEA nationals. Typically, citizens from a non-visa-required country (or spouse/civil partner to one) don’t need to apply for a visa or employment permit to enter Ireland.
If you’re not a citizen of Ireland and want to stay in Ireland for more than 90 days, ordinarily, you need to get immigration permission and an employment permit. However, with Stamp 4, you are not restricted to conditions and permits. You can do the following things:
- Work without an employment permit in any profession.
- Start and run a business.
- Access state funds and services (subject to Government departments or agencies’ provisions).
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Who Can Apply for Stamp 4?
You can apply for Stamp 4 if you are a:
- Temporary resident applying for long-term residency.
- Entrepreneur under the Start-up Entrepreneur Programme (STEP) category.
- Investors under the Immigrant investor programme.
- Foreign national with an Irish spouse, civil partner or de-facto partner.
- Convention or programme refugee.
- Refugees under subsidiary protection.
- Family member to a recognised refugee.
- Family members of a resident granted subsidiary protection.
- Parent of an Irish citizen.
If you already stay in Ireland, you can change your immigration permission to Stamp 4 upon renewal. However, you must have been an employment permit holder. The acceptable type of permits are:
- A 2-year valid Critical Skills Employment Permit.
- A 5-year valid employment permit.
- A 2-year valid Hosting Agreement (for researchers).
What Documents Do I Need to Register for Stamp 4?
Overview
The documents you will be required to present to register your immigration permission depend on your status as listed in the eligibility criteria.
Entrepreneur under the Start-up Entrepreneur Programme (STEP)
If you are an entrepreneur under the entrepreneur programme, you need to submit the following documents:
- Authentic passport.
- Authentic letter of permission from the Minister for Justice.
- Documents indicated in the letter.
- Registration fee.
Investors under the Immigrant Investor Programme (IIP)
If you are an investor under the Immigrant Investor programme, you need to submit the following documents:
- Authentic passport.
- Authentic letter of permission from the Minister for Justice.
- Documents indicated in the letter.
- Registration fee.
Refugees or Persons under Subsidiary Protection
If you are under this category, you must have a letter of international protection and permission from the Minister of Justice to live in Ireland. The following are the documents to take along with you to register:
- Authentic letter of international protection from the Minister for Justice.
- Documents indicated in the letter.
Family Members Joining or Staying with a Recognised Refugee
If you want to enter Ireland to join a recognised refugee who is your family, you must provide the following documents for registration:
- Authentic passport; or
- Travel document.
- Authentic letter of permission to join or stay with your family member from the Minister for Justice.
- Documents indicated in the letter.
Foreign National with an Irish Spouse, Civil Partner or De-facto Partner
If you are migrating to Ireland to join your spouse or civil partner (Irish non-EEA/Swiss), you must present the following documents:
- Authentic passport.
- Authentic passport of spouse or civil partner.
- Marriage certificate; or
- Certificate of civil partnership.
- Proof of joint address.
- Authentic letter of permission to join or stay with your partner or spouse from the Minister for Justice.
- Documents indicated in the letter.
- Registration fee.
If you are migrating to Ireland to join your long-term de-facto partner, you must present the following documents:
- Authentic passport.
- Authentic passport of your de-facto partner.
- Authentic letter of permission to join or stay with your de facto partner from the Minister for Justice.
- Documents indicated in the letter.
- Registration fee.
Parent of an Irish Citizen
If you have a child with Ireland citizenship that you wish to join, you must present the following documents:
- Authentic passport.
- Authentic letter of permission to unite with your Irish citizen child from the Minister for Justice.
- Registration fee.
Long Term Residency
If you are eligible to change from temporary residency, you need to submit the following documents:
- All your passports; or
- IRP cards listing each of your immigration stamps.
- Recent IRP or GNIB Card IRP duplicate.
- Duplicates of all employment permits.
- Duplicate of employment contract; or
- Letter from your employer outlining the contract start date and employment terms.
- Proof of continuous residency in Ireland.
Eligibility Requirements for Stamp 4
Overview
Your eligibility requirements depend on your visa programme.
For Start-up Entrepreneur Programme (STEP)
The eligibility requirements for STEP are:
- You must be of good character.
- You must be free of criminal charges or convictions in any jurisdiction.
- You must have €50,000 for the required funding.
- You must have an innovative business proposal.
For Investors
The eligibility requirements for investors in the investment programme are:
- You must be of good character.
- You must be free of criminal charges or convictions in any jurisdiction.
- You are worth at least €2 million in net worth.
- You want to invest in one of the four areas of investment.
- You have an interest in investing in one of the four eligible investment options.
The investment options are:
- Enterprise Investment: requiring at least €1 million investment in an Irish enterprise for a minimum of three years.
- Investment Fund: requiring at least €1 million investment in an endorsed investment fund for a minimum of three years.
- Real Estate Investment Trusts: requiring at least €2 million investment in an Irish REIT on the Irish Stock Exchange list for a minimum of three years.
- Endowment: requiring at least €500,000 (€400,000 for five or more applications) philanthropic donation to a project with public benefit to Ireland’s arts, culture, education, health, or sports.
For Spouse, Civil Partner or De-facto Partners
The eligibility requirements are:
- You must not be younger than 18 years of age at the time of your application for family reunification.
- Your marriage must be monogamous, consensual, legalised, and recognised by Irish law.
- Your partnerships must be similar to marriage and cohabiting for two years before family application.
- Demonstrate commitment to be together permanently as couples, civil partners or de facto partners.
For Long Term Residency
If you have been offered an Irish Immigration permit, your eligibility requirements are as follows:
- You must have completed at least 5-year legal residence in Ireland.
- You must have qualifying stamps or valid Irish residence permit IRP cards as proof of 5-year legal residency.
- You must have been an employment permit or critical skills employment permit holder.
- You must have been of good character.
- You must not have caused an unnecessary burden on the government.
- You must not have an issue or record with the Irish police.
- You must have been compliant with all your previous immigration permissions.
- You must be a legal resident at the application.
- You must be in employment before, during, and after your application. Self-employment is not allowed.
How to Apply for Stamp 4
Overview
Obtaining a stamp 4 depends on the Irish national immigration policy, which directs the Irish immigration system’s decision-making. Before applying, ensure you understand the conditions and entitlements of the stamp that suits your purpose in Ireland. Especially if you plan on changing your stamp in the near future.
Get All the Required Documents
Before applying, you need to have all your documents ready for submission. Documents are personalised. Visit the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service website for your document checklist.
Download the Visa Application Form
As a citizen of a visa-required country, you must apply for a visa to enter Ireland. An Irish immigration stamp does not grant entry to the state. Your application channel depends on what you will do in Ireland.
Download your application form online. If you can not fill out the form right away, ensure to save it and continue later. Check the INIS website for your required documents before ticking them on the form.
Submit Application Form
Once you complete your form, print it, sign it, and input the date. Your application form will indicate where and how to submit it. Ensure to include all the documents you indicated while submitting your form. You may need to provide your biometrics data if required.
If you are an investor, you will need to apply by email – IIP&[email protected]. Ensure to include all your supporting documents – business proposal, executive summary (for your investment option), and proof of good character, net worth, and source of wealth.
If you are an entrepreneur, you will need to apply by email – IIP&[email protected]. Ensure to include all supporting documents – business proposal, proof of €50,000 funding, good character, and source of funding.
If you are applying for family unification under international protection, you need to write to the immigration service delivery. Indicate your details and that of your family member, including the nature of your relationship.
Pay Your Visa Fee
Pay all relevant fees. Ensure to have a valid credit or debit card for payment. The visa fee is not refundable regardless of if you get approved or not.
Wait for Approval
The relevant immigration authorities will screen your application document and determine your suitability for a visa. You will be issued a stamp 4 permission if your visa is approved.
Register Your Immigration Permission
Once your visa is approved, you must register your stamp 4 with relevant Irish immigration authorities within 90 days. Book an appointment with the Immigration Service Delivery (ISD) or the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) registration office.
If you are in Dublin, you can register with the Immigration Service Delivery (ISD). If you are outside Dublin, visit a Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) registration office near you.
If you are unable to fix an appointment within the required 90 days, do not leave Ireland, you will still get a chance to register. However, you must prove your immediate trial to book an appointment within the elapsed 90 days. Failure to provide evidence will result in refusal and deportation notice.
Once your permission is registered, the immigration officer may stamp your passport. Not all permission reflects on your passport. However, it will reflect on your residence permit card.
Get Your Irish Residence Permit (IRP) Card
If granted immigration permission, you will get your Irish Residence Permit (IRP) through mail. Ensure to provide an accurate address to the ISD or GNIB. Your IRP will carry your stamp. It is proof of your legal residency.
How Much Does Stamp 4 Registration?
You will be required to pay a fee of €300 per individual registration. Immigration officers may require additional fees depending on your situation.
The following persons do not need to pay for registration:
- A person under 18 during the registration period.
- A spouse/civil partner (or surviving) of an Irish citizen.
- A resident EU citizen’s spouse or dependent.
- A convention or programme refugee.
- An individual granted Subsidiary Protection.
- An individual with granted Permission to stay in Ireland.
- A family member joined with a recognised refugee in Ireland.
How Can IAS Help
There are immigration rules guiding Stamp 4 and other immigration stamps. Before applying, it is essential to be up to date with the rules and policies guiding the immigration system in Ireland. IAS is a body of professional immigration consultants with in-depth legal knowledge of Irish immigration stamps.
Our Irish immigration experts offer immigration advice sessions to figure out the Irish stamp that applies to you and locate a local immigration office near you, similar to an immigration lawyer.
You can also access our services for hosting agreement permission, student permission, working holiday authorisation, Irish citizenship, and a third-level graduate programme.
Call us on (+353) 061 518 025 for immediate help and assistance with your situation. We’re here to help you in person, via the phone, or online.
Last modified on October 17th, 2023 at 2:42 pm
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Related pages for your continued reading.
Ireland has various immigration permissions. They include:
- Stamp 0: The Stamp 0 allows holders to stay in Ireland for a particular period in order to retire to Ireland or live as visiting academic or elderly dependent. This stamp is usually given to those who are fully independent or sponsored by Irish citizens who are independent. With Stamp 0 permission, you can’t work, do business, or claim public benefits. Read more about stamp 0 here.
- Stamp 1 Ireland: The Ireland Stamp 1 is the stamp you need if you want to work or operate a business in Ireland. To obtain this stamp, you must already have a valid employment permit or a letter from Immigration Service Delivery (ISD) stating that you can work without an employment permit (this is typically given to those who are allowed to set up a business or be self-employed).
- Other Stamp 1s: In addition to the general Stamp 1, there are Stamp 1A, Stamp 1H, and Stamp 1G, which are for trainee accountants, non-consultant hospital doctors, and those who just graduated and are seeking employment, respectively.
- Stamp 2: The Ireland stamp 2 is the study permission. It allows you to study for a degree in the official Interim List of Eligible Programmes (ILEP) by the Department of Education and Skills for a specified period, including English language, a Higher national diploma, an undergraduate degree, a Master’s degree, and a PhD.
- Stamp 2A: If your course isn’t on the official ILEP, you will be given a Stamp 2A. This is typically for those who are taking a semester abroad at an Irish university/college, studying at a private secondary school in Ireland, or are spouses of financially independent students.
- Stamp 3: This immigration permission is typically given to volunteers at a non-profit, ministers of religion, and partners/family members of non-EEA nationals in Ireland on a valid work permit. With a Stamp 3, you cannot do paid work or business.
- Stamp 4 Ireland: This is the stamp we discussed on this page, above.
- Stamp 5 Ireland: The Ireland Stamp 5 means without condition as to time. This indicates that you can live in Ireland without needing to renew your stamp/visa as long as your passport is valid. It is typically given to those who have lived in Ireland lawfully for at least 8 years.
- Stamp 6: This stamp is for those who have obtained Irish citizenship and are now dual citizens. The Stamp 6 will therefore be placed in your non-Irish passport when you apply for permission to remain in Ireland ‘Without condition.’