Guide to Irish Immigration Stamps and Permissions
Back to Blogs
This content is copied from The Department of Justice and Equality.
There are several types of stamp with different names, eg Stamp 0, Stamp 1, etc. Each one indicates a type of permission, including the activities you can and cannot do in Ireland and the time period you are allowed to stay.
You must be familiar with your stamp and the conditions that apply to it. If you break these conditions, you may have to leave the country. The time you accumulate on certain stamps may be used to calculate your 'reckonable residence' (subject to conditions) if you apply for citizenship by naturalisation.
Stamp 0
Stamp 0 indicates permission to stay in Ireland for a temporary period, subject to conditions.
Summary of conditions
You must be of independent means, ie fully financially self-sufficient. Alternatively, your sponsor in Ireland must be of independent means and can support you fully.
You cannot receive any benefits or use publicly funded services, eg be treated at a public hospital. You must have private medical insurance.
You must not work or engage in any business, trade or profession unless specified in a letter of permission from INIS.
Examples when used
You may be given Stamp 0 if you have permission to:
Retire to or live in Ireland as a person of independent means
Live in Ireland as the elderly, dependent relative of a non-EU/EEA or Swiss citizen
Extend a short term visit here due to exceptional humanitarian circumstances
Work here for an overseas company to carry out a specific task for a limited time
Other
Register or renew
Register for the first time or renew based on Stamp 0
Stamp 1
Stamp 1 indicates permission to work or operate a business in Ireland, subject to conditions. Stamp 1 is reckonable as residence when applying for citizenship by naturalisation.
Summary of conditions
You must not start a job or enter employment unless you or your employer has obtained an employment permit for you.
If you do not have an employment permit you must not engage in any business, trade or profession unless specified in a letter of permission from INIS.
If you wish to stay in Ireland past the expiry date of your immigration permission, you must apply to renew your permission and registration before they expire.
Examples when used
You may be given Stamp 1 if you have permission to:
Other
Register or renew
Register for the first time or renew based on Stamp 1
Stamp 1A
The Immigration Rules for non-EEA Stamp 1A Trainee Accountants of 1 June 2017 are currently under review. Until this review is completed the following conditions apply in order to qualify for a Stamp 1A.
Stamp 1A description
Stamp 1A indicates permission in full time, paid accountancy training (with a named organisation such as CPA Ireland, ICAI or regulated by the IAASA and with a training contract with a company based in Ireland) for a specified period, subject to conditions.
Summary of conditions
You must not engage in any other business, trade or profession unless specified in a letter of permission from INIS.
If you wish to stay in Ireland past the expiry date of your immigration permission, you must apply to renew your permission and registration before they expire.
Examples when used
You may be given Stamp 1A if you have permission to:
Register or renew
Register for the first time or renew based on Stamp 1A
Stamp 1G
1) Graduate Student who currently holds a Stamp 2 or 2A permission
Stamp 1G indicates you have finished your studies in Ireland and have permission to look for employment here under the Third Level Graduate Programme, subject to conditions.
Summary of employment conditions for graduates
You can work for a maximum of 40 hours per week.
If you wish to continue working after Stamp 1G expires, you must find a job that requires an employment permit and then follow the usual application process.
While on a Stamp 1G, your other permissions and conditions remain the same as for Stamp 2/2A.
Examples when used
You may be given Stamp 1G if you have permission to:
2) Spouse/de facto partner of a Critical Skills Employment Permit holder or a Spouse/de facto partner of Researchers in the State on Hosting Agreements
From the 6 March 2019 the Stamp 1G will also provide for the change in policy to both visa and non-visa required non-EEA nationals, who are Spouses and de facto partners of persons who are currently resident in this State, on Stamp 3 conditions, as the family member of a person resident in the State on the basis of a Critical Skills Employment Permit or a Researcher in the State on a Hosting Agreement.
The requirement to obtain a DPSEP has been removed for this group by DBEI. INIS will grant eligible de facto partners of CSEP holders and researchers on a Hosting Agreement permission, to reside in this State on Stamp 1G Conditions without the need to obtain a DPSEP from DBEI. This will allow access to the labour market without an Employment Permit.
Summary of employment conditions for spouses and de facto partners of CSEP holders and researchers on a Hosting Agreement permission
Permitted to work in the State without the requirement to obtain a work permit
Not permitted to establish or operate a Business
Not permitted to be Self- Employed
Renewal of the Stamp 1G registration should be applied for annually, and after 5years on a Stamp 1G, you may apply for a Stamp 4
Periods spent on Stamp 1G are considered as reckonable residence for the purpose of making an application for Citizenship/Naturalisation
Stamp 2
Stamp 2 indicates permission to study a full time course on the official Interim List of Eligible Programmes (ILEP) for a specified period, subject to conditions. Stamp 2 is not reckonable as residence when applying for citizenship by naturalisation.
Summary of conditions
You cannot receive any benefits or use publicly funded services (e.g. public hospitals) unless you have an entitlement via other means.
You can work in casual employment for a maximum of 20 hours per week during school term and 40 hours per week during holidays. You must not engage in any other business or trade. If your college is closed due to COVID-19 you are now allowed work 40 hours per week (April 2020).
If you wish to stay in Ireland past the expiry date of your immigration permission, you must apply to renew your permission and registration before they expire.
Examples when used
You may be given Stamp 2 if you have permission to study the following:
Register or renew
Register for the first time or renew based on Stamp 2
Stamp 2A
Stamp 2A indicates permission for full time study in Ireland for a course that is not on the official Interim List of Eligible Programmes (ILEP), for a specified period. Stamp 2A is not reckonable as residence when applying for citizenship by naturalisation.
Summary of conditions
You cannot receive any benefits or use publicly funded services, eg public hospitals. You must have private medical insurance.
You must not work or engage in any business, trade or profession.
If you wish to stay in Ireland past the expiry date of your immigration permission, you must apply to renew your permission and registration before they expire.
Examples when used
You may be given Stamp 2A in the following circumstances:
Semester abroad (ie at an Irish university/college)
Study at a private secondary school in Ireland
Register or renew
Register for the first time or renew based on Stamp 2A
Stamp 3
Stamp 3 indicates permission to stay in Ireland for a specified period, subject to conditions. Stamp 3 is reckonable as residence when applying for citizenship by naturalisation.
Summary of conditions
Recently revised to: http://www.inis.gov.ie/en/INIS/Pages/revised-immigration-arrangements-for-the-spouses-and-de-facto-partners-of-critical-skills-employment-permit-holders
If you wish to stay in Ireland past the expiry date of your immigration permission, you must apply to renew your permission and registration before they expire.
Examples when used
You may be given Stamp 3 if you have permission to:
Join your non-EEA/EU/Swiss spouse/civil partner or family member who is here based on a work permit
Other
Register or renew
Register for the first time or renew based on Stamp 3
Stamp 4
Stamp 4 indicates permission to stay in Ireland for a specified period, subject to conditions. Stamp 4 is reckonable as residence when applying for citizenship by naturalisation.
Summary of conditions
You can take up employment and are not required to hold an Employment Permit.
You can work in a profession, subject to conditions of the relevant professional or other bodies.
You can establish and operate a business.
You may access state funds and services as determined by Government departments or agencies.
If you wish to stay in Ireland past the expiry date of your immigration permission, you must apply to renew your permission and registration before they expire.
Examples when used
You may be given Stamp 4 if you have had permission to work in Ireland:
You may be given Stamp 4 if you are granted permission:
To join your Irish spouse, civil partner or de-facto partner
To join your EU/EEA or Swiss family member based on EU Treaty Rights
To join a family member who has immigration permission based on Stamp 4EUFAM (ie EU Treaty Rights)
To join your family member who is a recognised refugee or has been granted subsidiary protection
Under the Investor and Entrepreneur Programme (including spouse/partner & family)
As a convention or programme refugee, or based on subsidiary protection
Register or renew
Register for the first time or renew based on Stamp 4
Stamp 5
Stamp 5 indicates permission to stay in Ireland without limits on the time you can remain here, subject to other conditions. Stamp 5 is reckonable as residence when applying for citizenship by naturalisation.
The stamp will be valid up to the expiry date on your passport.
You may be given Stamp 5 if you have permission to:
Stamp 6
Stamp 6 indicates you are an Irish citizen with dual-citizenship. You may be given Stamp 6 in your non-Irish passport if you have applied for permission to:
