Irish Immigration Stamps

Stamp 1 is usually issued to those traveling to Ireland with authorization to work or run a business. It counts towards residency when applying for naturalization.

If you get the Stamp 1 in your passport, you must abide by the following conditions:

• You or your employer must obtain an valid employment permit before you can start working
• If you’re to run a business, you must not engage in any business or trade until you receive an employment permit unless indicated otherwise in an INIS letter of permission

If you’re to run a business in Ireland, it’s possible to get Stamp 1 if you or your partner has an employment permit, or you’re working on a Working Holiday Authorisation.

There are two categories of Stamp 1G recipients. This includes;

1. Those who have completed a level 8 or higher education and wish to work in Ireland

The Third Level Graduate Scheme allows people in this category to work in Ireland. However, you must work a maximum of 40 hours per week and you must have Stamp 2 registration to apply.

2. Those who are the spouse/de facto partner of a Critical Skills Employment Permit holder or of Researchers in the State on Hosting Agreements

Stamp 1G now includes permission for spouses/de facto partners of Critical Skills Employment Permit holders and Researchers on Hosting Agreements.

Previously, spouses/partners were subject to Stamp 3 conditions which require they get an employment permit for working. They can now work in Ireland without a permit under Stamp 1G.

However, there are still some restrictions. For instance, they cannot own or operate a business and cannot be self-employed.

Both Stamp 1G categories require annual renewal. You can apply for a Stamp 4 after five years on a Stamp 1G. Also, time spent on Stamp 1G counts as residency for citizenship by naturalization application.

Stamp 2 permits you to take a full-time course in Ireland for a particular period. The course must be on the official Interim List of Eligible Programs.

Examples of such courses include HND, undergraduate degree, master’s degree, PhD, and English language courses.

Conditions attached to a stamp 2 include:

• You can only work in a casual setting and not for more than 20 hours every week if school is in session. During holidays, you can work for a maximum of 40 hours.
• You cannot use public funded services or receive state benefits expect you have specific entitlements

Stamp 2A is the opposite of Stamp 2. It permits you to study a full-time course that’s not on the official Interim List of Eligible Programs for a particular time period.

Examples include if you’re coming to study at a private secondary school in Ireland or you have to complete a semester in an Irish university or college.

Conditions for this stamp include:

• You must not cannot engage in any work, business, or trade during your stay
• You cannot use public funded services or receive state benefits
• You must have private medical insurance

Stamp 3 is normally issued to people coming to Ireland as a volunteer or a minister of religion. It prohibits them from engaging in any business, trade, or profession.

Those accompanying a non-EEA/EU/Swiss spouse or civil partner or family member on a work permit can also get Stamp 3 permission. Once your permit expires, you can apply for renewal if you wish to continue staying in Ireland.

You can leverage time spent on a Stamp 3 permit towards residency in Ireland when applying for citizenship by naturalization.

Stamp 4 is a popular Irish immigration stamp. This is because it’s normally issued to long stay D visa holders. Those travelling to Ireland to join their spouse, partner or de-facto partner can also get Stamp 4.

This category of persons don’t need an employment permit to work in the country. However, researchers with valid hosting agreements and workers can get stamp 4 but they’ll need a work permit.

This immigration stamp has many advantages. It gives you permission to establish and operate a business, access state funds and services, and work in relevant professions.

You get a stamp 5 if you have permission to live in Ireland without limits for a particular time. This is otherwise known as Without Condition As To Time (WCATT).

This, however, is subject to other conditions. Usually, Stamp 5 applicants must have completed 8 years of legal residency in Ireland. It counts as residency when applying for citizenship.

Stamp 6 is issued to Irish citizens with dual citizenship. This stamp is normally given in their non-Irish passport and gives them permission to remain in Ireland without condition.