ENTERING IRELAND
STATUS CHANGE WITHIN IRELAND
CITIZENSHIP & RESIDENCY
Change of Immigration Permission
An immigration permission determines your condition for staying in Ireland. For example, the duration you can stay and the activity you could carry out while you are in the state. This is presented through an immigration ‘stamp’ placed on your Irish residence permit when registering.
Please read below for more information and what you must do to apply for a change in your immigration permission.
Table of Content:
Change in circumstances
Some people may need to change the type of immigration permission or stamp they have if their circumstances change. If you hold a valid permission, represented by a current Irish Residence Permit (IRP card), you may be able to apply to change, extend, or vary your permission.
For example, if you have held a Critical Skills Employment Permit for at least two years, you may be able to apply for a different type of permission that offers greater benefits. If your permission is expired, you cannot apply to change it. Applying does not extend your current permission, so be sure to apply in plenty of time if you meet the criteria.
Each immigration stamp or permission requires different criteria and offers different conditions, for example, the ability to study, work or retire in Ireland. If your circumstances change while living in Ireland, this may impact your immigration permission.
Please note that if you are here on a visitor’s permission for up to 90 days or if you are here on foot of a Working Holiday Authorisation (on Stamp 1), you are not permitted to change your permission. You are required to leave the State on or before the expiry of your permission. It would remain open to you to apply for another permission from outside the State after your departure.
We have listed out a few most common changes that you will find in the later section. Do note that the list is not exhaustive and are always subject to change due to policy changes.
Change of Immigration from Stamp 1
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New Stamp
Criteria for changing immigration permission and receiving a new stamp.
Stamp 2
Stamp 1 If you wish to change your current permission to allow you to study in Ireland you can apply online. You will need to upload some documents to support your application including:
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an acceptance letter from the school/college
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evidence of private medical insurance and financial resources
Stamp 3
If you wish to change your current permission to that of a dependent of an Irish resident you must visit your local immigration office with that person to apply for a Stamp 3. A dependent means a spouse, civil partner or dependent child (between the age of 16 and 18).
If you have been in a relationship similar to marriage (De Facto) with an Irish resident, and cohabiting with that person for at least two years, you may apply to ISD’s Domestic Residence Division for a change of Status to a Stamp 3.
Stamp 4
If you have employment permits and residence permissions and stamps for the previous five (5) years, you may apply for a Stamp 4 for one year.
If you have employment permits and residence permissions and stamps for the previous 5 years you may apply to ISD for long term residence.
If you become a spouse or civil partner of an Irish national who is resident in the State, you may attend at ISD Burgh Quay or your local immigration office with your Irish national spouse or civil partner to apply for a change of status to Stamp 4.
If you have been in a relationship akin to marriage (De Facto) with an Irish national, and cohabiting with that person for at least two years, you may apply to ISD’s Domestic Residence Division for a change of status to a Stamp 4.
If you become the parent of a child who is an Irish citizen, you may apply for a change of status.
Stamp 5
If you have 96 months reckonable residence (that means you have had a series of permissions that added up to 96 months in the State and qualify as counting towards the time required to apply for citizenship) you may apply to Domestic Residence Division for a Stamp 5.
Stamp 6
If you are granted citizenship, you may apply to Domestic Residence Division for stamp 6.
Change of Immigration from Stamp 2
Full-time focus to operate efficiently and effectively to deliver results on time.
New Stamp
Criteria for changing immigration permission and receiving a new stamp.
Stamp 1
If you are issued with an Employment Permit by Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment, you may apply for a Stamp 1.
Stamp 3
If you wish to become registered as a dependent – either as a spouse, civil partner or dependent child (between the age of 16 and 18) – of an Irish resident please attend at GNIB, along with the Irish Resident, to apply for a change of status to Stamp 3.
If you have been in a relationship akin to marriage (De Facto) with an Irish Resident and cohabiting with that Irish Resident for at least two years you may apply to Residence Division for a change of Status to a Stamp 3.
Stamp 4
If you become a Spouse or Civil Partner of an Irish National, who is resident in the State, you may attend at ISD Burgh Quay or your local immigration office with the Irish National to apply for your change of status to stamp 4.
If you have been in a relationship akin to marriage (De Facto) with an Irish National and cohabiting with that Irish National for at least two years you may apply to Residence Division for a change of Status to a Stamp 4.
If you become the parent of an Irish Citizen Child you may attend at the ISD Burgh Quay or your local immigration office to apply for a change of status. You may apply to Residence division for a permission to remain in the State on basis of Parentage of an Irish Citizen Child – For Non-EEA.
If your parent becomes an Irish citizen and you originally entered the State as a dependent of your parent and you are currently registered with ISD Burgh Quay or your local immigration office you may apply to Residence Division ISD for stamp 4.
Stamp 5
Not possible from Stamp 2
Stamp 6
Not possible from Stamp 2
Change of Immigration from Stamp 3
Full-time focus to operate efficiently and effectively to deliver results on time.
New Stamp
Criteria for changing immigration permission and receiving a new stamp.
Stamp 1
If you are issued with an Employment Permit by Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment you can attend at ISD Burgh Quay or your local immigration office to apply for a Stamp 1.
Stamp 2
If you wish become registered as a Student you must attend at ISD Burgh Quay or your local immigration office with student documents – an acceptance letter from the school/college, evidence of private medical insurance and evidence of finances.
Stamp 4
If you become a Spouse or Civil Partner of an Irish National, who is resident in the State, you may attend at ISD Burgh Quay or your local immigration office with the Irish National to apply for your change of status to stamp 4.
If you have been in a relationship akin to marriage (De Facto) with an Irish National and cohabiting with that Irish National for at least two years you may apply to Residence Division for a change of Status to a Stamp 4.
If you become the parent of an Irish Citizen Child you may attend at the GNIB office to apply for a change of status. You may apply to Residence division for a permission to remain in the State on basis of Parentage of an Irish Citizen Child – For Non-EEA.
If your parent becomes an Irish citizen, you originally entered the State as a dependent of your parent and you are currently registered with ISD Burgh Quay or your local immigration office you may apply to Residence Division INIS for stamp 4.
Stamp 5
If you have 96 months reckonable residence you may apply to Residence Division for a Stamp 5.
Stamp 6
If you are granted citizenship you may apply to Residence Division for stamp 6.
Change of Immigration from Stamp 4
Stamp 1
Not applicable
Stamp 2
Not applicable
Stamp 3
Not applicable
Stamp 5
If you have 96 months reckonable residence you may apply to Residence Division for a Stamp 5.
Stamp 6
If you are granted citizenship you may apply to Residence Division for stamp 6.
New Stamp
Criteria for changing immigration permission and receiving a new stamp.
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FAQ
Yes, if you are currently outside Ireland you may be permitted to come to Ireland to work. You must check if you need immigration permission from the Department of Justice or an employment permit from the Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment to work before you travel or apply for a visa (if you are a visa required national).
In general, in order to come to Ireland to work a non-EEA national must hold a valid employment permit or immigration permission.
Employment permit
All first time applicants for employment permits must make their application while resident outside Ireland. The Irish employment permit system, including the processing of these applications, is operated by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (DETE). Detailed information regarding the employment permit system can be found at the following link (DETE Employment Permit Information). If you are required to have an employment permit you must obtain a permit before you apply for a visa (if you are a visa required national) in order to travel to Ireland.
Atypical Working Scheme
Immigration permission under the Atypical Working Scheme is issued by the Department of Justice. Information on who is covered can be found here.
Working Holiday Authorisation Programme
Information on the Working Holiday Authorisation Programme can be found here. This programme allows young people to fund an extended holiday through temporary work. Only certain nationalities may avail of this programme. These programmes are currently suspended due to the COVID 19 pandemic.
Trainee Accountant
If you intend to come to Ireland to take up a position as a trainee accountant. Please click here for full details.
Minister of Religion
If you intend to travel to Ireland to work as a Minister of Religion, you will need preclearance approval before you travel. This applies to all Non EEA nationals whether you require a visa or not. Please click here for full details.
Volunteering
If you intend to travel to Ireland to Volunteer with an eligible body in Ireland, you will need preclearance approval before travel. This applies to all Non EEA nationals whether you require a visa or not. Please click here for full details.
Start up Entrepreneur Programme (STEP)
The start up entrepreneur programme (STEP) allows you to establish a business in Ireland and to work in the business on a full time basis. You are not permitted to be employed in any other capacity and you must not become a financial burden on the Irish State. You can find out more here.
Immigrant Investor Programme
The Immigrant Investor Programme (IIP) is open to non-EEA nationals who commit to an approved investment in Ireland. The IIP requires a minimum investment of €1 million, or €0.5 million (€500,000) if making an endowment, from applicant’s own resources and not financed through a loan or other such facility. You can find out more here.
A non-EEA national who is legally employed by a company in an EU country may be permitted to provide services on a temporary basis to a company in another EU country, including Ireland, on behalf of his/her employer without the need to obtain an employment permit.
This is permitted under the Van Der Elst process, for more information and conditions see here. You will still be subject to Irish immigration rules and may require a visa before coming to Ireland.
You may be permitted to come to Ireland to carry out a research project with an accredited research institution under the Scheme for Accreditation of Research Organisations (Hosting Agreement Scheme).
Detailed information on this scheme, including on how to apply and accredited organisations can be found via the following link (DETE Hosting Agreement Scheme).
The scheme allows for a period of between three months to five years, to carry out a research project with an accredited research institution. You do not require a separate employment permit under this scheme.
You must have successfully obtained a Hosting Agreement before you apply for a visa (if you are a visa required national) and undertake travel to Ireland.
If you are a visa required national you must apply for a visa before travelling to Ireland. Find out if you need a visa.
You can apply for all employment visa types up to 3 months before your date of travel to Ireland. You should apply for a visa as soon as possible after the granting of an employment permit/hosting agreement/immigration permission.