Stamp 4

Who Can Apply for Stamp 4?

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.

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Examples when used
You may be given Stamp 4, after you have had a permission to work in Ireland:

• With a valid Critical Skills Employment Permit for 2 years

• With a valid employment permit for 5 years

• As a researcher (with a valid Hosting Agreement) for 2 years.

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You may be given Stamp 4 if you are granted permission:

• To join and reside with your Irish spouse, civil partner or de-facto partner

• As a convention or programme refugee, or based on subsidiary protection

• To join your family member who is a recognised refugee or has been granted subsidiary protection

• To remain with your child who is an Irish citizen

• Under the Investor and Entrepreneur Programme (including spouse/partner & eligible family member)

• For Long Term Residence.

Eligibility Requirements for Stamp 4

Your eligibility requirements depend on your visa programme.

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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 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.