The complete guide to visas, residence permits, and administrative procedures for EU and non-EU nationals looking to settle in Ireland.
6
Routes covered
Outside Schengen
EU, own system
Jul. 2026
Updated
Free · Results in 3 minutes
Overview
Ireland — permits, immigration, the Stamp system.
Ireland is in the EU but outside the Schengen Area, with a two-tier system: a work permit (Department of Enterprise) or an entry visa, then a separate registration with immigration, which affixes a “Stamp” authorizing residence. EU/EEA nationals are exempt.
UE
Outside Schengen
Permit + Stamp
Two tiers
Stamp 4
Frees you from the employer
The Irish particularity fits in one sentence: working and residing are two separate authorizations. The work permit, issued by the Department of Enterprise (DETE), allows you to work but is not a residence permit. After arrival, a separate registration with immigration (ISD) affixes a “Stamp” on the residence card (IRP). Stamps run from 0 to 4 and determine what you can do: Stamp 4, in particular, frees you from any permit and from being tied to an employer.
Which route for your situation in Ireland?
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Available visas and permits
The main visas we support.
Click a permit to see the requirements, required documents, timelines, and practical tips. Each of these visas comes with full guidance in your nomadpass space.
CSEP
Critical Skills Employment Permit
Shortage occupation · direct path to Stamp 4 · non-EU
Non-EUFast track
›
Main threshold
€40,904 (list + degree) · €68,911 off-list
Fees
€1,000 permit + €60/100 visa + €300 IRP
Stamp 4
Direct path after 21 months
Offer required
2 years minimum · no labor market test
The royal road: no labor market test, immediate family reunification, and a direct path to Stamp 4, which frees you from being tied to the employer. The €36,848 threshold applies if you graduated less than 12 months ago.
GEP
General Employment Permit
General employment · labor market test · non-EU
Non-EUMarket test
›
Standard threshold
€36,605 · reduced thresholds for certain sectors
Fees
€1,000 permit + €60/100 visa + €300 IRP
Market test
Job ad published for at least 28 days
Offer required
12 months minimum
The employer must first prove they tried to recruit within the EEA (labor market test, 28-day job ad). Without this step, the application is inadmissible. Unlike the CSEP, there is no direct path to Stamp 4.
S2
Student visa (Stamp 2)
Program on the ILEP list · non-EU
Non-EUAccessible
›
Means
€10,000 per year of stay
Tuition
€6,000 minimum already paid
Fees
€60/100 visa + €300 IRP
Work
20 hrs/week · 40 hrs during holidays
The number one reason for refusal: the program must be on the official ILEP list, full-time and daytime. The €6,000 in fees and the €10,000 in means are two separate proofs.
S1G
Third Level Graduate Programme (Stamp 1G)
Post-study permission · non-EU
Non-EUBridge to employment
›
Duration
12 months (level 8) · 24 months (level 9+)
Fees
€300 IRP card
Work
40 hrs/week without a permit
Requirement
Hold a valid Stamp 2
A bridge, not a destination: its purpose is to let you find a job that opens a work permit. The degree must come from an Irish institution, and you must hold a valid Stamp 2 at the time of application.
S0
Stamp 0 — Person of independent means
Retirement, no activity · non-EU
Non-EUHigh threshold
›
Required income
€50,000/year individual (~€100,000 per couple)
Capital
An emergency sum equivalent to the price of a home
Fees
€60/100 visa + €300 IRP
Duration
1 year, renewable annually
Ireland has no “retirement visa”: Stamp 0 is the permission you actually apply for. It prohibits working, opens no right to public services, and your financial documents must be certified by an accountant established in Ireland.
STEP
Start-up Entrepreneur Programme (STEP)
Innovative start-up · the IIP is closed · non-EU
Non-EUProject evaluated
›
Funding
€50,000 minimum (+€30,000 per founder)
Fees
€350 application + €300 IRP
Permission
Stamp 4 from the start, family included
Timeline
Quarterly committee · 6 weeks to 3 months
Residence by passive investment (Immigrant Investor Programme) was closed in February 2023: no more Irish Golden Visa. STEP is the only entrepreneurial route, reserved for innovative start-ups targeting 10 jobs and €1M — not for remote work or independent consulting.
This list presents the main residence permits, which cover the vast majority of relocation situations. It is not exhaustive: other specific visas exist for particular situations, available from the country's official authorities.
Not sure which permit to choose?
Our assessment identifies the right visa in 3 minutes
Competent authorities
The official bodies for your procedure.
The competent authorities vary depending on your nationality and your project.
DETE — Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment
6 visas and permits are covered for Ireland, including Critical Skills Employment Permit · General Employment Permit · Student visa (Stamp 2). The free assessment identifies the one that fits your situation in 3 minutes.
How long does it take to get a visa for Ireland?
From 14 days to about 3 months depending on the visa. For example, Critical Skills Employment Permit: An application at least 12 weeks before the job's start · processing variable by employer type.
How much does a visa for Ireland cost?
Official fees depend on the visa. For example, Critical Skills Employment Permit: €1,000 permit (90% refunded if refused) + €60/100 D visa + €300 IRP card.
Is the information on Ireland up to date?
Yes: every sheet cites its official sources (DETE — Critical Skills Employment Permit: the €40,904 / €68,911 / €36,848 thresholds, the €1,000 fee, the Stamp 4 move, DETE — The permits' new pay thresholds as of March 1, 2026, ISD — The €300 immigration registration (IRP) fee and the Stamps system) and carries a verification date. Last verified: 2026-10-06.
