Question 1

What is Stamp 2 student permission in Ireland?

Accepted Answer

Stamp 2 is an immigration permission granted to nonEEA nationals who are enrolled in a fulltime course on the Interim List of Eligible Programmes (ILEP) at a recognised Irish education institution. It is the standard permission for international students studying in Ireland and allows limited employment rights alongside study.

Stamp 2 holders may work up to 20 hours per week during academic term time and up to 40 hours per week during holiday periods (June to September and 15 December to 15 Jan

Question 2

What is Stamp 4 permission in Ireland?

Accepted Answer

Stamp 4 is one of the most favourable immigration permissions in Ireland. It allows the holder to reside in Ireland and to work without the need for an employment permit, meaning they can take up any employment, be selfemployed, or start a business. Stamp 4 also allows the holder to access State services on the same basis as Irish nationals in many cases.

Stamp 4 may be granted to various categories of people including spouses and civil partners of Irish nationals, holders of Critical Skills Em

Question 3

How do I apply for long-term residency in Ireland?

Accepted Answer

Longterm residency is a permission that may be granted to nonEEA nationals who have been legally resident in Ireland on an employment permit (Stamp 1) for a continuous period of at least five years. It is similar in concept to permanent residence in other countries, though Ireland does not have a formal permanent residence scheme for nonEEA nationals outside of the EU framework.

To qualify, the applicant must demonstrate five years of continuous legal residence on work permit conditions, must h

Question 4

How do I get a PPS number as an immigrant in Ireland?

Accepted Answer

A Personal Public Service (PPS) number is a unique reference number issued by the Department of Social Protection in Ireland. It is required for all interactions with public services and is necessary for employment, accessing healthcare, paying tax, and availing of social welfare services. All immigrants intending to work or reside in Ireland need to obtain a PPS number.

To apply, you must attend an appointment at your nearest PPS Number Allocation Centre (also known as an Intreo Centre or Soci

Question 5

What is Stamp 3 permission in Ireland?

Accepted Answer

Stamp 3 is an immigration permission that allows nonEEA nationals to reside in Ireland but does not permit them to work or engage in any business, trade, or profession. It is typically granted to dependants of employment permit holders, nonEEA family members of Irish or EU citizens in certain circumstances, ministers of religion, and persons of independent means.

Stamp 3 holders may reside in Ireland for the duration stated on their IRP card but must rely on the financial support of their spons

Question 6

What does 'without condition as to time' (Stamp 5) mean in Ireland?

Accepted Answer

Stamp 5, also known as 'without condition as to time' permission, is the closest equivalent to permanent residence for nonEEA nationals in Ireland. It grants the holder the right to remain in Ireland indefinitely, without any time restriction on their permission. Stamp 5 holders can work without an employment permit and are not required to renew their immigration permission periodically, though they must keep their IRP card valid.

To be eligible for Stamp 5, a person must have been legally resi

Question 7

How do I renew my IRP card in Ireland?

Accepted Answer

NonEEA nationals must renew their Irish Residence Permit (IRP) card before their current permission expires. The renewal process differs depending on whether the applicant lives in the Dublin area or elsewhere in Ireland.

For Dublinbased applicants, IRP renewals are processed online through the Immigration Service Delivery's online renewal system. Applicants submit their documents electronically, pay the EUR 300 registration fee by credit or debit card, and receive a decision by email. If appro

Question 8

Can I work while on a student visa in Ireland?

Accepted Answer

NonEEA students holding Stamp 2 permission in Ireland are permitted to work on a parttime basis alongside their studies, subject to specific conditions. During academic term time, students may work up to 20 hours per week. During designated holiday periods (June, July, August, September, and from 15 December to 15 January), students may work up to 40 hours per week.

To be eligible to work, students must be enrolled in a fulltime course on the Interim List of Eligible Programmes (ILEP) and hold

Question 9

What is international protection (asylum) in Ireland?

Accepted Answer

International protection in Ireland is governed by the International Protection Act 2015. It provides for two forms of protection: refugee status and subsidiary protection. A person may apply for international protection if they are unable or unwilling to return to their country of origin due to a wellfounded fear of persecution (for refugee status) or a real risk of serious harm (for subsidiary protection).

Applications are made to the International Protection Office (IPO), which is part of th

Question 10

What is permission to remain in Ireland?

Accepted Answer

Permission to remain is a general term used in Irish immigration law to describe the authorisation granted by the Minister for Justice to a nonEEA national to remain in the State. It encompasses all forms of immigration permission, from shortterm stays granted at the border to longterm permissions such as Stamp 4 and Stamp 5.

When a nonEEA national arrives in Ireland, the immigration officer at the port of entry grants an initial permission to remain, typically for up to 90 days. For those inte

Question 11

What is the Immigrant Investor Programme (IIP) in Ireland?

Accepted Answer

The Immigrant Investor Programme (IIP) was an Irish immigration scheme that allowed nonEEA nationals to obtain residency permission in Ireland in exchange for a significant financial investment in the Irish economy. The programme offered several investment options including enterprise investment (minimum EUR 1 million), investment fund (minimum EUR 1 million), Real Estate Investment Trust (minimum EUR 2 million), and endowment (minimum EUR 500,000 donation to a public project).

Successful appli

Question 12

What regularisation schemes exist for undocumented migrants in Ireland?

Accepted Answer

Ireland has periodically introduced regularisation schemes to allow undocumented migrants to obtain legal immigration status. The most significant recent scheme was the Regularisation of LongTerm Undocumented Migrants Scheme, which opened for applications in January 2022. This scheme allowed undocumented nonEEA nationals who had been living in Ireland without immigration permission for at least four years (or three years for those with children) to apply for legal residency.

Successful applican

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