Move to Stamp 4 and live, work and build a business in Ireland without an employment permit.
No permit
Needed to work
0 months
After Critical Skills
0 months
After General permit
Reckonable
Towards citizenship
Stamp 4 is the upgrade most permit holders are working towards: the right to work for any employer, change jobs freely or start a business with no employment permit and no sponsor tie. It is also reckonable residence that counts towards naturalisation.
Ref S4A-10, typed for the wall
No permit
On Stamp 4 you can live and work in Ireland without an employment permit, reached after 21 months of employment on Critical Skills or 57 months on a General Employment Permit.
Stamp 4 lets you work for any employer, change jobs freely and start a business without an employment permit.
Move to Stamp 4 and live, work and build a business in Ireland without an employment permit.
Entry 01 · registered
We verify which route earns you Stamp 4 and pin the exact qualifying date from your permit history.
Entry 02 · registered
We assemble permits, payslips, your Revenue Employment Detail Summary and proof of continuous reckonable residence.
Entry 03 · registered
We lodge the Stamp 4 application through the ISD online portal, which you can do up to 12 weeks before your IRP expires. No DETE support letter is needed since 30 November 2023.
Entry 04 · registered
Once granted, we arrange registration of Stamp 4 on your updated IRP and confirm the dates are correct.
Balance · application fee, all entries included
€0
The €70 Book Consultation cost is separate.
0to0
weeks to a decision
Lodged with the fee
€0
EUR 0
full tank, official charges onlyThere is no employment permit fee on Stamp 4, since you no longer need a permit to work.
€300
Common routes to Stamp 4
| Criteria | Critical Skills | General Employment | Spouse of Irish citizen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Qualifying route | CSEP holder | GEP holder | Marriage or civil partnership |
| Time before Stamp 4 | 21 months | 57 months | On approval |
| Employment permit needed after | No | No | No |
| Labour market access | Full | Full | Full |
Plaque 02 The payoff
Critical Skills Employment Permit holders can apply after 21 months of employment, while General Employment Permit and Intra-Company Transfer holders qualify after 57 months, all counted from the commencement date on the Revenue Employment Detail Summary.
On the record
Irish Immigration Service Stamp 4 conditions.
Reach qualifying period
2wk
Gather evidence
2wk
Apply on the ISD portal
4wk
Register Stamp 4
2wk
Confirm your qualifying route
Evidence your history
Apply on the ISD portal
Register the new stamp
Critical Skills Employment Permit holders can apply after 21 months of employment, while General Employment Permit and Intra-Company Transfer holders qualify after 57 months, all counted from the commencement date on the Revenue Employment Detail Summary. Apply through the ISD online portal up to 12 weeks before your IRP expires.
No. Since 30 November 2023 the Stamp 4 application based on employment permit history is made directly to ISD, with no separate support letter required from the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. We lodge it through the ISD online portal.
Yes. Time on Stamp 4 is reckonable residence, and naturalisation generally requires five years of reckonable residence, or three years as the spouse of an Irish citizen. Keeping your registration continuous protects that count.
Yes. Stamp 4 removes the permit tie entirely: you can work for any employer, switch roles freely and set up a business without needing sponsorship. For most permit holders it is the single biggest upgrade in Irish immigration.
Gaps between IRP renewals, unregistered periods or breaks in the sponsored employment can move your qualifying date later. Stamp 4 is assessed on continuous, lawful, registered residence, so a clean record is essential.
Immigration stamps explained
The official statement of what Stamp 4 permits, work for any employer with no permit needed.
irishimmigration.ie
Critical Skills Employment Permit
Check the CSEP conditions you must have met, this is the fastest permit route into Stamp 4.
enterprise.gov.ie
General Employment Permit
GEP holders qualify for Stamp 4 too, just on a longer clock, review your accumulated permit time.
enterprise.gov.ie
Registering your permission (IRP)
Once approved, register your new Stamp 4 on your IRP card at renewal.
irishimmigration.ie
ISD online portal
Submit your Stamp 4 request and renewal documents through the online portal.
portal.irishimmigration.ie
Become an Irish citizen
Stamp 4 years are reckonable residence, see how your time counts towards naturalisation.
irishimmigration.ie
Gaps between IRP renewals, unregistered periods or breaks in the sponsored employment can move your qualifying date later. Stamp 4 is assessed on continuous, lawful, registered residence, so a clean record is essential.
Ref VW-BOOK, typed for the wall
Figures on this page are indicative and depend on your circumstances and current DETE and ISD rules.
