Below, you can find important information regarding residency matters inIreland. Our lawyers can help you apply for an Irish residence permit.
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What are the main immigration services you can offer me in Ireland?
Our immigration lawyers in Ireland are specialized in offering all types of immigration services to foreign clients, regardless of their nature. For the purpose of obtaining a residence permit, our team has prepared the following legal services:
- offering tailored assistance to clients based on their nationality (EU, EEA, third party);
- preparing the application file;
- addressing the responsible authorities;
- offering information on the types of residence permits available here and the conditions that must be satisfied in order to obtain the immigration documentation;
- drafting and submitting appeals, in cases where we believe there is a plausible reason for changing the decision taken by the authorities;
- assisting the client in any post-relocation matter (sign a rental agreement, register for personal taxation, open a bank account for personal purposes, etc.).
| Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| Temporary residence permit types | Stamp 0 issued for various purposes, such as training, academic visits, retirement, bringing dependent parents into Ireland. |
| Time needed to obtain the temporary residence permit (approx.) | Approximately 5-15 working days. |
Temporary residence permit validity in Ireland | 1-2 years, depending on the residence permit. |
| Documents for obtaining temporary residence | Paying the processing fee, completing the application form, submitting personal identity and traveling documents, submitting documents that attest the purpose of stay (work, family reunification, enrollment in Ireland). |
| Mandatory registrations with state authorities (i.e. with the population/municipality register) | Immigration Service Delivery (working under the Deparmtent of Justice) or any local Garda stations outside Dublin, depending on where the person lives. |
| Dependents can join the temporary permit holder (Yes/No) | Yes, in certain cases. Most of the options to bring dependents are available for Ireland permanent residency. |
| Temporary or permanent residency for investment purposes | Yes, temporary and Ireland permanent residency are available through investments. |
| Type of investments available for residency purposes | Investments in an innovative business idea that can qualify as a startup, investments in Approved Investment Funds, investments in Irish enterprises, investments in real estate investment trusts, endowments. |
| Minimum investment amount | EUR 50,000 |
| Minimum temporary residence before applying for permanent residence | Ireland permanent residency can be obtained after 5 years of living here. |
| Residency for individuals married to a citizen of the country | 5 years to Ireland permanent residency. |
| Documents for obtaining permanent residence | – the current residence permit; – the passport; – personal information; – documents that attest the purpose of stay (marriage documents, work documents, corporate documents, etc.); -the application form. |
| Naturalization requirements | Be a resident of at least 5 years in the last 9 years, and show evidence of continous residence of at least 1 year prior to the application. For those married with an Irish citizen, only 3 years of residency have to be proven. |
| Citizenship after permanent residence | After 3 or 5 years of permanent residence. |
| Dual citizenship permitted (Yes/No) | Yes |
| Fee for long-term residency permit | In order to obtain residency in Ireland on a long-term basis it is necessary to pay a processing fee of EUR 500. |
How are applicants notified on the residency permit decision? | The notification is sent as a letter of approval, sent by the Immigration Service Delivery. |
Deadline to pay the residence permit fee | 28 days since the notification was sent. |
| What happens if a person fails to pay the permit fee? | The residency permit application will be stopped, but the applicant will have the right to resume the process at a later date. |
| Apply for a residency card (yes/no) | Yes |
| Statutory limits to register for the residency card | The residency card is known as the Irish Residence Permit (IRP) and those who want to obtain residency in Ireland must register for the issuance of the document in a period of maximum 90 days since the arrival in the country. |
| Appeals on the refusal of applications | There aren’t any appeals for refusals (the refusal documents will clearly state the reasons for not granting residency). |
| Can long term residency be revoked? (yes/no) | Yes |
| Reasons for revoking long term residency | – on grounds of breaking the conditions of the permission to stay; – on grounds of character (such as criminal convictions); – on grounds of failing to register for permission to stay; – on grounds of providing untrue information to the Irish authorities. |
| Can the application for long term residency be done from overseas? | No. |
| Immigration documents that grant the right to long term residency | Stamp 1 and Stamp 4. |
| Can a foreigner appoint a legal representative for immigration matters? | Yes |
| Legal pathway to retire to Ireland | A foreigner can obtain residency in Ireland as a retirement visa by applying for the D Reside visa and the Stamp 0. |
| Is it possible to extend the permission to stay? | Yes |
| Can one change the permission to stay into a different document? | Yes, foreigners arriving under a type of visa and residency permit (known as permission to stay) can change their permits to other types of permits, but there are certain limitations in this sense. |
What are the main immigration options for residency in Ireland in 2026?
Here are the most common reasons under which an Irish residence permit can be obtained:
- arriving here for the purpose of employment, in which case the foreigner must obtain an employment permit (necessary for persons who want to move to Ireland from outside the EU);
- arriving in Irelandfor investment purposes and here, investors can obtain business visas or investment visas (also necessary only for citizens outside the EU);
- arriving in Ireland for family reunification purposes;
- applying for retirement residence permits, available for foreign citizens who can support themselves.
Do I need to apply for a residence permit as an EU citizen?
EU citizens do not need to apply for a residence permit in order to immigrate to Ireland, however, they need to register with the immigration authorities once they arrive here. If you want to start the process for Irish permanent residency in 2026, we invite you to read some of the highlights of the procedure:
What are the rights of EEA citizens in Ireland?
The citizens of European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland have similar rights as the citizens of the EU. Please mind that the EEA is not the same as the EU. With regards to residency regulations applicable to this category of citizens, upon the arrival, the same rules will apply as the ones available for EU citizens, meaning that they do not need to apply for a residence permit.
Do I need to apply for a residence permit as third party national?
Yes, as a third party national (non-EU, non-EEA), you have the legal obligation to apply for a residence permit in Ireland, regardless of its type. This obligation appears when you plan to reside in Ireland for a period longer than 90 days.
What should I know about the application/renewal process?
In the list below, our immigration lawyer in Irelandhighlights some of the main aspects foreigners should be aware of when they apply for a residence permit and/or when they renew the document:
- if you want to obtain an Irish residence permit in 2026, you must pay a processing fee of EUR 300;
- certain categories of applicants are exempted from the payment of the fee, such as it is the case of refugees or asylum seekers;
- the processing of the application can be completed in a period of 9-10 weeks;
- upon the expiration of the permit, foreigners are required to renew the card if they want to maintain their residency in Ireland;
- this procedure can be completed online;
- the authorities can issue a new permit in a period of 10 to 15 working days;
- the renewal of the residence card costs EUR 300.
What are the basic conditions for a work permit in Ireland?
All residency permits for employment purposes are issued by the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation in Ireland. Our lawyers can offer more information on the requirements for Ireland permanent residency for employment purpose, some of which are:
- in order to obtain a general employment permit, a non-EU national must obtain a work contract with an annual salary of more than EUR 36,000;
- the general employment permit is first issued for a period of 2 years;
- this type of residence permit can be renewed for another 3 years, following which the applicant is a viable candidate to Irish permanent residence.
- Below, you can watch a short presentation on Ireland permanent residency:
Are there any salary requirements in 2026 for employment purposes in Ireland?
In order to be eligible for certain types of work visas in Ireland in 2026, applicants must meet specific salary thresholds, which are modified on yearly basis. Please mind that, as of 1st of March 2026, the minimum salary requirements are:
- for a General Employment Permit, the minimum salary is EUR 36,605;
- for the Critical Skills Employment Permit, applicants must have a minimum salary of EUR 40,904;
- for home carers and healthcare assistants, the minimum salary is EUR 32,691.
When can I initiate the procedure for permanent residency in Ireland?
You will be able to apply for permanent residence after living in Ireland for 5 years; however, for applicants arriving under the Critical Skills Employment Permit scheme, Ireland permanent residency is available after 2 years.
What are my rights as a permanent resident?
Once you have become a permanent resident in Ireland, you will have a set of rights, granted to all foreigners regardless of their nationality. Some of them are listed below:
- freedom of working in Ireland (you will no longer need a work permit);
- the right to education and social welfare;
- the right to set up a business (just like in case of employment, foreigners will not have to obtain special immigration permits to open a company);
- family reunification rights, etc.
Can I become a citizen by being a permanent resident?
Yes, there is the possibility of acquiring citizenship in Irelandby being a permanent resident, which known as citizenship through naturalization. Our immigration lawyer in Ireland can provide legal assistance on the procedure, therefore we recommend you get in touch with our attorney for personalized assistance on this topic.
For complete information on the main routes to Ireland permanent residency, please contact our immigration lawyer, who can provide legal representation.
