Country Reference
Ireland
Visa news and reference for Ireland — the C short-stay and D long-stay visa categories, the Stamp framework that governs in-country permissions (Stamp 1 for employment, Stamp 1G post-study graduate, Stamp 2 for students, Stamp 3 for non-EEA dependants, Stamp 4 for long-term residence with work rights, Stamp 5 without time conditions, Stamp 0 humanitarian), the Critical Skills and General Employment Permit pathways operated by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, and the citizenship-by-naturalisation track after five years of reckonable residence. Ireland is an EU member state outside the Schengen Area; it operates a Common Travel Area with the United Kingdom that predates EU accession.
Last verified: May 26, 2026
Key facts
- Primary immigration framework
- Immigration Act 1999, Immigration Act 2004, and International Protection Act 2015; Stamp framework operated under Section 4 of the Immigration Act 2004
- Primary agency
- Immigration Service Delivery (ISD), Department of Justice — issues visas, registrations, and residence permissions (succeeded the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service in 2020)
- Registration
- An Garda Síochána National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) at Burgh Quay (Dublin) and Garda stations elsewhere — registers non-EEA nationals staying over 90 days and issues the Irish Residence Permit (IRP)
- Common Travel Area
- Reciprocal arrangement with the United Kingdom dating to 1923; Irish and British citizens may live, work, and study in either jurisdiction without visa or permit requirements
- Schengen status
- Not a member of the Schengen Area; maintains separate visa policy and external border controls
- Currency
- Euro (EUR)
- Demonym
- Irish
Visa types covered
- C visa (short-stay — up to 90 days for tourism, business, study, family visits)
- D visa (long-stay — over 90 days for study, employment, family reunification, business activity)
- Stamp 1 (employment with permit)
- Stamp 1G (post-study graduate, Third Level Graduate Programme)
- Stamp 2 (full-time student)
- Stamp 3 (non-EEA dependant)
- Stamp 4 (long-term residence — work without permit, includes family reunification beneficiaries and refugees)
- Stamp 5 (without conditions as to time — permanent equivalent after 8+ years residence)
- Critical Skills Employment Permit (high-skill / high-salary occupations)
- General Employment Permit (occupations not on the Critical Skills Occupations List)
- Intra-Company Transfer Employment Permit
- Start-Up Entrepreneur Programme
- International Protection (asylum and subsidiary protection under International Protection Act 2015)
Recent news
Ireland raises the family-reunification income threshold to €75,000 from June 12, 2026
Non-EEA sponsors must now show €75,000 gross over three years, up from €40,000; combined household income no longer counts.
June 17, 2026
Ireland ends appeals for short-stay visa refusals from June 1, 2026
The Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration announced that Type C short-stay visa refusals issued from June 1, 2026 will no longer be appealable, except under the EU Free Movement Directive.
May 30, 2026
Ireland adds 32 occupation changes to employment permit lists from May 28
Ministers Burke and Dillon announce 6 Critical Skills additions, 11 General Employment Permit additions, 15 quota renewals, plus 50:50 Rule healthcare amendment progress.
May 29, 2026
Ireland approves Stamp 4 transition scheme for 70,000 Ukrainian refugees
Cabinet-approved scheme replaces the EU Temporary Protection Directive ahead of its March 2027 expiry; application portal opens September 2026.
May 26, 2026