Irish visa resources
The Irish Immigration Stamp System
How Ireland's numbered immigration permission stamps (Stamp 0 to Stamp 6) define what a non-EEA resident may do and how long they may stay.
Important
In Ireland, each type of immigration permission is represented by a numbered stamp shown in your passport and on your Irish Residence Permit (IRP) card. The stamp tells you what you are allowed to do - whether you can work, study or operate a business - and how long you can stay. Registering the correct stamp, and keeping it valid, is the basis of legal residence.
Some stamps count as 'reckonable residence' towards citizenship by naturalisation (for example Stamp 1 and Stamp 4), while others (such as time on certain student or protection-related permissions) do not. Understanding which stamp you hold is essential when planning any move between routes - for example from a student permission to an employment permit, or from an employment permit to long-term residence.
The main stamps at a glance
- Stamp 0: limited permission (e.g. person of independent means, visiting academic, dependent elderly relative); no work or business
- Stamp 1: permission to work or operate a business, subject to conditions (usually with an employment permit); reckonable for citizenship
- Stamp 2: student permission for an approved course, with a limited work concession
- Stamp 3: permission to reside without working (e.g. certain dependants, volunteers)
- Stamp 4: permission to work without an employment permit, subject to conditions; reckonable for citizenship
- Stamp 5: permission without condition as to time (long-term residence)
Next steps
Official sources
For the most accurate and up-to-date information, always refer to the official government sources.
Verified against official sources · last reviewed 2026-08-21. Information only — not legal advice.