IRELAND – Stamp 4 Support Letters Halted

November 22, 2023


Ireland’s Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (DETE) will cease taking applications for Stamp 4 support letters as of 30 November. Stamp 4 status in Ireland allows the holder the right to work without a separate work authorization, run a business, and access state services and funds. Any applications received by DETE before 30 November will be processed as normal. In addition, the Registration Office, Immigration Services will continue to accept support letters for applications to register a Stamp 4 residence permission.

Individuals most likely to be affected by this change are Critical Skills Employment Permit holders, Researchers on a Hosting Agreement, and NCHD Multi-Site General Employment Permit holders wishing to transfer to a Stamp 4 Immigration permission.

For individuals who do not apply for to DETE for a support letter before the 30 November deadline, they will then be required to provide The Registration Office, Immigration Services with the following information in support of applications to register a Stamp 4 residence permission:

  1. A copy of the biometric page of your current valid passport(s). This is the page showing the photograph, passport number, and date of birth.
  2. A copy of the front and back of your current IRP card. This is the credit-card sized plastic card you received when you last registered your permission.
  3. Copies of the relevant Employment Permit/s or Hosting Agreement/s issued to you by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment.
  4. A copy of the most recent pay slip.
  5. A letter from the employer/s, dated within the last 3 months, confirming the job title, location of employment, and dates of employment.
  6. Copies of ‘Employment Detail Summaries’ issued for each year of employment covering the duration of the Employment Permit/s, available on www.revenue.ie/myaccount

Applicants must have been registered and in permission for a minimum of 21 months under a Stamp 1 status on the basis of a Critical Skills Employment Permit and/or Hosting Agreement, or under Stamp 1H as a Non-Consultant Hospital Doctor on the basis of a Multi-Site General Employment Permit. Applications for renewal of permission are accepted up to 12 weeks prior to expiry to allow sufficient time for processing.

 

Newland Chase Insights

This very welcome change will mean that the usual Stamp 4 Support Letter process will be incorporated into the IRP renewal to result in a transfer from Stamp 1 to Stamp 4 permission. This means the Stamp 4 Support Letter process will be removed and the documents usually required for that application process will be provided at the IRP Card renewal stage instead. The IRP Card renewal will be as per the usual process, depending on the applicant’s location i.e. those residing in Dublin apply via the online Dublin portal with those applicants residing outside Dublin applying via the usual in-person appointment process at a Garda station.

This immigration update is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for legal or scenario-specific advice. Furthermore, it is important to note that immigration announcements are subject to sudden and unexpected changes. Readers are encouraged to reach out to Newland Chase for any case- or company-specific assessments.