Stamp 0 (Person of Independent Means)

Ireland's Stamp 0 permission for persons of independent means allows non-EEA nationals to reside in Ireland on a self-sufficient basis without engaging in employment, business, or accessing public funds. The legal basis is Section 4 of the Immigration Act 2004 (No. 1 of 2004), which empowers immigration officers and the Minister for Justice to grant residence permissions with attached conditions. The program is administered by Immigration Service Delivery (ISD), Domestic Residence and Permissions Division, within the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration (renamed from the Department of Justice in 2025).

Stamp 0 targets retirees and financially independent individuals from non-EEA countries who can demonstrate sufficient personal income and savings to support themselves without recourse to public funds. Unlike most other Irish immigration stamps, Stamp 0 is explicitly non-reckonable -- time spent on Stamp 0 does not count toward long-term residency or naturalisation requirements. Ireland does not have a separate 'golden visa' or retirement visa category; Stamp 0 is the sole pathway for financially independent persons who wish to reside without working.

• Non-EEA and non-Swiss national
• Annual income of at least EUR 50,000 for an individual (EUR 100,000 combined for a married couple)
• A lump sum equivalent to the average price of a residential dwelling in Ireland to cover unexpected major expenses
• Income must come from pensions, investments, or other verifiable passive sources -- investment sums alone are not normally measured
• Private medical insurance covering in-hospital treatment (minimum equivalent to VHI Plan D, at least EUR 25,000 cover); travel insurance is not accepted
• Police clearance certificate from country of origin
• Proof of accommodation in Ireland

• Completed Temporary Permission to Remain (TPER) Application Form
• Clear, legible copy of all passport pages (valid passport)
• Copy of birth certificate
• Copy of marriage certificate (if applicable)
• Written reason for the request for permission
• Details of all family members resident in the State and their legal status
• Details of any Irish associations
• Six months of bank statements
• Evidence of finances in spreadsheet format (figures in euros), verified by an Irish-based accountancy firm listing yearly income and financial liabilities
• Evidence of private medical insurance with full cover in private hospitals
• Police clearance certificate from country of origin
• Health declaration

Financial documentation must be independently certified by an Irish-based accountancy firm -- overseas accountant certifications alone are not accepted.

The permission is granted for 1 year and must be renewed annually. As of 13 January 2025, all renewals are submitted exclusively online through the ISD Customer Service portal -- the postal renewal route is no longer offered. Passport submission is no longer required for renewal; ISD issues an approval letter that is then used to renew the IRP card.

Renewal applications can be submitted up to 12 weeks before expiry and must be submitted while the holder is physically present in Ireland. The IRP card fee of EUR 300 per person applies to both initial registration and each renewal. As of May 2026, the renewal queue for 'all other categories' (including Stamp 0) is processing applications submitted on 12 February 2026.

There is no family reunification mechanism under Stamp 0. Each person, including spouses, must submit a separate application and independently meet the conditions. Married couples may rely on a combined income of EUR 100,000 rather than EUR 50,000 each. The Stamp 0 elderly dependent relative pathway is a separate category for dependent parents of Irish citizens or residents, with different income thresholds.

Stamp 0 holders who spend 183+ days in Ireland in a tax year (or 280+ days over two consecutive tax years with a minimum of 31 days each year) become Irish tax residents under Section 819 of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997. Non-domiciled Irish tax residents may use the remittance basis -- foreign income and gains are only taxed when remitted to Ireland, with no annual charge or time limit on non-domiciled status. Irish-source income is taxed regardless of domicile. Holders who become tax residents must file annual tax returns with Revenue, even if using the remittance basis for foreign income.

Initial applications are submitted by post to:

Stamp 0 -- Independent Means Section, Unit C, Domestic Residence and Permissions Division, Immigration Service Delivery, Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, 13-14 Burgh Quay, Dublin 2, D02 XK70, Ireland

If the application is successful, the applicant receives a Conditional Letter of Offer and an Agreement Form. Visa-required nationals must then apply for a D-Reside Visa at their local Irish visa office, including the Conditional Letter of Offer with their visa application. Non-visa-required nationals can travel directly to Ireland. Upon arrival, the signed Agreement Form and passport are sent to Unit A of the same address; ISD adds the Stamp 0 to the passport and returns it.

Within 90 days of arrival, the holder must register at the Burgh Quay Registration Office (Republic of Ireland first-time registrations only take place in Dublin) by booking an appointment through the ISD Customer Service portal. Registration involves fingerprinting, biometric capture, paying the EUR 300 IRP card fee, and receiving the Irish Residence Permit (IRP) card by post.

Processing time: Average 4 months from date of receipt for initial application.

Stamp 0 holders cannot work or engage in any business, trade, or profession in Ireland without explicit written permission from Immigration Service Delivery. They cannot access any publicly funded services, including public healthcare, social welfare, or State housing. If private medical insurance lapses, the permission may not be renewed.

Since 13 January 2025, all immigration registrations in the Republic of Ireland are handled by Immigration Service Delivery rather than the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB), and IRP renewals are submitted exclusively through the ISD online Customer Service portal. The Department of Justice was renamed the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration in 2025; ISD pages and permission letters now use the new name. ISD also confirmed in recent renewal guidance that the passport no longer needs to be submitted for renewal -- an approval letter is issued and used to renew the IRP card. On 14 May 2026, ISD announced it will no longer issue acknowledgements for documents or letters sent by post in order to streamline processing.

Income thresholds (EUR 50,000 single / EUR 100,000 couple), the lump-sum requirement, the EUR 300 IRP fee, Stamp 0 conditions, and tax-residence rules remain unchanged.