Travel & Scholarship Master
Ireland is one of Europe’s three largest islands and the world’s 12th largest. It is home to approximately 6.6 million people. As a result, it is the second most populous island in the world. Ireland is the Eurozone’s only English-speaking country. Because it is home to many top high-performance companies, it is well-connected internationally. Many people want to work and live on the ‘Emerald Isle.’
Step 1. Eligibility to become a permanent resident in Ireland
- You have been legally residing in Ireland for at least five years (60 months). The time you spent outside Ireland during those five years does not count toward your ‘reckonable residence.’
- You have lived in Ireland with work authorization, such as an Employment Permit, and have a Stamp 1 or 4 on your passport.
- You could also apply to be exempt from Irish work permit requirements, allowing you to work without applying for an employment permit. However, not all types of work authorizations are eligible.
- Your Irish residence permit is valid at the time of application.
- You are currently employed and will be in the future.
- Furthermore, suppose you are the spouse or dependent of an Irish permanent resident. In that case, you are eligible for permanent residency if you meet the time requirements (you have spent at least 60 months of legal residence in Ireland). Before applying, your family member must have already been granted permanent residency on Stamp 4.
Step 2. Check Irish residence permits that do not qualify for Irish permanent residency
Even if you meet the time requirements; you are not eligible for permanent residency in Ireland if you-
- You are in Ireland on a student visa.
- You worked as an intra-company transferee in Ireland.
- You work for a foreign embassy in Ireland.
- You were permitted to remain under the Working Holiday Visa scheme.
- You only have a Green Card (employment).
- You are in Ireland on Business Permission.
- You are in Ireland under the Turkish Agreement.
- You have permission to stay in Ireland on humanitarian grounds.
- You have permission to stay on refugee status.
- Under the IBC and IBC-05 (Irish Born Child) schemes, you had permission to remain in Ireland.
Step 3. Documents for permanent residency in Ireland
When you apply for permanent residency in Ireland, you must include the following documents-
- Obtain a copy of your work permits.
- A photocopy of your Irish Residence Permit (IRP) or GNIB Card.
- Clear, colored copies of your passport pages, including any endorsements (Stamps) and your personal information.
- If you obtain a new passport since your arrival in Ireland, including copies of the previous passport and any endorsements/stamps from Irish authorities is necessary.
Step 4. How to apply for permanent residency?
Apply via mail
Your permanent residency application must be mailed to the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service’s Long Term Residency Division (INIS).
Submit the documents
You must bring all required documentation. Immigration officers will determine your eligibility for permanent residency. If you do not meet the requirements, they will notify you within one week. If you meet the requirements for permanent residence in Ireland, they will process your application.
Processing
The INIS will send you a letter of approval once the authorities have approved your Ireland permanent residency application. The letter informs you that you have 28 days to pay the €500 fee for an Ireland Permanent Residence Permit. The fee can be paid to the Secretary General of the Department of Justice and Equality by bank draft or postal order.
After you pay the fee, INIS will send you a letter granting you five years of long-term residency in Ireland on a Stamp 4. You must also go to the Irish Garda National Immigration Bureau to get an immigration Stamp 4 (or Stamp 3 if you applied as a spouse/dependent). INIS will also notify GNIB in writing of the decision and the type of stamp you will receive based on clearance.
Processing time
It takes six to eight months to process an application for Irish permanent residency. Some applications may take longer to process depending on the circumstances.
Irish permanent residency renewal
You do not need to apply for another permanent residence permit in Ireland. When your permit expires, go to an Immigration Office near you and renew it for another five years.
