Which Residency Stamps can Start a Business in Ireland?

🛂 Understanding Stamp 4 and Stamp 5 in Ireland

📄 Stamp 4 – Permission to Stay & Work

Stamp 4 indicates that you have permission to remain in Ireland for a specified period, subject to conditions.

With Stamp 4, you are permitted to:

• ✅ Work in Ireland without the need for an employment permit

• ✅ Establish and operate a business

• ✅ Work in a regulated profession, subject to the rules of relevant professional bodies

You may be granted Stamp 4 under the following circumstances:

• Joining your Irish spouse, civil partner, or de facto partner

• Joining your EU/EEA or Swiss family member under EU Treaty Rights (Stamp 4EUFAM)

• Family reunification with a refugee or someone granted subsidiary protection

• Parent of an Irish citizen child

• Through the Investor or Entrepreneur Programme (including family)

• Grant of Long Term Residence

• Status as a programme or convention refugee

• Holding a Critical Skills Employment Permit

• After holding a General Employment Permit for 5+ years

• As a researcher on a valid Hosting Agreement

🛂 Stamp 5 – Long-Term Residency

Stamp 5 grants permission to reside in Ireland without time limitations, subject to certain conditions.

Key features:

• ✅ No expiration on the right to stay in Ireland

• ✅ Reckonable as residence when applying for citizenship by naturalisation

You are eligible for Stamp 5 typically after:

• 8 years of legal residence in Ireland

• Holding long-term permission based on prior lawful stamps

• 📜 Residency Stamps & Permissions: Key Types

  • Irish, EU, and British Passport Holders:
    No restrictions on work, residence, or business activities.

  • Dependants of Irish/EU/British Passport Holders:
    If in possession of Stamp 4 or Stamp 4EUfam, you have the right to work and reside in Ireland.

  • Stamp 1 – Investor and Entrepreneur Schemes:
    Investors or entrepreneurs under this scheme can live and work in Ireland but must adhere to the conditions specific to their investment or business activity.

  • Parents of Irish Children (Zambrano):
    After receiving Stamp 4, parents must refrain from work or self-employment until the stamp is approved. Conditions apply.

  • People Granted Refugee Status:
    You will be granted Stamp 4, allowing you to stay and work in Ireland under the conditions of your refugee status.

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  🛂 Stamp 5 – Permanent Residency

  Stamp 5 indicates permission to stay in Ireland indefinitely, subject to some conditions.

  • Reckonable as residence when applying for citizenship by naturalisation.

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  🔄 Changing or Converting Your Stamp

  • Critical Skills (Stamp 1):
    After 2 years, you can apply for Stamp 4.

  • Researchers with Hosting Agreement:
    Typically after 2 years (with some conflicting information suggesting 5 years; please check with the department directly).

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  ⚠️ Conditions & Changing Your Status

  • Work Permits:
    You must not engage in employment without a valid employment permit. If you don’t have a permit, you cannot engage in business or trade without permission from INIS.

  • Investor Visas:
    If you have an investor visa, your permission is tied to your business or investment. Activities outside your designated business require permission.

  • Changing Status (Employment to Self-Employed, Study, or Self-Sufficient):
    If you, as an EU/British passport holder, change your status (e.g., from employed to self-employed), you must inform the EU Treaty Division to determine if you need to submit new application forms or provide additional evidence of your status.

    • For dependants on Stamp 3 or Stamp 1G, their status is also tied to your activities.

  • EU Treaty Dependant Applications:
    For dependants on Stamp 4EUfam, their application should be submitted 6 months before the expiry of their Stamp 4EUfam. At 4.5 years into their 5-year residency, the EU member’s activity from the previous years will be reviewed, so it is essential to keep the department informed about your status.

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  📌 Key Reminder

  “You must not start a job or enter employment unless you or your employer has obtained an employment permit for you. If you do not have an employment permit, you must not engage in any business, trade, or profession unless specified in a letter of permission from INIS.”

• Stamp 0 Persons of independent means: Retired to Ireland, Elderly Dependant Relatives and Visiting Academics. Your Stamp approval and re-newal is based on being of self-sufficient and of independant means, so working employed or self-employed is not permitted without special application and permission to do so.
  
  
• Stamp 1A “Stamp 1A indicates permission in full time, paid accountancy training (in compliance with the immigration rules or regulated by the IAASA and with a training contract with a company based in Ireland) for a specified period, subject to conditions.”
  
  
• Stamp 1G for spouses and de facto partners of CSEP holders and researchers on a Hosting Agreement permission “You can work full time in accordance with employment law provisions but are not permitted to operate a business or be self-employed.”
  
  • Permitted to work in the State without the requirement to obtain a work permit
  • Not permitted to establish or operate a Business
  • Not permitted to be Self- Employed
    
    
• Stamp 2 Study Visa “You can work in casual employment for a maximum of 20 hours per week during school term and 40 hours per week during holidays. You must not engage in any other business or trade.”
• Stamp 2A Study Visa “You must not work or engage in any business, trade or profession.”
  
  
• Stamp 3 indicates permission to stay in Ireland for a specified period, subject to conditions (eg: Spouse of a Work Permit holder) “You cannot work or engage in any business, trade or profession.”
  
  
• Stamp 1 Work Permits until you have applied for and been granted a Stamp 4

Note on work and investment permits: “You must not start a job or enter employment unless you or your employer has obtained an employment permit for you. If you do not have an employment permit you must not engage in any business, trade or profession unless specified in a letter of permission from INIS.”(See above)

💼 Visa for South African Passport Holders – Immigration to Ireland for Entrepreneurship

If you and your family are South African passport holders looking to immigrate to Ireland on the basis of entrepreneurship, you must follow specific steps and meet the conditions for obtaining a visa.

📋 Key Requirements for Entrepreneur Visas:

• Monetary Investment:
  The entrepreneur visa requires that you demonstrate an investment in your business. The required investment amount is subject to specific conditions, and you will need to show proof of funding to support your business idea.

• Business Type:
  Ireland places restrictions on the type of business you can start as part of the Entrepreneur Visa Programme. Your business idea must:

  • Be a scalable, high-potential business

  • Create jobs for Irish citizens

  • Demonstrate significant economic benefit to the country

• Permission Process:
  The permission process involves submitting a detailed business plan outlining your investment, the nature of your business, and how it will contribute to the Irish economy.

🛂 Family Members

If you are bringing your family with you:

• Spouse and children will typically be granted residency based on your business visa and will be able to join you in Ireland.

• Your dependants will also need to meet certain visa requirements, including demonstrating their relationship to you (e.g., marriage certificate, birth certificates for children).

Starting a Business or Investing in Ireland on South African Passports