Republic of Ireland · Processing time
Stamp 4 permission: how long does it take?
By Sam Parks · Last checked:
Stamp 4 is granted on arrival or at registration for eligible permit-holders; there is no separate consular decision period.
How long does the Stamp 4 permission take to process in Ireland?
Irish Immigration Service — Registration Office does not publish a central processing time for this route. Check the specific pathway (e.g. after 21 months on a Critical Skills permit) for the immigration permission rules that apply.
Verified against Irish Immigration Service — Registration Office on 1 June 2026.
Typical wait
Not centrally published
from complete application
Government fees
Registration fee €300.
Last checked
1 June 2026
What is the Stamp 4 permission?
Long-term residence permission allowing unrestricted work in Ireland.
Stamp 4 is not itself a visa but an immigration permission granted after qualifying routes — most commonly 2 years on a Critical Skills Employment Permit, or 5 years on General Employment Permit. It allows work without a permit and is a step toward citizenship after 5 years of reckonable residence.
- Sponsorship: No job offer or employer sponsor is required.
- Settlement: This route can lead to permanent residency in Republic of Ireland.
- Typical permit length: Typically issued for 1–5 years at a time; renewable.
- Indicative government fees: Registration fee €300.
Official source
Irish Immigration Service — Registration Office
https://www.irishimmigration.ie/registering-your-immigration-permission/
Frequently asked questions
How long does the Stamp 4 permission take to process?+
Irish Immigration Service — Registration Office does not publish a central processing time for this route. Check the specific pathway (e.g. after 21 months on a Critical Skills permit) for the immigration permission rules that apply.
When does the Not centrally published clock start?+
Because no central processing time is published, there is no fixed start point. Contact the relevant authority once your application is submitted.
Is there a way to speed up the decision?+
Some Ireland routes offer a priority or premium service for an additional fee. Check the linked primary source for current options — availability changes and varies by consular post.
What makes an application take longer than expected?+
The most common reasons for delays beyond the published window are: missing or incorrect documents, a request for more information (which pauses the clock until you reply), background or medical checks, and consular appointment backlogs in your country. Submitting a complete, well-organised application on day one is the single biggest thing you can do to stay inside the published window.
When should I treat my Stamp 4 permission application as delayed?+
Because no central processing time is published for this route, there is no fixed point at which it counts as late. If your wait runs well beyond comparable cases, a single polite status enquiry through the official channel is reasonable. Duplicate chasing tends to slow a case rather than speed it up.
Next steps
Reviewed by Sam Parks, Editor and lead researcher.