Permanent Residency in Ireland: A Complete Guide

Ireland is one of the three largest islands in Europe and the world’s 12th largest. It has a population of approximately 6.6 million people. As a result, it is the world’s second most populous island. Ireland is the only English-speaking nation in the Eurozone. It is well-connected internationally because it is home to many top high-performance companies. Many aspire to work and stay in the ‘Emerald Isle.’ Read this blog to know more about permanent residency in Ireland.

Top 3 reasons to Obtain PR in Ireland

Salary in Ireland

Overall, the national average annual wage is just under EUR 39,000. (USD 43,000). This figure is on the basis of a full-time employee’s average annual salary of around EUR 48,000 (US$ 48,000.72) and a part-time employee’s salary of around EUR 18,000 (US$ 18,000.27).

Employers in Ireland provide life insurance and health insurance to their employees. 

Cost of living in Ireland

Ireland experienced an economic downturn between 2008 to 2010. Despite the negative aspects of financial depression, the cost of living in Ireland is relatively low in terms of rent and accommodation in comparison to many other European countries.

Multicultural

Ireland is incredibly multicultural. Many international workers, including Spanish, German, and Polish nationals, have relocated to Ireland to work for the large multinational corporations that the country continues to attract.

Follow the below steps to get permanent residency in Ireland.

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. Ireland PR requirements

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 get PR in Ireland?

Apply via mail

You must mail your permanent residency application to the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service’s Long Term Residency Division (INIS).

Submit the documents

You must bring the necessary documentation. The immigration officers will determine whether you are eligible for permanent residency. They will notify you within one week if you do not meet the requirements. They will process your application if you meet the requirements for permanent residence in Ireland.

Processing

Once the authorities approve your Ireland permanent residency application the INIS will send you a letter of approval. The letter informs you that you have 28 days to pay the Ireland Permanent Residence Permit fee (€500). The cost can be paid to the Department of Justice and Equality Secretary General by bank draft or postal order.

After you pay the fee, INIS will send you a letter granting you a long-term residency in Ireland on a Stamp 4 for five years. You must also visit the Irish Garda National Immigration Bureau, where they will issue an immigration Stamp 4 (or Stamp 3 if you applied as a spouse/dependent). INIS will also send a letter to GNIB informing them of the decision and the type of stamp you will receive on the basis of clearance.

Processing time

Applications for Irish permanent residency take six to eight months to process. Depending on the circumstances, some applications may take longer to process.

Irish permanent residency renewal

You do not need to apply for another Ireland permanent residence permit. When your permit expires, go to your nearest Immigration Office and renew it for another five years.

Key takeaways

• You must live in Ireland for five years (60 months) to obtain an Irish residence permit.
• You must have all the documents necessary to apply for permanent residence in Ireland. Check before you submit your application.
• After receiving your permanent residence permit, you need to renew it for the next five years after it expires. There is no need to apply for another residence application.

Did you find this blog informative? If so, please share your thoughts in the comments section below. Click here to reach out to us for more information on permanent residency in Ireland. We would be happy to assist you with your queries.

Liked this blog? Read next: A complete guide on how to be a permanent resident of the UK.

FAQs

Q1. Can you get residency if you buy a property in Ireland?

Answer- Purchasing a property in Ireland does not grant the owner residency rights.

Q2. Is it easy to get a work visa in Ireland?

Answer- It is simple to obtain an Ireland Work Visa if applicants from outside the EU meet specific requirements. They must have a job offer for at least two years and a salary of more than 30,000 Euros.

Q3. What is the age limit to immigrate to Ireland?

Answer- Be of legal age (18). If they are the children of an Irish citizen, they can be naturalized differently.