Stamp 4 after 21 months on a Critical Skills Employment Permit
Official name: Stamp 4 upgrade for Employment Permit and Hosting Agreement holders
People in Ireland on a Stamp 1 or 1H permission based on a Critical Skills Employment Permit can move to Stamp 4 once 21 months have passed since they started employment in the State on that permit. The same applies to researchers on a Hosting Agreement and Non-Consultant Hospital Doctors on a Multi-Site General Employment Permit; General Employment Permit and Intra-Company Transfer holders need 57 months. You apply through the ISD online renewal portal (no Department of Enterprise support letter is needed). Stamp 4 lets you work for any employer without an employment permit, run a business, and counts towards naturalisation. It is renewed every 2 years; renewal usually costs €300.
Life in Ireland
Finance
3
Currency
Euro
EUR
Euro
Cost of living
102
Price level · US = 100
World Bank price levels, 2025
Tax
20–40%
Income tax (national)
VAT 23% · social security 4.2%
40% above EUR 44,000 (single); plus USC of 0.5-8% and PRSI. Tax credits apply.
Living
1
Happiness
#13 of 145 countries
World Happiness Report 2025
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Who it’s for
Critical Skills Employment Permit holders (and Hosting Agreement researchers, and Non-Consultant Hospital Doctors on a Multi-Site permit) who have worked in Ireland for 21 months.
Eligibility
21 months from starting employment
Sign in to check this route against your profileYou need to complete 21 months of employment in Ireland under a Critical Skills permit, Researcher Hosting Agreement, or Multi-Site permit as a Non-Consultant Hospital Doctor.
Time needed by permit type
- Critical Skills, Researcher, NCHDfrom start of employment
- 21 months
- General or Intra-Companynot interchangeable
- 57 months
- Counts from commencement of employment in the State
- Time on General Employment or Intra-Company Transfer permits is not interchangeable
Official wording
Upon completing 21 months from commencement of employment in the State on the basis of (i) a Critical Skills Employment Permit, (ii) a Hosting Agreement as a Researcher, or (iii) a Multi-Site General Employment Permit as a Non-Consultant Hospital Doctor. Time on General Employment Permits or Intra-Company Transfer permits is not interchangeable with these categories; those holders need 57 months.
How the start date is set
Sign in to check this route against your profileShow your employment start date with an 'Employment Detail Summary' from revenue.ie/myaccount.
- If you moved from another permission to Stamp 1, the start follows the Stamp 1 permit's validity dates
- The permit used is the one under which Stamp 1 was registered
Official wording
Commencement of employment is shown by an 'Employment Detail Summary' from revenue.ie/myaccount. If you started work under another permission and later moved to Stamp 1, the start counts from the validity dates of the employment permit under which the Stamp 1 was registered.
Currently on Stamp 1 or 1H
Sign in to check this route against your profileThe upgrade is for employees residing in Ireland on a Stamp 1 or 1H permission based on an employment permit, or researchers on a Hosting Agreement.
A sneak peek at what's inside
- Document checklist
- Fees
- Steps to apply
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- 3 documents
- 1 fee
- 4 steps
- Processing times and conditions
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Official sources
- Immigration Service Delivery - Information on Stamp 4 upgrades for Employment Permit and Hosting Agreement holders (last updated 25 Feb 2026)
- Immigration Service Delivery - Immigration permission stamps (modified 5 Jun 2026)
- Immigration Service Delivery - Renewing your registration permission (last updated 28 Oct 2026)
Other routes to Ireland
- Visit & tourismShort stay 'C' visit (tourist) visa
- StudyStudent permission (Stamp 2) for full-time degree programmes
- Work permitsCritical Skills Employment Permit
- 3 more routes with Premium
