In This Section

Introduction
Eligibility
Submit an application
Required documents
Processing times

If your application is successful
Fee
Frequently asked questions
Contacts

Introduction

A person can apply for ‘Without Condition As To Time’ (Stamp 5 permission to remain) once they have completed 8 years (96 months) legal residency in the State. Please see eligibility criteria listed below.

Only immigration stamps in the passport or copies of expired IRP cards can be used in calculating the 96 months. When the Stamp 5 permission is granted, it is valid until the expiry of the passport on which the stamp is placed.

Eligibility

You are eligible to apply when you meet all of the qualifying criteria listed below:

  • You have completed 8 years (96 months) legal residency in Ireland under the appropriate permission which will be reflected by Immigration stamps in your passport, and

  • You are of good character and have not come to the adverse attention of An Garda Síochána (Irish Police), or become an undue burden on the State, and

  • You are currently legally residing within Ireland when you apply for a Stamp 5 endorsement, which is reflected by an Immigration stamp in your passport, or your current IRP card, and

  • You have abided by the conditions of your previous permissions to remain in Ireland.

The following immigration stamps in your passport can be counted towards your Stamp 5 application:

  • Stamp 1
  • Stamp 1G
  • Stamp 3
  • Stamp 4

  • Stamp 4S.

The following immigration stamps in your passport cannot be counted towards your Stamp 5 application:

  • Stamp 4 EuFam

  • Stamp 0

  • Student – Stamp 2 or Stamp 2A

  • Temporary Registered Doctor’s – Stamp 4

  • Trainee Accountants – Stamp 1A
  • Intra Company Transfer – Stamp 4
  • Spouse or dependent of an Intra Company Transfer – Stamp 3
  • Temporary visitors permission granted at the port of entry
  • Cancelled Stamps.

Please note the above is indicative and is not a complete list.

Submit an application

Please complete the Without Condition As To Time application form and forward it by post along with the documents listed below to:

Stamp 5 Section
Unit C – Domestic Residence and Permissions Division
Immigration Service Delivery
Department of Justice
13-14 Burgh Quay
Dublin 2, DO2 XK70
Ireland

Incomplete application forms will not be processed and will be returned to you. You can download the application form.

Required documents

The following documents are required as part of your application:

  • Completed application form, and

  • Full colour photocopy of your current passport and all of the past passports which show all your Immigration stamps, and

  • A copy of your Irish Residence Permit (IRP) Card, and

  • You will be requested to submit financial documentation to prove that you have continuously resided in Ireland. This may include copies of your tax returns
  • 6 months previous bank statements.

Processing times

Applications are dealt with in chronological order and are currently taking a minimum of 6 months to process. You must keep your permission up to date at all times while your application is being processed.

If your application is approved

You will be required to submit your original passport(s) by registered post.

Once your passport has been stamped with a Stamp 5 endorsement and returned to you, you must register your permission by using the online registration portal.

Fee

There is no application fee. However, if you qualify for a Stamp 5 you will be required to pay the appropriate registration fee when you register your permission.

Frequently Asked Questions

No, you must be residing legally in Ireland to apply for this permission.

You must submit your application for renewal on the Without Condition As To Time application form by post to Immigration Service Delivery. You must submit all the required documents.

Stamp 5 permission means that you are allowed to live and work in Ireland without the need for an Employment Permit. It does not give you a right to any particular public service or funding. The relevant government Department or State agency makes this decision.

You can send any questions by post to the below address or online through the dedicated Customer Service portal. You can register for an account or log in to your existing account. Please ensure that all queries include your name, reference number and contact details.

Alternatively, queries can be posted to the following address:

Domestic Residence Permissions
Immigration Service Delivery
Department of Justice
13-14 Burgh Quay
Dublin 2 D02 XK70
Ireland

Please only contact us if it is urgent. This will allow us to spend more time processing applications.

The following conditions will apply to your permission to remain in the State:

  • That you will obey the laws of the State
  • That you will not become involved in criminal activity
  • That you will reside continuously in the State*
  •  That you will make every effort to gain employment and not be an undue burden on the State
  • That you accept that the granting of your permission does not give any right or legitimate expectation on any other person, whether they are related to you or not, to enter or remain in the State.

This permission is granted on the basis of detailed evidence that you have been residing in the State for 96 months. Any false information given during the application process may result in your application being refused.

* ‘Continuous residency’ means living in the State for the period covered by this temporary permission to remain, allowing for reasonable periods of absence from the State for holidays, exceptional family circumstances or commitments outside the State arising from business or employment carried out within the State (which for Without Condition As To Time endorsement, does not exceed more than 4 months in a year).

We will advise you of our decision and of the reasons why your application was refused. You can re-apply for Without Condition As To Time permission at any time. When doing so, you should pay careful attention to the reasons why your previous application was refused.

There is no appeal process for Without Condition As To Time.

If your application/renewal is refused, you may be able to return to your previous immigration permission. This assumes that you still meet the qualifying criteria for that permission. To return to your previous permission you should write to the relevant area of Immigration Service Delivery seeking permission to remain in Ireland.

Yes. You are only granted a Without Condition As To Time, if you met the qualifying criteria. If you do not meet the qualifying criteria, or false information comes to light after we have granted you permission, we may revoke your permission and issue you with an intention to deport.

The following list, which is not a complete list, are some of the types of information, which may result in the Minister revoking your permission:

  • Information that shows that you have broken the conditions of your permission
  • Information about your character and conduct (whether before or after we granted you permission), including criminal convictions
  • Information which shows that you have failed to register your permission with your local immigration office, as required by law
  • Information which shows that you have provided misleading or inaccurate information to the Minister or to other authorities of the State.

No, Without Condition As To Time permission does not give the right for any family member to receive a Stamp 4 or Stamp 5 Without Condition As To Time permission. An applicant must qualify for a Without Condition As To Time permission in their own right.

This is not necessary. We have designed our application form to be as clear and user-friendly as possible. Any questions you have can be directed through the dedicated Customer Service portal. You can register for an account or log in to your existing account.

It is important to note that all our applications are dealt with in order of receipt. Each case is considered, regardless of whether it was submitted by you or a solicitor. If you decide to use a solicitor, you will need to give your written consent to that solicitor to act on your behalf. If you do not give written consent we are not able to deal with your solicitor. This may result in a delay in processing your application.

Without Condition As To Time permission is only granted when Immigration Service Delivery is satisfied that you are of good character. If you do not tell us about any criminal convictions your application will be refused. We will consider each case on its merits but it is likely that if you have been convicted of a criminal offence in Ireland, you will not be granted Without Condition As To Time permission.

Without Condition As To Time permission is only granted when Immigration Service Delivery is satisfied that you are of good character. If you do not tell us about any criminal convictions your application will be refused. We will consider each case on its merits but it is likely that if you have been convicted of a criminal offence in Ireland, you will not be granted Without Condition As To Time permission.

If you have been charged with a criminal offence and are awaiting trial, your application will be placed on hold until the outcome of the trial.

It is your responsibility to keep your permission to remain in Ireland up to date at all times. Applications will not be accepted from a person who does not hold a current residence permission in Ireland.

No. You are legally required to register your permission once you have been granted a Stamp 5.

If you are in receipt of a social welfare payment, not related to your Pay Related Social Insurance (PRSI) contributions, or if this payment is means tested, you are a person who is ‘an undue burden on the State’. Your application will be considered. However any payments received from social welfare will be taken into account when making a decision.

Contacts

If you have any questions, please contact us through the dedicated Customer Service portal. You can register for an account or log in to your existing account.

This page was last updated on October 24, 2024