Effective from 30 November 2023, the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (DETE) will cease taking applications for Stamp 4 support letters. All applications received by DETE prior to 30 November 2023 will continue to be processed, as usual.

From 1 December 2023 onwards, a Stamp 4 application will be made to the relevant Registration Office, Immigration Services, the Department of Justice (DoJ), instead of the DETE.

Applicants who are residents of Dublin can make their Stamp 4 application online, as part of their Irish Residence Permit (IRP) renewal but if an applicant resides outside of Dublin, they will need to make an appointment with their local garda station and attend an in-person appointment to file the Stamp 4 application.

The DoJ has advised that applications can be made 12 weeks prior to the expiry of a current Critical Skills Employment Permit (CSEP) and IRP card. Once an applicant has been employed for 21 months on a CSEP, they will qualify for the Stamp 4 permission (in line with the current eligibility requirements for a Stamp 4 Support Letter).

This change in policy is placing a significant obligation on the employee and ultimately the employer to ensure that they apply correctly, to transition to Stamp 4, and on time, to ensure continuous employment.

The T&S EMEA Team will continue to follow up with our clients and review CSEP and IRP expiries closely, to ensure compliance with this new policy.