Note 01Route summary
A change of permission moves you between immigration stamps as your work, study or family situation changes, and each stamp carries its own binding conditions and rights.
Ref CPOS-10, typed for the wall
Residence permissions & stampsFor individuals
Change of permission & other stamps
Switch your stamp cleanly, from Stamp 0 and 1 through Stamp 2, 3 and 5, without breaking status.
Stamp 0 to 5
Switches handled
In-country
Where possible
Case by case
Assessed
€0
IRP fee per year
Folder 01. Route file, Change of permission & other stamps
Stamp 0 to 5
We advise on switching between permission types, for example student to employment, dependent to permit holder, or long residence to Stamp 5, and on registering the new stamp.
Apply while still legal
Always request the change before your current permission expires.
What we'll do for you
Switch your stamp cleanly, from Stamp 0 and 1 through Stamp 2, 3 and 5, without breaking status.
Ledger · Change of permission & other stamps
Entry 01 · registered
Assess eligibility
We identify the stamp you need and confirm whether an in-country switch is possible or a fresh visa from abroad is required.
Allow2 to 4 days
Entry 02 · registered
Build the evidence
We prepare the specific proof the target stamp demands, whether a permit, enrolment, income, relationship or long-residence record.
Allow1 to 2 weeks
Entry 03 · registered
Lodge the request
We submit the change of permission application to the correct ISD unit while your current permission is still valid.
Allow4 to 6 weeks
Entry 04 · registered
Register the new stamp
On approval we arrange registration of the new stamp on your IRP and check the conditions and dates are right.
Allow1 to 2 weeks
Balance · application fee, all entries included
€0
The €70 Book Consultation cost is separate.
0to0
weeks to a decision
Lodged with the fee
€0
Queries handled for youTracked weeklyFigures are indicative
EUR 0
full tank, official charges onlyEF
IRP registration or renewal€300
Changing permission does not carry a separate government fee beyond IRP registration, though evidence requirements vary by stamp and a move onto a work stamp involves a separate permit fee.
receipts, in the vitrine
IRP
€300
0Stamp to 5
Not every switch is allowed
03 watchStamps are conditions, not just labels
04 officialWhat each stamp allows
| Criteria | Stamp 0 | Stamp 1 | Stamp 2 | Stamp 3 | Stamp 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Typical holder | Limited stay, retired or dependent | Employment permit or business holder | Student | Dependent or volunteer | 5 years lawful residence |
| Permitted activity | Reside, limited | Work with permit | Study and limited work | Reside, no work | Reside without condition |
| Work rights | No | Yes, with permit | 20 hrs term time | No | Yes, no permit |
| Path to residence | No | After 21 or 57 months | No | Depends on route | Established |
Plaque 02 The payoff
It can. Only certain stamps count as reckonable residence, and working on a stamp that does not permit it is a breach.
On the record
Irish Immigration Service stamp categories.
Assess eligibility
2wk
Prepare the request
2wk
Approval letter
4wk
Register new stamp
2wk
0 wk
0 wk
0 wk
0 wk
0weeks
Assess eligibility
Build the evidence
Lodge the request
Register the new stamp
Passport and current IRP cardClear reason for the change: job, study, family or retirementEvidence for the target stamp: employment permit, course enrolment, income or relationship proofProof of funds or private medical insurance where the stamp requires itProof of address in IrelandApplication made while your current permission is still validA clean immigration record with conditions maintained on your current stamp
Q01Can I always switch stamps in Ireland?
No. Some routes can be switched in-country, but others, such as moving from a visitor permission to a worker permission, are generally refused from inside Ireland and require a fresh long-stay visa from abroad. We confirm what is possible before you resign, enrol or apply.
Q02What do the different stamps mean?
Each stamp sets your rights. Stamp 0 is a limited stay for retirees or dependents with no work rights, Stamp 1 allows work with a permit, Stamp 2 is for students with limited work, Stamp 3 permits residence with no work, and Stamp 5 is long-term residence without condition.
Q03Is there a fee to change permission?
There is no separate government fee for the change of permission itself beyond the €300 IRP registration when the new stamp is recorded. Where the switch involves moving onto a work stamp, an employment permit application carries its own DETE fee.
Q04When should I apply?
Always request the change while your current permission is still valid. Applications made from within lawful status are treated far more favourably than requests made after a permission has expired or been overstayed.
Q05Does a stamp change affect my path to Stamp 4 or citizenship?
It can. Only certain stamps count as reckonable residence, and working on a stamp that does not permit it is a breach. We map how a change affects your longer term route before you commit to it.
Do first
Immigration stamps explained
Map your current stamp against the one you want, conditions and rights differ sharply between stamps.
irishimmigration.ie
Official
Irish Immigration Service home
Find the correct change-of-permission process and forms for your specific situation.
irishimmigration.ie
Portal
ISD online portal
Many permission requests and renewals are now lodged and paid for through the online portal.
portal.irishimmigration.ie
Guide€300/year
Registering your permission (IRP)
Any change of stamp must be recorded on your IRP card, budget the registration fee into the move.
irishimmigration.ie
Guide€1,000 fee
Employment permits hub, DETE
Moving onto a work stamp usually means a permit first, start from the official permit types here.
enterprise.gov.ie
Guide
Coming to work in Ireland
See how ISD sequences visas, permits and stamps when you switch onto a work permission.
irishimmigration.ie
Note 02Booking note
Always request the change while your current permission is still valid. Applications made from within lawful status are treated far more favourably than requests made after a permission has expired or been overstayed.
Ref VW-BOOK, typed for the wall
Figures on this page are indicative and depend on your circumstances and current DETE and ISD rules.