How to Get a Residence Permit in Ireland?

Atomic Answer: How To Get A Residence Permit In Ireland? is a critical component of the Canadian immigration framework. As of 2026, applicants navigating this pathway must adhere to the latest IRCC guidelines, ensure all documentation is properly prepared, and meet the specific eligibility requirements. Processing times and exact costs will vary based on individual circumstances.

How to Get a Residence Permit in Ireland?

A residence permit in Ireland is granted to individuals who will reside in Ireland for more than 90 days under a visa. Individuals who are legally resident in Ireland under a valid visa are eligible to apply for a long-term residence permit in Ireland after completing 5 years of residence.

An Irish long-term residence permit is granted to individuals who have resided legally in Ireland for at least 5 years (60 months) under an Irish work visa or Irish family reunification visa.

What is an Irish Residence Permit (IRP) Card?

The Irish Residence Permit is a record of people's residence and immigration permits in Ireland. The Irish Residence Permit (IRP) card is given to individuals who have completed their immigration registration in Ireland. The IRP Card shows that individuals have the legal right to reside in Ireland. Individuals residing in Ireland must carry their IRP card with them at all times.

The IRP card contains information and a stamp indicating the type of visa with which the individual entered Ireland.

The information on the Irish Residence Permit Card is also listed below.

• Card holder's name, surname, date of birth
• Irish immigration registration number
• Ireland immigration permit type
• Stamp of the Irish Government
• Photo and fingerprint information

What is the Difference Between GNIB Card and IRP Card?

The GNIB (Garda National Immigration Bureau) Card was used as a residence permit card until December 11, 2017. The GNIB Card was replaced by the IRP Card as of December 11, 2017. The new IRP Cards have the same status as the GNIB Cards. The IRP Card does not grant individuals different rights and entitlements than the GNIB Card.

What are the processes required to obtain a residence permit in Ireland?

Any individual who will reside in Ireland for more than 90 days under a visa must go to the Garda Immigration Office to establish Irish immigration registration and obtain an IRP residence permit card.

The processes required to obtain a residence permit in Ireland are listed below:

• Residence permits for undergraduate and graduate studies in Ireland
• Irish residence permit for Irish language school
• Irish residence permit to find work in Ireland
• Irish residence permit for internship in Ireland
• Irish residence permit to set up a business in Ireland
• Residence permit by buying/investing in a house in Ireland
• Getting a residence permit in Ireland by getting married in Ireland
• Going to Ireland for work and study and getting an Irish residence permit
• Long-term Irish residency permit in Ireland

How to Get a Residence Permit to Study in Ireland?

Individuals who are not citizens of EU and EEA countries must first apply for a residence permit to study in Ireland. An Irish residence permit is not required for studies in Ireland of less than 90 days. Students in Ireland have the right to reside in Ireland under their visa for the duration of their studies of less than 90 days.

Students who will be studying in Ireland for more than 90 days must apply for immigration with the Garda National Immigration Office. Students in Ireland can apply for immigration with the necessary documents such as their Irish visa, letter of acceptance from the school they will study at, and payment receipts for education allowances. Students whose immigration application is approved are given an IRP card, or Irish residence permit, to cover the duration of their education. After the Irish residence permit expires, students must leave Ireland if the education program has ended.

Applications for long-term residence permits in Ireland cannot be made for the period of residence granted to students in Ireland.

The period of residence granted to students in Ireland does not count as the compulsory period of residence for Irish citizenship.

How to Get a Residence Permit for Undergraduate Studies in Ireland?

Students who will apply for a residence permit for undergraduate education in Ireland must first be accepted by Irish universities.

The maximum period for which a student can have residence in Ireland for undergraduate studies is 7 years. Students must have a letter of acceptance from a higher education institution in Ireland. In addition, the undergraduate tuition fees must be paid before the application for Irish residence can be made. If the annual tuition fee of the university in Ireland is less than €6,000, the fees for all periods of study must be paid.

Students must prove through bank account documents that they can support themselves and meet all living expenses whilst studying in Ireland without recourse to any Irish State public funds.

The Irish Immigration Department expects students to have at least €3,000 in savings for their first semester of university enrolment. Students must also have private health insurance for the duration of their studies in Ireland.

Students who have been accepted to an undergraduate program at a university in Ireland must gather the following documents, go to the immigration office, create an immigration record, and apply for a residence permit.

Documents required for Irish residence permit for undergraduate studies in Ireland.

• A valid passport
• Copy of previous passports
• A letter of acceptance from an educational institution in Ireland
• Educational history documents: Diplomas, graduation certificates
• Proof of payment of wages in Ireland
• English language proficiency certificates
• Financial evidence that the person can meet living costs without recourse to Irish government funds
• Compulsory health insurance for Ireland
• Contact and accommodation information

How to Get a Residence Permit for Postgraduate Studies in Ireland?

With a master's degree in Ireland, individuals have the right to reside in Ireland for a maximum of 3 years. Master's degrees in Ireland generally last 1 year. The Irish Government offers students a 2-year work permit in Ireland after their master's degree. If individuals apply for a residence permit for a master's degree in Ireland, they can have a residence permit in Ireland for a total of 3 years.

Individuals who will reside in Ireland for postgraduate studies must register with the Garda National Immigration Office after entering Ireland. After registering with the Irish immigration office, individuals are given an Irish residence permit (IRP) card. With the IRP card, individuals have the right to reside in Ireland for the duration of their visa.

After completing their postgraduate studies in Ireland, those who have a 2-year Irish work permit can continue working by extending their Irish visa for up to 5 years. Postgraduate students who have worked and resided in Ireland for a total of 5 years can then apply for a long-term residence permit.

The documents required for an Irish residence permit for postgraduate studies in Ireland are listed below.

• A valid passport
• Copy of previous passports
• A letter of acceptance from an educational institution in Ireland
• Educational history documents: Diplomas, graduation certificates
• Payment receipts for wages in Ireland
• English language proficiency certificates
• Financial evidence that the person can meet living costs without recourse to Irish government funds
• Compulsory health insurance for Ireland
• Contact and accommodation information

How to Get a Residence Permit for Language School in Ireland?

There is no requirement to apply for a residence permit for Irish language school education of less than 90 days. Students have the right to receive language education in Ireland for up to 90 days with Irish visas. However, individuals must apply for an Irish residence permit for Irish language school education of more than 3 months.

Students who enter Ireland with a valid Irish student visa must apply to the Garda National Immigration Office to establish immigration registration for their long-term studies. Students will then be issued with an Irish residence permit to cover the duration of their language studies.

Individuals who study at a language school in Ireland do not have the right to apply for a long-term Irish residence permit in the future.

The requirements for obtaining an Irish residence permit within the scope of the Irish language school are given below.

• Studying at least 25 weeks in an Irish language school
• Have an Irish D type student visa

How to Get a Residence Permit to Find a Job in Ireland?

It is not possible to obtain a residence permit to find a job in Ireland. However, people who are offered a job by an Irish employer can travel to Ireland and obtain a residence permit under the Irish work visa. Ireland ranks 3rd among the European Union countries in terms of job opportunities .

In order to obtain a work and residence permit in Ireland, individuals must first find a job in Ireland. Individuals who will reside in Ireland for more than 90 days in order to work must create an Irish immigration record with the Garda National Immigration Office. Within the scope of the Irish immigration record, individuals are granted residence permits within the scope of their work periods and employment contracts.

Below is a list of the documents required to obtain a residence permit to work in Ireland.

• A valid passport
• Contact and residence information
• Work permit
• Employment contract
• A reference letter from an employer in Ireland
• Documentation of qualifications and past work experience
• Documents proving financial adequacy
• Private health insurance in Ireland
• Workers who have completed the mandatory 5 years (60 months) of residence in Ireland under a work visa are then eligible to apply for permanent residence in Ireland.

How to Get a Residence Permit for an Internship in Ireland?

Residence permits for internships in Ireland are granted for 1 year. With an Irish internship residence permit, there is the opportunity to intern at multinational companies such as Google, Microsoft, Apple. Interns have the right to reside in Ireland for 1 year as part of their internship.

After 1 year spent residing in Ireland for the internship, individuals are not entitled to apply for an extension. Individuals who have completed their internship in Ireland must return to Turkey.

Individuals who go to Ireland for an internship and receive a job offer from a workplace or institution can apply for a work permit for the next process. With the Irish work permit application, individuals are granted Irish residence permit within the scope of their employment contracts. Individuals who have completed the 5-year compulsory residence period by working in Ireland have the right to apply for a long-term Irish residence permit. The 1-year period spent in Ireland with the internship in Ireland is not included in the compulsory residence period.

How to Get a Residence Permit to Start a Business in Ireland?

The Republic of Ireland offers opportunities to establish a business in Ireland through its Irish investor and entrepreneur programs. Individuals who will obtain a residence permit to establish a business in Ireland must invest in Ireland.

Under the Immigrant Investor Programs (IIP), individuals are entitled to apply for immigration and residence permits by investing a certain amount in Ireland. Citizens of European Union (EU) and European Economic Area (EEA) member states are not eligible to participate in the Immigrant Investor Programs.

Under the Immigrant Investor Program, individuals are required to invest a minimum of €1 million in Ireland, using their own savings and funds. The €1 million investment in Ireland must be committed to a minimum of 3 years and it must be documented that all expenses can be covered by the applicant.

The Immigrant Investor Programs provide investors with an initial 5-year Irish residence permit. Individuals who reside in Ireland for 5 years as part of their investment are eligible to apply for a long-term (permanent) Irish residence permit. In addition, investors who reside in Ireland for 8 years under the IIP are eligible to apply for Irish citizenship.

How to Get a Residence Permit by Buying a House in Ireland?

Residence permits for buying a home in Ireland are obtained by investing at least €2 million in a real estate partnership.

Individuals who want to buy a house in Ireland must have made a real estate investment of at least €2 million in Ireland under the Immigrant Investor Program (IIP) in order to obtain an Irish residence permit. At least €400,000 of the investment in Ireland must be paid in the first stage. 50% of the investment made in Ireland can be sold at the end of the 3rd year, 25% at the end of the 4th year and all of it after a minimum of 5 years.

House prices in Ireland have been on an upward trend for the last 4 years. The biggest cost of living in Ireland is housing.

How to Get a Residence Permit by Getting Married in Ireland?

In order to obtain a residence permit in Ireland by getting married, individuals must be married to an individual who has Irish citizenship or a long-term residence permit. In order to obtain a residence permit in Ireland within the scope of Irish marriage residence permits, the spouses must first come together in Ireland under a family reunification visa.

A spouse residing in Ireland is considered to be the sponsor of their partner who will travel from Turkey to Ireland. In order to obtain an Irish residence permit, the spouse in Ireland must have the financial means to reunite with their partner. A spouse who has entered Ireland legally with an Irish family reunification visa must then register with the Garda National Immigration Office for Irish immigration and obtain an Irish residence permit.

People who enter Ireland through marriage are eligible to apply for a long-term residence permit if they have completed their 5-year compulsory residence period under a family reunification visa.

How to Get a Residence Permit by Going to Ireland with Work and Study?

It is possible to get a residence permit by going to Ireland with Work and Study. The Irish Work and Study program is a student program where people receive a language education of at least 25 weeks and at the same time have a work permit for 20 hours per week.

The Ireland Work and Study program allows students to reside in Ireland for an initial period of 8 months. However, students who wish to do so can apply for an extension. The Ireland Work and Study program can be extended a maximum of 2 times. Individuals can have a residence permit in Ireland for a maximum of 2 years under the Ireland Work and Study program.

People who complete the Irish Work and Study program must return to Turkey. However, those who have reached an agreement with an Irish employer at the end of the Irish Work and Study program and meet the appropriate conditions can continue to stay in Ireland by applying for a work visa.

The 2-year period spent in Ireland under the Irish Work and Study programme does not count towards the compulsory residence period for citizenship applications. Individuals who start working in Ireland with an Irish work visa during the programme will be eligible to apply for a long-term Irish residence permit after completing their 5-year residence period.

How to Get a Residence Permit by Going to Ireland with Work and Travel?

People under the age of 24 from certain countries can obtain a Work and Travel residence permit for up to 1 year in Ireland. Turkey is not among the countries covered by the Irish working holiday.

Passport holders of the following countries are eligible to participate in the Work and travel programme in Ireland.

• Argentina
• Australia
• Canada
• Chile
• Hong Kong
• Japan
• New Zealand
• Republic of Korea
• United States

What are the requirements for applying for a long-term residence permit in Ireland?

The requirements for applying for long-term leave to remain in Ireland are listed below:

• Have legally resided in Ireland for 5 years (60 months)
• Being in Ireland under an Irish residence permit or Irish work visa
• Have completed the 5-year compulsory residence period as a family member of an individual resident in Ireland (but must still meet the Irish work permit requirements)
• Have Stamp 1, Stamp 4 or Stamp 3

You cannot apply for a long-term residence permit in Ireland under the following conditions.

• Being a citizen of EU and EEA countries
• Residing in Ireland as a student
• Residing in Ireland under the Turkish Agreement
• Residing in Ireland as a refugee with humanitarian permission
• Residing in Ireland with an intra-company transfer visa
• Having a green card
• Residing in Ireland under a Business Permit
• Be resident in Ireland under the Irish born children (IBC) and IBC-05 programs
• Working in an Embassy in Ireland

In the above cases, the periods of residence of individuals residing in Ireland are not included in the 5-year compulsory residence period considered in long-term Irish residence permit applications. Therefore, individuals are not eligible to apply for long-term Irish residence permit.

What documents are required to obtain a long-term residence permit in Ireland?

To obtain long-term leave to remain in Ireland, individuals must provide supporting documentation for a period of 5 years of residence in Ireland. Applicants must apply to the immigration office of the Ministry of Justice with their work permit, IRP residence permit card, immigration registration document and passport.

The documents required to obtain a long-term residence permit in Ireland are listed below:

• 5-year work permit documents
• IRP Card photocopy
• Irish immigration registration documents
• Passport photocopy
• Current residence and contact address information
• Application for long-term residence permit in Ireland

Can I Go to the UK Without a Visa by Getting a Residence Permit in Ireland?

It is not possible to go to the UK without a visa by obtaining a residence permit in Ireland. Individuals who want to go to the UK with an Irish residence permit must apply for a UK visa.

Which Countries Can I Visit Visa-Free with a Residence Permit in Ireland?

By obtaining a residence permit in Ireland, you have the right to travel to 126 countries without a visa. Some of the countries that can be visited without a visa with an Irish residence permit are listed below:

• Germany
• Argentina
• Albania
• Austria
• Bahrain
• Barbados
• Belgium
• United Kingdom
• Bolivia
• Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Brazil
• Bulgaria
• Czech Republic
• Denmark
• El Salvador
• Indonesia
• Estonia
• Fiji
• Philippines
• Finland
• France
• South Africa
• South Korea
• Holland
• Hong Kong
• Spain
• Swedish
• Switzerland
• Italy
• Iceland
• Japan
• Canada
• Kenya
• Cyprus
• Colombia
• Latvia
• Lithuanian
• Luxembourg
• Hungary
• Malta
• Mexican
• Norway
• Panama
• Panama
• Peru
• Poland
• Portugal
• Romania
• Senegal
• Chile
• Serbia
• Slovakia
• Slovenia
• Uruguay
• New Zealand
• Greece

How to Apply for a Re-Entry Visa After Receiving an Irish Residence Permit?

The Irish Re-Entry visa was a type of visa issued to people who left Ireland within the visa period and will re-enter Ireland. However, on 13 May 2019, Irish Re-Entry Visa applications were abolished for adults.

In the new regulation, Re-Entry visa applications are accepted for children between the ages of 0-15 who are not issued an IRP Card. In other words, there is no need to apply for a Re-Entry visa after obtaining an Irish residence permit.

Individuals with a valid residence permit and IRP card in Ireland will be able to re-enter Ireland using their IRP Card and passport instead of a Re-Entry visa. This regulation, which was made after 13 May 2019, aims to bring Ireland more in line with other EU countries.

Adults who do not have a valid Irish residence permit or IRP card must apply for an Irish visa.

What are the Ireland Immigration Application Requirements?

Ireland immigration application requirements are listed below.

• Meet financial eligibility requirements
• Not applying for government aid
• Having private health insurance
• Not to engage in acts that are criminal offences in Ireland

Additionally, in order to apply for immigration in Ireland, individuals must be resident in Ireland for the following purposes.

• Studying in Ireland
• Working or internship in Ireland
• Attending courses/training in Ireland
• Serving as a chaplain in Ireland
• Participating in volunteering programs in Ireland
• Investing or starting a business in Ireland
• Living independently or retiring in Ireland
• Reuniting with family members who are Irish spouses, partners or children
• Have reasons to reside in Ireland for a long period of time
• Extending short-term visits to Ireland in exceptional circumstances
• Seeking asylum in Ireland/being a refugee or stateless