Ireland Retirement Visa + Stamp 0 >> How to retire to Ireland

Ireland retirement visa, Stamp 0, D Reside – there are a lot of confusing terms! Don’t worry, we’ll cover the process step-by-step. We’ll also cover how EU, British, and American nationals can retire to Ireland.

What are the Ireland Retirement Visa and Stamp 0?

These are two very different parts of immigrating to Ireland.

1) Ireland Stamp 0 Retirement Residence Permit.

Most non-Irish or non-EU nationals living in Ireland for more than three months need a residence permit, called a Stamp. For many people who retire to Ireland, a Stamp 0 is the correct option.

2) Ireland Retirement – D Reside Long-Stay Visa

The citizens of some countries should apply for permission to travel to Ireland. If you need a visa, you should first get your Stamp 0. Once the Stamp is granted, you can apply for a D Reside long-stay visa to enter the country.

Do you need a visa to retire in Ireland?

If you want to retire in Ireland, you may not need a long-stay D visa. Many people can freely travel to Ireland or require only Stamp 0 permission.

Three groups can travel to Ireland without a visa.

1) Citizens of countries with preferential immigration status. The citizens of 58 countries belong to this group. Citizens of these countries need only a Stamp 0 to retire in Ireland. Please see the complete list in Appendix 1 below.

These countries include:

• United States of America (USA)
• Australia
• South Africa
• Canada
• New Zealand
• Brazil
• South Korea
• Singapore
• Ukraine (as of February 25th, 2022)

2) Citizens of the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland can also retire to Ireland without a visa. The EEA includes the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway. This group can live in Ireland without a Stamp 0 as long as they can support themselves financially. You must have qualifying private health insurance.

3) British Citizens can live in Ireland without a visa or Stamp 0, even after BREXIT. And you can claim your UK pension or a pension from any other European Union country. Thanks to the Common Travel Area (CTA) agreement, you can also use the Irish public health system.

If you are not a member of one of the three groups, you need a visa to travel to Ireland.

Everyone else should apply for a D Reside visa before arriving in Ireland. Ensure you have your Stamp 0 pre-clearance letter to support your application.

Ireland Stamp 0 Retirement Permit

What is the Stamp 0?

The Stamp 0 is a temporary residency permit that allows you to live in Ireland. If you are not a citizen of Britain, Switzerland, or an EEA country, you’ll need this immigration permission.

Who is eligible for a Stamp 0 for retirement in Ireland?

• Retirees – People of Independent Means
• Elderly dependents of non-EEA citizens living in Ireland

NOTE: There is currently no restriction on Russian nationals applying for this immigration permission.

What are the financial requirements to retire to Ireland?

The Ireland Stamp 0 financial requirements depend on which category you choose.

Retirees – People of Independent Means

If you are going to provide all your funds, this is the financial requirement to be eligible.

• Annual Income of at least €50,000 per person.
• Accessible Savings to cover “unforeseen circumstances.” This amount varies, but you can use €100,000 as a guide (deemed to be the ‘cost of a small house or apartment’). Our Ireland Stamp 0 Expert partner can help you to establish the exact available figure.

ADVICE FROM OUR IRISH IMMIGRATION LAW EXPERT: When a couple makes a joint application, the financial requirement is not always double. While income should be €100,000 (2 x €50,000), the available bank savings can be lowered. It is within the gift of the Minister of Justice to waive conditions. This discretion means a lower figure than the entire 2 x €100,000 can be sufficient.

Elderly dependents of non-EEA citizens living in Ireland

If your family living in Ireland will support you, these are the financial requirements.

The family member sponsoring you must show they receive a steady after-tax income.

• After-tax Income of at least €60,000 if there is only one elderly parent applicant.
• After-tax Income of at least €75,000 if there are two elderly parent applicants.

They’ll need evidence that they’ve received this income for at least three years. You can offset any income (like a pension).

NOTE: there is no savings requirement for elderly dependents.

Other requirements

1. Private Health Insurance with full coverage and no excess.
2. A police Clearance certificate.
3. A Health Declaration.

How long is the permission valid?

The Stamp 0 is valid for one year. You can renew it yearly, as long as you still meet the requirements.

Restrictions

There are several restrictions for anyone living in Ireland on a Stamp 0 residence permit.

• You cannot work in Ireland. This includes remote work for an international employer or non-Irish clients.
• You cannot access any public benefits in Ireland. This includes public health care, hence the qualifying private health insurance.

How to apply for your Ireland Stamp 0 Retirement

We strongly advise getting help with your application. The process can be complicated, and the documentation requirements are specific. Our Irish Immigration Lawyer partners are experts who can save you time and money.

• Step 1: Immigration pre-clearance (permission to travel to Ireland). This requires a letter and supporting documentation. You’ll get a Stamp 0 Conditional Letter of Offer from the department if successful.
• Step 2 (if needed): Apply for your long-stay D Visa.
• Step 3: When you arrive in Ireland, register with the immigration office for your permission to remain. You’ll register with Immigration Service Delivery (ISD) in Dublin or the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) elsewhere.

Required documentation for your Ireland retirement Visa or Stamp 0

The documentation that the Irish Immigration Service requires depends on your circumstances. You should plan on providing most of these documents. Your immigration lawyer will be able to help with the requirements, format, and collection.

• A copy of your passport and your birth certificate
• Your reasons for requesting permission
• Details of all family members living in Ireland
• Detailed information about your financial position with income and expenses. This information must be signed-off by an Irish accountant.
• A full-cover private medical insurance policy
• Police Clearance Certificate for any countries you have lived in
• Health Declaration

Can You Complete a Stamp 0 Application in Ireland?

It depends on your citizenship.

• Don’t need a visa: You can apply in Ireland or your home country. Our immigration partner advises applying from home, where possible, for clarity.
• Need a visa: You must apply for your Stamp 0 in your home country before you travel to Ireland.

How long does the Application take to process?

The average processing time is four months. However, any issues with your application or documentation can blow out these timelines considerably. For this reason, we advise you use a good Irish Immigration lawyer to prepare your application.

Ireland Retirement Visa Application process

If you need a D Reside Long-Stay Visa, you should submit an online application at this website. You’ll apply in your home country.

NOTE: The process and requirements do vary according to your nationality. You’ll usually work with your nearest consulate or embassy to manage your application.

Ireland Retirement Visa required documentation

As well as the completed application, you’ll submit some supporting documentation.

• Your passport
• Photographs for the visa
• The Stamp 0 Conditional Letter of Offer
• Other relevant supporting documentation

You’ll also generally pay the visa fee directly to the consulate or embassy.

How to get a Retirement visa for Ireland from the USA

NOTE: American passport holders do not require a D Reside Long-Stay Visa to enter the country.

If you are a non-USA national resident in America, you should follow the standard process.

Another consideration is that many USA citizens have Irish ancestry. This means you could obtain Irish citizenship by descent.

Unsure of what to do next – we can help!

Our Irish Immigration law partners are experts in this area. They’ll be delighted to have a chat to help you figure out the easiest way to spend your Golden Years in Ireland. Book a consultation with Stephen and his team here. They will help you understand whether you are eligible and the steps to take to get your retirement visa. Everyone we have sent to them has been really happy with their service.

Frequently Asked Questions about Retiring to Ireland

Appendix 1 – List of countries that do not need a visa to enter Ireland

• Andorra
• Antigua & Barbuda
• Argentina
• Australia
• Bahamas
• Barbados
• Belize
• Botswana
• Bolivia
• Brazil
• Brunei
• Canada
• Chile
• Costa Rica
• Dominica
• El Salvador
• Fiji
• Grenada
• Guatemala
• Guyana
• Honduras
• Hong Kong (Special Admin. Region)
• Israel
• Japan
• Kiribati
• Lesotho
• Macau (Special Admin. Region)
• Malaysia
• Maldives
• Mexico
• Monaco
• Nauru
• New Zealand
• Nicaragua
• Panama
• Paraguay
• Saint Kitts & Nevis
• Saint Lucia
• Saint Vincent & the Grenadines
• Samoa
• San Marino
• Seychelles
• Singapore
• Solomon Islands
• South Africa
• South Korea
• Swaziland (Eswatini)
• Taiwan
• Tonga
• Trinidad & Tobago
• Tuvalu
• Ukraine
• United Arab Emirates
• United Kingdom (see note below)
• United States of America
• Uruguay
• Vanuatu
• Vatican City