The Ministers for Justice and Enterprise, Trade and Employment have announced that eligible spouses and partners of General Employment Permit and Intra-Corporate Transferee Irish Employment Permit holders, who have applied for, and have been granted family reunification, in accordance with the Non-EEA Family Reunification Policy, will now be registered on a Stamp 1G permission, rather than a Stamp 3. This will allow the holder to take up employment, without the need to obtain a separate Employment Permit, of their own. In addition to this announcement, spouses and partners of Critical Skills Employment Permit holders and Researchers on a Hosting Agreement currently on a Stamp 3 are also now eligible for a Stamp 1G.

In addition to this announcement, spouses and partners of Critical Skills Employment Permit holders and Researchers on a Hosting Agreement currently on a Stamp 3 are also now
eligible for a Stamp 1G.

The application process for eligible spouses and partners who wish to join their family member in Ireland remains unchanged.

Further information can be found here: Coming to join family in Ireland

Arrangements for eligible spouses and partners who already legally reside in the State and hold a ‘Stamp 3’ permission

As an exceptional measure, eligible spouses and partners with a Stamp 3 endorsed on their current in-date Irish Residence Permit (IRP) card have had their permission to remain in the
State varied to the same conditions as Stamp 1G.

Eligible spouses and partners do not need to make an application to the Registration Office where they reside in counties Dublin, Meath, Kildare and Wicklow or, their relevant An
Garda local immigration office in the rest of the State to change their current permission from Stamp 3 to Stamp 1G, or acquire a new IRP.

The amended Stamp 3 permission comes into effect from 15/05/2024.

A new Irish Residence Permit on Stamp 1G conditions will issue to eligible persons when they seek to renew their current Stamp 3 permission upon its expiry.

Arrangements to engage in employment for eligible spouses and partners who already legally reside in the State and hold a ‘Stamp 3’ permission

Eligible spouses and partners do not need to acquire a new IRP card to engage in employment. You can provide prospective employers the following letter in conjunction with your current IRP card endorsed with a Stamp 3, which explains this temporary administrative arrangement. Download Stamp 3 to Stamp 1G Employment Notice.

Please note that this arrangement is valid during the transition period until 15/05/2025. After this date, eligible spouses and partners will have renewed their IRP cards to Stamp 1G.

Whom does this apply to?

If you currently reside in the State, to be eligible for this varying of permission, you must meet the following criteria on the 15/05/2024. You are:

  • A spouse or partner of General Employment Permit (GEP) or Intra-Corporate Transferee (ICT) permit holder;
  • A spouse or partner of a Critical Skills Employment Permit Holder (CSEP) or Researcher on a Hosting Agreement;
  • A spouse or partner of a Non-Consultant Hospital Doctor (NCHD) on a Multi-Site General Employment Permit;
    Or,
  • Your spouse or partner previously held one of the above and is now on Stamp 4
    permission
  • Your spouse or partner has been issued a Reactivation Employment Permit for a GEP, ICT or CSEP Employment Permit.

And:

  • You have been granted permission to reside in Ireland under the Non-EEA Family Reunification Policy;
  • You are legally resident in the State on a valid Stamp 3;
  • You wish to engage in employment in Ireland;
  • You are a non-EU/EEA/UK/Swiss national.

Whom does this not apply to?

  • All other family members, other than spouses or partners, of Employment Permit, Hosting Agreement or Intra-Corporate Transferee Permit holders.
  • A spouse or partner of an Employment Permit, Hosting Agreement or Intra-Corporate Transferee Permit holder, who is present in the State on a different type of permission, such as, visitor conditions or Stamp 2 (study).
  • A spouse or partner of an Employment Permit, Hosting Agreement or Intra-Corporate Transferee Permit holder who does not have permission be in the state.
  • Stamp 3 holders, who have been issued Stamp 3 permission for other reasons and, arenot spouses or partners of an Employment Permit, Hosting Agreement or Intra- Corporate Transferee Permit holder.

Summary of immigration conditions attached to a Stamp 1G permission:

  • Permitted to work in the State without the requirement to obtain an employment permit.
  • Permitted to undertake courses of study in the State.
  • Not permitted to establish or operate a business.
  • Not permitted to be self-employed.
  • Renewal of the Stamp 1G registration is required annually.
  • After 5 years on a Stamp 1G, you may be eligible for a Stamp 4 permission.