IrelandResidence

Ireland retirement visa (Stamp 0, people of independent means)

Retirement / independent means permission (Stamp 0) and D Reside visa

In short

People of independent means can retire to Ireland on a Stamp 0 permission if they have an individual income of €50,000 a year plus access to a lump sum large enough to cover major unexpected costs, such as the price of a home. Finances must be certified by an Irish accountancy firm. You first get an approval letter from ISD, then visa-required nationals apply for a D Reside visa; work and State benefits are not allowed.

Apply on ISD Customer Service Portal checked 23 October 2026

Key facts

Maximum stay
Temporary permission renewed on a TPER renewal form while you remain financially independent.
Validity
Approval letter first, then a D Reside visa for entry, then Stamp 0 registered on the IRP card.
Fee
€60D Reside visa €60 single or €100 multiple entry, plus €300 to register the Stamp 0 permission in Ireland. ISD lists no fee for the permission application itself.
Funds required
€50,000 per yearIndividual income per person, normally pension income or readily accessible funds; investments are not usually counted. In addition you need access to a lump sum comparable to the price of a residential home in Ireland.
Processing time
ISD’s average for the permission is four months, longer for incomplete files; the visa stage follows.
Work
No work, business, trade or profession, and no State benefits or publicly funded services.
Family
Each spouse must meet the income test individually; dependent adult relatives of Irish or non-EEA residents may also receive Stamp 0 under the family reunification policy.
Path to permanent residence
Stamp 0 does not count towards Long Term Residency or the 8 years needed for Stamp 5.
Where to apply
Postal application to ISD’s Stamp 0 Independent Means Section in Dublin before travelling; then, if visa-required, the D Reside visa through AVATS with documents to the Irish office named on the summary.

Financial conditions

You must be able to support yourself completely, because Stamp 0 holders have no access to State benefits. ISD expects an individual income of €50,000 a year and access to a lump sum that could cover sudden major expenses, for example the cost of a house in Ireland. Income should be pension or readily available funds rather than investment balances.

Present your finances as a spreadsheet in euro showing monthly income and spending, verified by an Irish accountancy firm able to read overseas banking documents.

Application file

Send the TPER application form with copies of all passport pages, birth and marriage certificates, the reason for your request, details of family members living in Ireland and their status, any Irish connections, six months of bank statements, the accountant-verified statement of income and liabilities, private medical insurance with full cover in private hospitals, a police clearance certificate and a health declaration.

Required documents

Identity

  • Clear copy of all passport pages, birth certificate and marriage certificate

Money

  • Six months of bank statements and evidence of all finances available to you
  • Statement of yearly income and liabilities verified by an Irish-based accountant

Family

  • Details of family members in Ireland and their status, and of any Irish associations

Insurance

  • Private medical insurance with full cover in private hospitals

Other

  • Completed TPER application form
  • Police clearance certificate and health declaration
  • Letter explaining the reason for your request

Three steps

Step 1: post the TPER form and documents to the Stamp 0 Independent Means Section, Domestic Residence and Permissions Division, 13-14 Burgh Quay, Dublin 2. Step 2: with the approval letter, apply for a D Reside visa; entering without it means you cannot complete registration. Step 3: on arrival you get a landing stamp of up to 90 days, within which you book an appointment on the ISD portal and register to receive the IRP card.

  1. Check you can show €50,000 a year in personal income and a substantial lump sum.
  2. Have an Irish accountancy firm certify your income and spending spreadsheet in euro.
  3. Post the TPER form and documents to the Stamp 0 Independent Means Section in Dublin.
  4. After receiving the approval letter, apply for a D Reside visa on AVATS if you are visa-required and submit it to the Irish embassy, consulate or visa office named on your AVATS summary, or the visa application centre it uses.
  5. Travel with the approval letter and visa, then register within 90 days at Burgh Quay.
  6. Renew each time through the TPER renewal form on the ISD portal.

Forms

Renewing Stamp 0

Renew by submitting the TPER renewal form and supporting documents through the ISD Customer Service Portal; passports are no longer requested. An approval letter is issued, which you use to renew the IRP card registration. Keep private health insurance and your income level throughout.

Frequently asked questions

How much income do I need to retire to Ireland?

An individual income of €50,000 a year, plus access to a lump sum to cover major unexpected costs, comparable to the price of a home in Ireland.

Can I work part time on Stamp 0?

No. Stamp 0 holders may not work or run a business unless an ISD letter specifically allows it.

Can I enter Ireland as a tourist and then apply?

No. You must apply and be approved before arriving, and visa-required nationals must enter on a D Reside visa or they cannot register.

Does Stamp 0 lead to permanent residence?

Not directly. Stamp 0 is not counted for Long Term Residency or for the 8 years required for Stamp 5.

Official sources

Summarised from the official sources above. Rules, fees and processing times change: confirm with the embassy or the official portal before you apply.

Other visa types for Ireland

Visits and short stays

  • Tourist visa Maximum stay: Up to 90 days; the immigration officer at the border writes the permitted date on the landing stamp and may give less.
  • Family and friends visit visa Maximum stay: Up to 90 days; the immigration officer at the border writes the permitted date on the landing stamp and may give less.
  • Transit visa Maximum stay: No stay: a transit visa only allows passage through an Irish airport or seaport to another country.
  • Medical treatment visa Maximum stay: Up to 90 days; the immigration officer at the border writes the permitted date on the landing stamp and may give less.
  • Culture, sports and events visa Maximum stay: Up to 90 days; the immigration officer at the border writes the permitted date on the landing stamp and may give less.

Business and self-employment

  • Business visa Maximum stay: Up to 90 days; the immigration officer at the border writes the permitted date on the landing stamp and may give less.
  • Entrepreneur and start-up visa Maximum stay: 2 years at first, renewed for 3 years, then in 5-year instalments.

Study and training

  • Student visa Maximum stay: Permission follows the course; the total time on student permission is capped at 7 years (8 years including the graduate stage for level 9 graduates).
  • Language course visa Maximum stay: Up to 8 months of permission per course; at most three courses, two years in total, after which only a higher education programme can be continued.
  • Researcher visa Maximum stay: As long as the hosting agreement and the registered permission run.
  • Internship and trainee visa Maximum stay: Unpaid: up to 90 days, with no extension. Paid via Internship Employment Permit: up to 12 months. Paid via AWS: up to 12 months.

Work

  • Work visa Maximum stay: Initial permit up to 2 years, renewable for up to 3 more years; after 5 years a permit is generally no longer needed.
  • Skilled worker visa Maximum stay: Issued for 2 years; it is not renewed but replaced by Stamp 4 permission from the Department of Justice.
  • Intra-company transfer visa Maximum stay: Up to 24 months initially, extendable to a maximum stay of 5 years; trainees up to 12 months.
  • Job seeker visa Maximum stay: 12 months for level 8; up to 24 months (12 + 12) for level 9 and above, within the 7-year (level 8) or 8-year (level 9+) limit on student permission.

Family

Residence

  • Residence permit Maximum stay: The IRP card is valid for the period of the permission granted (for example one academic year on Stamp 2, two years on Stamp 4).
  • Permanent residence Maximum stay: Stamp 4 usually 2 years at a time; Long Term Residency 5 years; Stamp 5 valid until your passport expires.

Protection

  • Asylum and international protection Maximum stay: While the application and any appeal are pending you may stay as an applicant; recognised refugees and subsidiary protection holders receive a residence permission.

Ireland visa guide