Stamp 1
A stamp 1 gives a person permission to:

• Work in Ireland with a Work Permit
  Work permits are issued by the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation. They are issued to people who apply from their country of origin or to people already in Ireland on another immigration stamp who are considered to be ‘Highly Skilled’. Find more information here: https://www.djei.ie/en/What-We-Do/Jobs-Workplace-and-Skills/Employment-Permits/
• Operate a Business in Ireland (50K minimum investment) For more info: http://www.inis.gov.ie/en/INIS/Pages/New%20Programmes%20for%20Investors%20and%20Entrepreneurs
• Work in Ireland on a Working Holiday Visa. For more info: http://www.inis.gov.ie/en/INIS/Pages/Working%20Holidays%20in%20Ireland%20(except%20Taiwan)

Stamp 1A

A Stamp 1A gives a person permission to work in full time, paid accountancy training (with a named organisation) for a specified period, subject to conditions.

Stamp 1G
A Stamp 1G gives a person who finished their studies in Ireland and have permission to look for employment here under the Third Level Graduate Scheme, subject to conditions.

Stamp 2
A Stamp 2 gives a person permission to study full-time and work up to 20 hours a week during term time and 40 hours a week during specific holiday periods. Student stamps are renewable every year (for up to 7 years) as long as a student is enrolled in an eligible course and has the required attendance record. A Stamp 2 does not give you permission to be self-employed. See more information here: http://www.inis.gov.ie/en/INIS/Pages/Students

Stamp 2A
A Stamp 2A gives a person permission to study full time in Ireland for a course that is not on the official Interim List of Eligible Programmes (ILEP), for a specified period. For example, this may include a semester of studying abroad at an Irish university by a foreign student. You cannot receive any benefits or use publicly funded services, e.g. public hospitals. A stamp 2A does not give you permission to be self-employed or run a business.

Stamp 3
A Stamp 3 gives a person permission to live in Ireland as a dependent of someone else, usually a family member or a voluntary organisation. You cannot do paid work or run your own business on a Stamp 3.

Stamp 4
A Stamp 4 gives a person permission to live, work and run a business in Ireland for a specific period of time. It is given to people who have held a Work Permit for five years OR have had an Irish citizen child OR are married to an Irish or EU citizen OR are a refugee OR have been given leave to remain on humanitarian grounds.

Immigration

All people living in Ireland who are originally from outside the EU country (and Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland) should have an immigration stamp to live, study and/or work in Ireland. However, there are many people in Ireland who live and work in Ireland who are undocumented i.e. don’t have a visa or residency card.

If you want non-judgmental and confidential information and advice on your immigration situation (even if you do not currently have an immigration stamp or visa) you can contact the Migrant Rights Centre Ireland.

Guide to Immigration Stamps in Ireland

Applying for Asylum as a Refugee

A refugee is someone who has been forced to flee their country because of persecution, war, or violence. A refugee has a well-founded fear of persecution for reasons of race, religion, nationality, political opinion or membership in a particular social group. Most likely, they cannot return home or are afraid to do so. War and ethnic, tribal and religious violence are leading causes of refugees fleeing their countries.

You can find more information about applying for asylum in Ireland here

If you want more information and advice about applying for asylum as a refugee you can contact the Irish Refugee Council.