Stamp 0 in Ireland: Visa for Retirees and Independent Means

(IRELAND) Stamp 0 is Ireland’s permission for people who can live here without working or using public funds. As of August 12, 2025, it remains a one-year, renewable option designed mainly for retirees or persons of independent means from outside the European Economic Area.

If you’re asking, “Do I qualify?” start with three quick checks: can you show steady income at or above the set amounts, do you have full private medical insurance, and are you happy not to work or run a business in Ireland? If you can answer yes to all three, Stamp 0 may fit you. If any answer is no, this route likely won’t work.

Who Stamp 0 Is For in 2025

You may qualify for Stamp 0 if you fall into one of these categories:

• Retirees or persons of independent means who can fully support themselves without working.
• Elderly dependent relatives of Irish citizens or residents, when family members provide full financial support and care.
• Visiting academics coming to an Irish college or university.
• Volunteers staying in Ireland for a limited time.

The permission is aimed at non-EEA nationals who are financially self-sufficient. The core rule has not changed: you live in Ireland without taking a job, running a business, or relying on public money. Holders can renew each year if they keep meeting all conditions.

Income and Savings: Minimums You Must Prove

To get Stamp 0, you must show you can pay all your own costs in Ireland.

• Minimum income:
  • €50,000 per year for a single applicant.
  • €100,000 per year combined for a married couple relocating together.
    These amounts don’t have to be split evenly between spouses, but the total must reach the €100,000 threshold.
• Income type: Your income should be steady and accessible, such as pensions, rental income, or returns from savings. Income based only on speculation (for example, hoping shares will rise) generally does not count as reliable.

• Emergency funds: You must also have a lump sum to cover large unexpected costs (medical emergencies or one-off expenses). There’s no fixed number published, but be ready to show a clear amount on top of your yearly income.

• Irish accountant verification: Financial records must be checked and verified by an Irish-based accountant. This is not a box-tick: it confirms figures are real and available and helps protect the system against misuse.

Examples:
– A retired teacher with a state pension and a private pension totalling €52,000 a year, plus savings for emergencies, usually meets the income rule.
– A couple with €75,000 in one spouse’s pension and €25,000 in the other spouse’s rental income typically meets the couple threshold.
– An applicant whose funds are mainly in high-risk investments that don’t pay regular income may struggle, even if the paper value seems high.

Health Insurance and Public Benefits Rules

Private medical cover is mandatory.

• You must hold comprehensive private health insurance that covers emergency treatment and hospital stays in Ireland.
• Stamp 0 holders cannot access public health care or social welfare.
• Keep your private policy active at all times. If your policy lapses, your permission can be at risk.

Expect to show proof of cover during application and renewal.

Work, Business, and Volunteering Limits

Under Stamp 0:

• You cannot take paid work in Ireland unless you receive explicit, written permission from Immigration Service Delivery (ISD).
• You cannot run a business in Ireland.
• You may volunteer, provided it is unpaid and community-focused.

If you want to work, you need a separate employment permit and a different immigration stamp (for example, Stamp 1). The work route is a distinct process and not part of Stamp 0.

Documents, Application Steps, and Renewal Timing

Standard process (2025):

1. Prepare your file
   • Valid passport.
   • Birth certificate.
   • Marriage certificate (if applying as a couple).
   • Financial statements, verified by an Irish-based accountant, showing income and liabilities.
   • Police clearance from your home country.
   • Proof of accommodation in Ireland (rental lease or proof you own a home).
   • Evidence of private medical insurance.
   • Health declaration from a medical professional.
   • A short letter explaining your plan in Ireland (retirement, supporting a family member, etc.).
2. Submit your application
   • Apply to Immigration Service Delivery (ISD) in Ireland, or through an Irish embassy/consulate if you’re outside Ireland at the time of application.
3. Processing time
   • The average wait is around 4 months. Delays are common if documents are incomplete or need extra checks, so send a clean, well-labeled file.
4. Decision and permission
   • If approved, you receive Stamp 0 permission for one year. You should then register locally as directed.
5. Renewal
   • Apply to renew 4 months before your permission expires. ISD asks you to use the TPER Renewal form. You can find official forms through the ISD website’s forms section: https://www.irishimmigration.ie/forms/
   • Keep all rules in place: income, private insurance, and no work/business.

Common Reasons People Get Refused

Typical refusal reasons include:

• Income below €50,000 (single) or combined below €100,000 (couple).
• Funds based on speculative assets without stable, proven income.
• No comprehensive private medical insurance.
• Plans that include working or running a business in Ireland.
• Missing or weak proof of accommodation.
• Financial documents that are not verified by an Irish-based accountant.
• A file missing key items (police clearance, clear purpose letter, etc.).

If Stamp 0 Isn’t a Fit: Nearby Options

• If you want to work in Ireland, Stamp 0 is not suitable. Seek a separate employment permit and Stamp 1 permission.
• If you need public services or cannot meet the income rule, Stamp 0 won’t work. Explore other immigration categories that match your plan.
• There are no confirmed pathways from Stamp 0 to long-term residency or citizenship; it’s a temporary, renewable status.

How to Build a Stronger Application

To improve your chances:

• Show clean, consistent income: pensions, annuities, rental income, or interest that actually arrives in your account.
• Keep a clear emergency fund and be ready to explain what it covers.
• Buy a comprehensive private health policy that explicitly lists emergency and hospital cover in Ireland.
• Use an Irish-based accountant to verify financial statements. Ensure names, account numbers, balances, and currency are clear.
• Provide solid proof of accommodation: a signed lease or property documents.
• Write a short, plain-language purpose letter: arrival date, residence, support plan, and confirmation you won’t work or use public funds.
• Apply early: with an average 4-month processing time, last-minute filing risks gaps in status.
• For renewals, file 4 months before expiry using the TPER Renewal form.

Real-Life Scenarios

• Single retiree: A U.S. citizen with a private pension of €54,000 per year, savings for emergencies, and a Gold-tier private policy covering Irish hospitals. They rent a small apartment in Galway and plan to volunteer locally — this profile usually matches Stamp 0 rules.
• Married couple: One spouse has €70,000 in pension income; the other has €35,000 in rental income. Their combined €105,000 meets the couple threshold. With a joint private health policy and a lease in Cork, they are well placed to apply.
• Elderly dependent parent: An Irish resident invites their 78-year-old mother to live nearby. The family proves they cover all costs, including private insurance and housing. With full support documents, the parent can be considered under Stamp 0 as an elderly dependent relative.

Official Links and Where to Get Help

For up-to-date official guidance and contact details, see Ireland’s Immigration Service Delivery website: https://www.irishimmigration.ie/
When you prepare a renewal, use the TPER Renewal form available through the ISD forms section: https://www.irishimmigration.ie/forms/

According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, interest in Stamp 0 stays steady among retirees or persons of independent means who want time in Ireland without work obligations. Experts note that the financial checks, the need for an Irish accountant’s verification, and the strict no public funds rule are the core pillars of the program. These rules also explain why the permission has not faced major changes in 2025: it balances openness for financially secure applicants with protection of state resources.

Key reminders if you plan to apply now:
– Stamp 0 remains active and focused on non-EEA nationals who are self-sufficient.
– The income thresholds are firm: €50,000 for singles, €100,000 for couples.
– Keep comprehensive private medical insurance at all times.
– Expect about 4 months for processing.
– Stamp 0 lasts one year; renew 4 months early.

If you hold back one rule, make it this: Stamp 0 is permission to live in Ireland without working and without using public funds. Build your file with that simple idea in mind, and your chances improve.