Okay, so today I finally tackled that whole “Irish Stamp 4” thing. You know, for staying in Ireland long-term. It’s been on my to-do list for ages, and honestly, it felt a bit intimidating at first. But I powered through, and I wanted to share how it went, just in case anyone else is in the same boat.
Figuring Out If I Even Qualify
First things first, I had to double-check if I was even eligible for Stamp 4. I am on Critical Skills, and work for a big company in Ireland for more than 2 years. I have not been fired or I did not quit on my job. so I moved to the next step.
Gathering All The Documents
Man, the paperwork! It felt like I needed every document I’ve ever owned. Seriously, I think I spent a whole afternoon just digging through files and folders. Here’s what I ended up needing:
- My passport, obviously. Gotta make sure it’s still valid, my old one almost expired.
- My current IRP card. Made a copy of this, front and back.
- Employment letter. Need to get from HR, it took me a while to pull it from the company system.
- Pay Stubs. All paystubs, from day 1.
- Other support docs. P60s, or anything like that. Just in case.
Book An Appointment and Pay the Fee
Then I tried to book an appointment, I have been to the website, and found a lot of available slots. I have choose a day near my 2 year work anniversary date. Paid it online, I wrote down the order ID somewhere, and screenshot the successful payment.
Go to the Appointment
Today, I dresses up and arrived there earlier, 10 mins I think. and I found I missed my IRP! So, I run all the way back home, and return to the appointment in a rush. Luckily they said the line is still good for me, it wasted about an hour, so do remember to take your IRP with you!
The Actual Thing
I was called in. I handed over all my documents. The officer asked me a few questions.
After about 10 mins I think, the officer said I am good to go, and asked me to wait a bit, and I receive my new IRP with stamp 4 on it!
So, yeah, that’s my Stamp 4 adventure! It was a bit of a process, but totally manageable. If you’re going through it, just take your time, get organized, and you’ll be fine. Good luck!
