Temporary residency program
Ireland Stamp 0 Permission
Live in Ireland most of the year on income of your own, in an English-speaking EU country where foreign income left abroad can go untaxed. If you're financially independent, this is your route.
- Minimum income
- €50K/yr
- Processing time
- 6 months
- Citizenship path
- Not a path
- Presence required
- Most of the year
As featured in
Why the Ireland Stamp 0 Permission?
In my opinion, Ireland has perhaps the strongest tax system in the European Union for the right income mix. If you're not domiciled there, foreign income and gains you leave offshore owe no Irish tax from day one, with no time limit or annual charge.
That's why I bring up Stamp 0 with clients who live on a pension or their savings. It's Ireland's permission for people of independent means: You show the income, you don't work, and you make Ireland your home.
Remittance is read pretty broadly. Paying an Irish bill from a foreign account or card counts, so we plan your accounts with you before you move.
And you'd be living in one of the few EU countries where English is an official language.
James NuveenFounder of the Freedom Files
Benefits of the Ireland Stamp 0 Permission
No investment required
You qualify on pension income and funds you can reach, with nothing to buy and no capital to tie up.
Foreign income left abroad, untaxed
If you become a tax resident and aren't domiciled in Ireland, foreign income and gains you don't bring into Ireland owe no Irish tax, with no time limit.
An English-speaking life in the EU
Ireland is one of the few EU countries where English is an official language, so your paperwork, your doctor, and daily life are all in English.
Built for life after work
Stamp 0 is designed for people who live on their own means. You qualify on your finances alone, and your days are your own.
Europe a short flight away
Dublin, Shannon, and Cork airports connect you to the rest of Europe in a few hours, with direct flights to North America.
Is the Ireland Stamp 0 Permission Right for You?
Right for you if
- Retirees with a pension or Social Security of €50K/yr or more
- Financially independent people living on savings they can reach
- Couples with €100K/yr in joint income
- Anyone who wants an English-speaking life in the EU
- Investors planning to become a tax resident and leave foreign income abroad
Look elsewhere if
- You plan to work, even remotely: Stamp 0 bars any work, business, trade, or profession in Ireland.
- You want a path to Irish citizenship: Time on Stamp 0 doesn't count toward naturalization.
- You want your children on your permission: Stamp 0 doesn't extend to family members, so each person needs a permission of their own.
- You'd spend most of the year at home: The permission is for people who live in Ireland.
Who Your Ireland Stamp 0 Permission Application Covers
Stamp 0 doesn't extend to family members. Each adult qualifies in their own right, with €50K/yr each, and we review the options for anyone else on a Freedom Consult.
| Family member | Condition |
|---|---|
| Spouse or partner | Applies in their own right. A couple shows €100K/yr in joint income |
| Children | Not covered by Stamp 0. Each child needs a permission of their own |
| Parents | Not covered by Stamp 0. They can apply in their own right |
Are You Eligible for the Ireland Stamp 0 Permission?
Answer 5 quick questions. In 2 minutes, you'll know whether you're likely to qualify, and what fits better if you don't.
Ireland Stamp 0 Permission Financial Requirements
Stamp 0 has one requirement: €50K/yr in income for each person, verified by an Irish accountant, plus funds you can reach for large costs.
- Popular
Independent means
€50K/yr
How this route works
This requires proof of these funds, not an investment.
Pension income or funds you can reach of at least €50K/yr per person, plus access to a lump sum for sudden large costs, such as buying a home in Ireland. Money tied up in long-term investments usually doesn't count, and an Irish accountancy firm verifies the figures.
Ireland Stamp 0 Permission Cost
Estimated fees for 2 people
€1,470
Income requirement for 2 people
€8,334/mo
- Registration and Irish Residence Permit cardPaid directly to Immigration Service Delivery
- €600
- Verification of your financesPaid directly to an Irish accountancy firm
- €750
- Criminal record checkPaid directly to your country's police authority
- €40
- Apostilles on your documentsPaid directly to the issuing authority
- €80
Later
- Registration at each renewal, per adult€300
- Accountant's verification at each renewal€750
Government and official fees only. The income bar is €50K/yr per person, set in euros and shown at today's rate. The accountant's fee is an estimate. Private medical insurance and Freedom Files fees aren't included. All amounts are subject to change.
Get your numbers on the call. We price your route for everyone applying before you commit.
Ireland Stamp 0 Permission Costs at a Glance
| Income to show, never paid | €50K/yr per person, or €100K/yr for a couple, from pensions or funds you can reach |
|---|---|
| Lump sum for large costs | Funds you can reach to cover a sudden large cost, such as buying a home in Ireland |
| Registration and IRP card | €300 per adult, then again at each renewal |
| Private medical insurance | Full cover in private hospitals for each person, for the length of your permission |
| Accountant's verification | A letter from an Irish accountancy firm confirming your finances, at filing and at each renewal |
| Translations and apostilles | Depends on the number of documents |
| The Freedom Files | A fixed quote in writing before you commit |
Ireland Stamp 0 Permission and Taxes
The basics below are for planning only, and each one is pending licensed review. Your own position depends on your income, your assets, and where you spend your time. Our team provides US and Ireland tax planning, so you can have your plan reviewed before you commit.
Tax residency in Ireland
You're an Irish tax resident after 183 days in Ireland in a tax year, or 280 days across 2 consecutive years with at least 30 days in each.
US income tax treaty
The US and Ireland have an income tax treaty. If you're a US citizen, you file US taxes too, and the treaty and foreign tax credits help prevent double tax.
Stamp 0 Permission presence vs tax residency
Stamp 0 is for people who live in Ireland, and most people on it become tax residents in their first year. If you aren't domiciled in Ireland, you pay Irish tax on Irish income and on foreign income you bring into the country.
Special tax regimes
Residents who aren't domiciled in Ireland pay Irish tax on Irish income and on foreign income brought into Ireland, with no time limit or annual charge.
Ireland Stamp 0 Permission Document Checklist
Here's the typical file for the Ireland Stamp 0 Permission. Your country and your case can change the list, and we confirm yours on the call.
Main applicant
- Copy of every page of your passport
- Stamp 0 application form, completed by our team
- Criminal record check from your country of residence
- Private medical insurance with full cover in private hospitals in Ireland
Income proof
- Verification of your finances by an Irish accountancy firm
- Bank statements for the last 6 months
- Pension, Social Security, annuity, and savings statements
Spouse and children
- Marriage or civil partnership certificate, if you apply as a couple
- Your spouse's or partner's own passport, insurance, and finances
Prepared in Ireland
- Approval letter from Immigration Service Delivery
- Proof of your address in Ireland, for registration
Ireland Stamp 0 Permission Process and Timeline
Total: 6 months from filing to approval. You file from outside Ireland, then travel and register within 90 days of arrival.
- 1
Freedom Consult
A call with our founder. We confirm Stamp 0 fits your income, your plans, and anyone applying with you, or we point you to a better route. You leave with a clear plan and a quote in writing.
- 2
Engagement and document file
You sign the engagement and we send your checklist. You gather your pension and bank records, and we arrange your criminal record check and apostilles.
- 3
Accountant's verification and insurance
An Irish accountancy firm we source and vet verifies your finances, and you take out private medical insurance with full cover in private hospitals.
- 4
Filing from abroad
We file your application with Immigration Service Delivery in Dublin while you're outside Ireland, and answer any requests for more documents.
- 5
Approval and arrival
Once approved, you receive an approval letter and travel to Ireland with it. If your passport needs a visa for Ireland, we apply for your entry visa too.
- 6
Registration and IRP card
Within 90 days of arrival, you register your permission and receive your Irish Residence Permit card.
- 7
Life in Ireland and renewals
You live in Ireland and renew your permission before it expires, with a new accountant's verification, 6 months of bank statements, and your insurance. Contact us to renew.
Milestones to residency and citizenship
Approval letter
6 months
Irish Residence Permit card
Within 90 days of arrival
First renewal
Before your permission expires
“I love the way the Freedom Files team present themselves and show up for our family. I much prefer their honest, on-the-ground-experience approach than the suited-up lawyers with bookshelves of textbooks behind them.”
Ireland Stamp 0 Permission vs Alternatives
| Ireland Stamp 0 Permission | Italy Elective Residency Visa | France FIP Visa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum financial requirement | €50K/yr per person | €31K/yr, passive income | €18K in savings or €1,478/mo |
| Processing time | 6 months | 3-6 months | 2-3 months |
| Presence required | Most of the year | Most of the year | Most of the year |
| Time to citizenship | Not a path | 10 years | 5 years |
| Language test for citizenship | None | B1 Italian | B2 French and a civics exam |
| Family included | Each adult applies in their own right | Spouse, dependent children | Spouse and children |
| Capital returned | No capital needed | No capital needed | No capital needed |
| Schengen access | No, Ireland isn't in Schengen | Yes, 90 days in any 180 | Yes, 90 days in any 180 |
Undecided between these programs? We compare them for you on the call.
How the Freedom Files Helps You with the Ireland Stamp 0 Permission
You get one team from your first call to your arrival in Ireland. We prepare, check, and file your application, and we're your single point of contact from start to finish.
- Clients served
- 200+
- years in investment migration
- 10+
- Americans educated
- 2M+
| This program only | Private Client Engagement | |
|---|---|---|
| An eligibility review before you pay a government fee | ||
| Your document file, assembled and optimized | ||
| We prepare and submit your application | ||
| Consular coordination and liaising | ||
| Your case manager | Through arrival | Long term |
| A global Plan B strategy across residency, citizenship, tax, asset protection, and more | ||
| Residency and/or citizenship in more than one country | ||
| US and foreign tax strategy, with introductions | ||
| Banking and asset protection strategy, with introductions | ||
| Healthcare, schools, and relocation, with introductions | ||
| Book a consult | Learn more |
Other Freedom Files Services in Ireland
We can take on each of these for you, alongside your application or on its own. Our Ireland team provides legal, tax, financial, immigration, and investment advice and services.
Tax strategy and filing
Bank account opening
Investment vetting
Real estate and accommodations
Healthcare enrollment
Residency renewals
“We came in with a complicated global setup and needed special attention. What we got from the Freedom Files team was direct, honest, and personal responsiveness at every turn. Exactly what we needed! Very impressed.”
Mike · New York“The Private Client Engagement has been perfect for our unique situation. James is the total quarterback of our whole Plan B strategy.”
Kenneth · Illinois
Why Ireland?
Lakes, mountains, and the Atlantic
From the lakes of Kerry to the cliffs of Clare, the west of Ireland gives you wild coast and green hills within an easy drive.
Pubs, music, and market towns
Ireland's towns are built around the pub, the market, and live music, with a warmth newcomers feel quickly.
Life in English, inside the EU
English is an official language, so contracts, doctors, schools, and neighbors all work in a language you already speak.
Stability you can plan around
Ireland is a stable EU democracy with common law courts and a strong economy, a familiar base for anyone used to the English-speaking world.
Ireland Stamp 0 Permission Content
Ireland Stamp 0 Permission FAQs
Income and cost
How much income do you need for the Ireland Stamp 0 Permission?
At least €50K/yr for each person, or €100K/yr for a couple. You also need access to a lump sum for sudden large costs, such as buying a home in Ireland. An Irish accountancy firm verifies the figures.
What income counts for the Stamp 0 independent means permission?
Pension income, including Social Security, and funds you can reach, such as savings. Money tied up in long-term investments usually doesn't count. Income from work doesn't fit, because Stamp 0 bars any work in Ireland.
How much does the Ireland Stamp 0 Permission cost?
There's no investment. Plan on €300 per adult to register and receive your residence card, the accountant's verification, private medical insurance, and apostilles, with registration again at each renewal. The fee calculator adds them up.
Timeline and presence
How long does the Ireland Stamp 0 Permission take?
Plan on 6 months from filing to approval. Ireland publishes no fixed deadline. You file from outside Ireland, travel with your approval letter, and register within 90 days of arrival.
How much of the year do you need to spend in Ireland on Stamp 0?
Plan on most of the year. You agree to live in Ireland continuously, and each renewal checks your finances and insurance there.
Can you apply for Stamp 0 from inside Ireland?
No. Ireland accepts Stamp 0 applications only from outside the country. We file yours while you're at home, and you travel once you have your approval letter.
Citizenship
Does Stamp 0 lead to Irish citizenship?
No. Ireland doesn't count time on Stamp 0 toward naturalization or long-term residency. If citizenship is your goal, we look at other routes with you on a Freedom Consult, including Irish citizenship by descent if a parent or grandparent was born on the island of Ireland.
Family, tax and living
Can your family join you on Stamp 0?
Not on your permission. Stamp 0 doesn't extend to family members. Your spouse or partner can apply in their own right, and a couple shows €100K/yr in joint income. We review the options for children on a Freedom Consult.
How does Ireland tax Stamp 0 residents?
Only if you become a tax resident: 183 days in a year, or 280 days across 2 years with at least 30 in each. If you aren't domiciled in Ireland, you pay Irish tax on Irish income and on foreign income you bring in. Foreign income left abroad owes no Irish tax. If you're a US citizen, you file US taxes too, and the US-Ireland tax treaty helps prevent double tax.
What counts as bringing money into Ireland?
More than most people expect. Paying an Irish bill from a foreign account or a foreign credit card can count as a remittance. We plan how you fund your life in Ireland before you move.
Can you work on Ireland Stamp 0?
No. Stamp 0 bars any work, business, trade, or profession in Ireland, unless your letter of permission says otherwise. That includes remote work.
Do you need private health insurance for Stamp 0?
Yes. You need private medical insurance with full cover in private hospitals, for everyone applying, for the length of your permission. On Stamp 0, you can't use publicly funded services.
Is it right for you?
Ireland Stamp 0 or Italy Elective Residency: Which is better?
Both are for people who live on their own means and don't work. Ireland offers English as an official language and the non-domiciled tax rules. Italy needs less income and counts toward citizenship after 10 years. We compare both on a Freedom Consult.
Documents and approval
What documents does Ireland Stamp 0 require?
Your passport, the application form, a criminal record check, private medical insurance, 6 months of bank statements, pension and savings records, and an Irish accountant's verification of your finances. The document checklist on this page lists each one.
Working with the Freedom Files
What does the Freedom Files do on your application?
We review your eligibility, assemble and check your documents, and optimize your application for approval. We have a 100% approval rate so far. We prepare and file your application, liaise with the government, coordinate your consular appointments and communication, and support you through your arrival in Ireland, when your residency or citizenship is formalized. We're your single point of contact from start to finish.
Who does the legal work?
Our Ireland team can provide any legal, tax, financial, immigration, or investment advice and services you need. You work with one team from your first call to your arrival.
What does the Freedom Files charge?
Prices differ by program, because each program has its own costs and its own currency. You get a fixed quote in writing before any work begins. Government fees and third-party costs are listed separately, and you pay them directly.
How does the Freedom Files get paid?
We accept card, wire or ACH transfer, Bitcoin, USDC, and most other payment methods. You choose whether to pay for our services up front or monthly through the end of your engagement.
What if you need more than one country, or help with tax and banking?
That's what the Private Client Engagement is for. A long-term case manager with global expertise, always reachable on WhatsApp, manages your whole Plan B: Residency and citizenship in more than one country, tax strategy, banking and asset protection, and introductions for your move.
What if this program is the wrong fit?
Compare it with the alternatives on this page. Then book a Freedom Consult: If you're ready to move forward, we tell you which programs are best for you.
How do I start?
Book a Freedom Consult. There's no charge.
Start Your Ireland Stamp 0 Permission
If Ireland is the wrong fit, we tell you on the first call.