
Retire In Ireland
There are probably already many reasons why you are considering retiring to Ireland such as family ties, or maybe because it’s a good base for exploring the rest of Europe, or the fact that Ireland is less of a culture shock, especially with English being the main spoken language.
But, there are other good reasons why you should retire in Ireland; the Island of Ireland is widely covered by rural countryside, so is a great place to keep active if you love hiking, golf and many other outdoor activities. Although it does rain quite a lot, we don’t have weather extremities, and Ireland is a very safe country to live in. Overall, Ireland is a GREAT country to come to retire!
There will be certain conditions that will make getting permission to retire here easier. If you were born in Ireland, married to an Irish citizen, or have Irish parents/grandparents you probably already have your Irish passport, (if not you can find out more here) as you are entitled to Irish citizenship via descent. And you won’t need to worry about an Irish Visa. The same applies if you’re EU born or you’ve EU born parents. This will make moving to Ireland relatively easy. Also, UK citizens also have the right to move to Ireland without any conditions or restrictions.
To speak to a solicitor about applying for a Stamp 0 or Retirement Visa, contact us on +353 (0)1 872 3143 or complete our online enquiry form and we will get back to you within three hours or less.
What are the requirements for a retirement visa
If you are non-EAA (outside of the EU) you must apply first for an entry Visa to Ireland. Stay’s longer than 3 months require a Visa (permission to remain). But if you’re from the USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand you do not need a Visa to enter the country, you will be given a Visit Visa upon entering the country which lasts for 90 days.
If you are in one of the countries that require a Visa, you should apply for your Visa before coming to Ireland. The Visa required is called a Stamp 0 Visa. You can come to Ireland on a Stamp 0 Visa for a short stay. Conditions for permission on Stamp 0:
- Income of at least €50,000 per year (If you are part of a couple, then your joint income should be €100,000 per year).
- Access to a lump sum of money to cover any sudden expenses. This lump sum should cover the cost of a house or an apartment in Ireland (a good guide sum is the average price of a house in the US, $250,000).
- You will need to provide evidence of your income. This must be presented in euros and certified by an Irish accountancy firm.
- Secondly, Stamp 0 permission is given to elderly dependent relatives who are joining a family member in Ireland. This family member must be legally residing in the State, and must have sufficient funds to sponsor their elderly relative.
Why choose Ireland
- English speaking nation
- High standard of living
- Travel freely in the EU area
- Safe country with low crime rates
- Temperate climate
- Free public healthcare
- Fantastic countryside for hiking, golf etc.
How to apply for the retirement visa
To retire to or live independently in Ireland for longer than 90 days, you must first apply for your immigration permission, or Stamp 0 visa. Applications normally take 2 to 3 months to process. Our expert immigration team here at Gibson & Associates can take care of the Stamp 0 application for you.
What Happens When an Application for a retirement visa is Approved?
Once your application is approved a letter of offer of permission to reside in the sate will be issued. If you then accept the terms and conditions a formal approval to stay in the state will be issued. This is valid for a period of 12 months and is renewable thereafter.
Why Choose Gibson & Associates?
We are one of Ireland’s leading law firms dedicated to using our years of experience to make sure that you benefit from the best possible outcome. We will be by your side throughout the Irish citizenship application process, using clear, plain language to explain your options and the next steps you should take.
You and your circumstances are unique – your solicitor should be too. You will be assigned a dedicated point of contact who will take charge of your case from start to finish – this person will never change.
Our solicitors put their clients at the heart of everything they do and work tirelessly to get you the best results. We treat clients the way we would like to be treated – for us, ‘good enough’ just isn’t good enough!