In a landmark immigration decision, the Irish Government has approved a new Stamp 4 residence permission—dubbed the Temporary Protection Transition Scheme—that will offer up-to-two-year, renewable status to an estimated 70,000 Ukrainian nationals currently living in Ireland under the EU’s Temporary Protection Directive (TPD). Announced on 26 May 2026 by Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration Jim O’Callaghan and Minister of State for Migration Colm Brophy, the scheme is the first national pathway in the EU designed to replace TPD arrangements ahead of their scheduled expiry on 4 March 2027. The new permission will be issued on a Stamp 4 basis, meaning holders can live, work, study and establish businesses in Ireland without the labour-market restrictions that apply to standard employment permits. Time spent on the permission will count toward the five-year residence requirement for naturalisation.
![Ireland introduces Stamp 4 ‘Temporary Protection Transition Scheme’ for 70,000 Ukrainian refugees]()
For Ukrainian nationals and their employers navigating these new rules, VisaHQ can streamline every step—from assembling proof of residence and income to submitting the online application once the portal opens. Our Ireland-focused team monitors policy changes in real time and offers end-to-end support for Stamp 4 and other immigration matters. Find out more at https://www.visahq.com/ireland/
To qualify, applicants must have lived in Ireland for at least one year under temporary protection, have six months of employment or self-employment earning at least €29,432 per annum, and must no longer be in State-contracted or host accommodation receiving the Accommodation Recognition Payment. Family members resident under temporary protection will be included in the same application. The initiative is part of a broader package that also phases out State-funded commercial accommodation for Ukrainians between August 2026 and March 2027 and sets the Accommodation Recognition Payment at €400 per month from October 2026. Authorities will launch an application portal in September 2026, giving employers, relocation teams and refugees time to prepare documentation and transition budgets. For global-mobility managers, the announcement brings long-sought clarity. Ukrainian assignees and new hires will be able to move from the time-limited TPD permission—which did not accrue toward citizenship—to an open Stamp 4 status that offers full labour-market access, streamlines family reunification and, crucially, provides a pathway to Irish passports. Companies should begin auditing Ukrainian staff files to ensure salary thresholds are met and should plan for the withdrawal of State accommodation subsidies, which could increase housing allowances or cost-of-living support. Migration advisers also recommend reviewing social-security coverage, as Stamp 4 holders become liable for Pay Related Social Insurance (PRSI) in the same way as other residents. Beyond Ireland, the scheme is being watched closely by other EU member states searching for exit strategies from the Temporary Protection regime. If successful, it could become a template for balancing humanitarian commitments with labour-market needs, while offering employers across Europe a more predictable framework for integrating displaced professionals.
For Ukrainian nationals and their employers navigating these new rules, VisaHQ can streamline every step—from assembling proof of residence and income to submitting the online application once the portal opens. Our Ireland-focused team monitors policy changes in real time and offers end-to-end support for Stamp 4 and other immigration matters. Find out more at https://www.visahq.com/ireland/
To qualify, applicants must have lived in Ireland for at least one year under temporary protection, have six months of employment or self-employment earning at least €29,432 per annum, and must no longer be in State-contracted or host accommodation receiving the Accommodation Recognition Payment. Family members resident under temporary protection will be included in the same application. The initiative is part of a broader package that also phases out State-funded commercial accommodation for Ukrainians between August 2026 and March 2027 and sets the Accommodation Recognition Payment at €400 per month from October 2026. Authorities will launch an application portal in September 2026, giving employers, relocation teams and refugees time to prepare documentation and transition budgets. For global-mobility managers, the announcement brings long-sought clarity. Ukrainian assignees and new hires will be able to move from the time-limited TPD permission—which did not accrue toward citizenship—to an open Stamp 4 status that offers full labour-market access, streamlines family reunification and, crucially, provides a pathway to Irish passports. Companies should begin auditing Ukrainian staff files to ensure salary thresholds are met and should plan for the withdrawal of State accommodation subsidies, which could increase housing allowances or cost-of-living support. Migration advisers also recommend reviewing social-security coverage, as Stamp 4 holders become liable for Pay Related Social Insurance (PRSI) in the same way as other residents. Beyond Ireland, the scheme is being watched closely by other EU member states searching for exit strategies from the Temporary Protection regime. If successful, it could become a template for balancing humanitarian commitments with labour-market needs, while offering employers across Europe a more predictable framework for integrating displaced professionals.
