How does Long Term Residency / Stamp 4 work in Ireland, and who qualifies?

Ireland's secure long-term residence comes in two main forms. Long Term Residency is generally available after roughly five years (60 months) of employment-permit-based residence and grants a further five years' permission to work without needing an employment permit. Separately, Critical Skills Employment Permit holders can reach Stamp 4 — full permission to work and run a business without any permit — after just two years, which is one of that permit's biggest advantages.

To qualify you need the required period of reckonable legal residence on eligible permissions (Stamp 1 or Stamp 4), good character and compliance with immigration conditions, and evidence of your employment and residence history. An important caveat is that student and graduate time on Stamp 2 and Stamp 1G does not count as reckonable residence.

Because the reckonable-residence rules are precise and can trip people up, it is worth confirming exactly what counts on irishimmigration.ie. ACME can map out your residence history, identify which time is reckonable, and time your application so you do not lose ground.