Digital nomad visa for Ireland: 2026 complete guide

Does Ireland have a digital nomad visa? 

Ireland doesn’t currently offer a specific digital nomad visa. If you want to live there as a remote worker, you’ll need to look at one of the country’s existing immigration routes, depending on your situation and whether you qualify.

Alternatives to Ireland’s digital nomad visa

If you’re looking for the closest thing to a visa for remote workers, these are the main alternatives:

• Stamp 0 (temporary residence). This is the closest option for people with sufficient financial resources who want to live in Ireland without joining the Irish labor market. It’s often mentioned in digital nomad discussions, but it’s not a remote-work visa.

• Short stay “C” tourist visa. It’s useful for visits of up to 90 days. The standard short-stay visa doesn’t allow local work.

• Critical Skills Employment Permit. This option is great for people with a qualifying Irish job offer in a high-demand role or salary band. 

• Start-up Entrepreneur Programme (STEP). It’s a great option for founders building an innovative business in Ireland full time. 

• Intra-Company Transfer Employment Permit. You can get this permit if you’re an employee of a multinational company and were transferred from an overseas office to an Irish branch.

• Contract for Services Employment Permit. It’s an option for employees of a foreign company sending staff to Ireland to fulfil a service contract with an Irish entity.

• Long-term residency: This is a later-stage permission for people who have already built qualifying residence in Ireland.

Important: Remote workers from the EU, the EEA, and Switzerland don’t need a visa or special permission to come to or stay in Ireland. Depending on their situation, they may still need to show a valid passport and proof of employment, income, or sufficient funds.

Stamp 0 visa (temporary residence)

Stamp 0 is often described as the closest option to an Irish digital nomad visa, but it’s not quite true. It’s a temporary residence permit for people who can support themselves financially and live in Ireland without relying on public funds. It suits some financially independent remote workers, but it’s not a standard remote-work visa and doesn’t give you permission to work for an Irish company.

The official guidance says you should have an annual income of €50,000 (US$54,000) plus access to a lump sum large enough to cover sudden major expenses. You also need private medical insurance and independent financial verification from an Irish accountancy firm.

Stamp 0 registration carries a €300 (US$325) fee.

Application process:

• Apply for permission before travel.

• If approved, you’ll receive a conditional letter of offer.

• If you’re from a visa-required country, apply for a “D” visa before entering Ireland. 

• After arrival, complete registration and get your Irish residence permit.

Visa requirements:

• Financial independence and self-sufficiency.

• Private health insurance with full private-hospital cover.

• Evidence of sufficient finances, including bank statements and accountant-certified proof.

• No access to public benefits or publicly funded services.

• No participation in the Irish labor market, unless the permission letter specifically says otherwise. 

You may also be asked for extra documents, like background paperwork, proof of previous residence, or a record of your work history. It’s worth checking the latest Irish government guidance before applying.

Short stay “C” visa 

The Short Stay “C” tourist visa is useful for a brief stay in Ireland, but it’s not a digital nomad visa or a general work visa. It allows you to stay for up to 90 days, which makes it relevant for shorter trips but not for anyone looking for a longer-term remote work setup.

Some visitors may continue their foreign employment and work remotely during a short stay, but that shouldn’t be confused with formal permission to work from Ireland. If your plan involves ongoing remote work, it’s safer to choose a route designed for a longer or more clearly defined stay.

Application process:

• Apply online through AVATS.

• Choose the correct travel purpose and journey type.

• Submit the required documents, including the visa application summary form, a valid passport, photos, and proof of payment.

• Apply up to three months before travel.

The fee is €60 for a single-entry visa and €100 for a multiple-entry visa.

Visa requirements:

• Strong ties to your country of residence.

• Enough money to support your trip without public funds.

• A valid reason for travel and proof that you’ll leave before the permission expires.

• No local work unless you fall into a very narrow short-stay business exception.

Note: Health insurance isn’t required at the time of application, but Irish authorities may still ask for proof of it before making a decision.

Critical Skills Employment Permit

If you have an Irish employer lined up, this permit is one of the strongest legal routes into Ireland. But it’s not aimed at freelancers or remote workers serving foreign clients. It’s an employment permit tied to a qualifying Irish job offer of at least two years.

The key salary thresholds in 2026 are:

• €40,904 (US$44,000) for certain strategically important occupations on the Critical Skills Occupations List.

• €36,848 (US$39,500) for eligible recent graduates in that same track.

• €68,911+ (US$74,000+) for all occupations not on the ineligible list, even if they’re not on the Critical Skills Occupations List.

The application fee is €1,000 (US$1,080). This route supports immediate family reunification and may later lead to permission to work in Ireland without another permit.

Application process:

• Secure a qualifying Irish job offer for at least two years.

• Submit the application through Employment Permits Online at least 12 weeks before your intended start date.

• Send any extra documents requested during processing.

• If the permit is approved and you’re from a visa-required country, apply for entry clearance before travelling and register after arrival.

Visa requirements:

• Job offer from a bona fide employer based in Ireland.

• Roles must meet occupation and salary requirements.

• Relevant qualifications, skills, and experience.

Start-up Entrepreneur Programme 

The Start-up Entrepreneur Programme, or STEP, is the most realistic route if you’re a founder rather than an employee. It’s designed for non-EEA entrepreneurs who want to establish an innovative business in Ireland and work on it full time. It’s not meant for casual freelancing or  side hustles.

To apply, you need at least €50,000 (US$54,000) in funding and an innovative business proposal. The application fee is €350 (US$380). Successful applicants get residence in Ireland for two years, renewable for three more, and spouses or partners, plus minor children, are included.

Application process:

• Prepare the STEP application form, supporting documents, proof of funding, and business proposal.

• Submit the application electronically by email.

• Pay the €350 (US$380) fee.

• If approved, provide proof that funds were transferred to an Irish business bank account.

Visa requirements:

• Good character and no serious criminal history.

• At least €50,000 (US$54,000) in funding.

• An innovative, high-potential startup proposal.

• Private medical insurance and no recourse to public funds.

• You must work on the business full-time and can’t be employed elsewhere. 

Intra-Company Transfer Employment Permit

The Intra-Company Transfer Employment Permit is the official route for employees of multinational companies who are being transferred from an overseas office to an Irish branch. It’s not a general remote-work route. It’s specifically for senior management, key personnel, or trainees moving within the same corporate group.

This route is useful if you already work for an international company with an Irish presence and your employer wants to move you there.

Application process:

• The Irish branch applies through Employment Permits Online.

• The application must be made at least 12 weeks before the planned start date.

• If approved, you need to complete any required visa and registration steps before and after arrival.

Visa requirements:

• Transfer from an overseas branch of a multinational to its Irish branch.

• Your role must fall into one of the eligible categories: senior management, key personnel, or trainee.

• Relevant remuneration thresholds apply.

• Proper contract and supporting documentation are required.

Contract for Services Employment Permit

The Contract for Services Employment Permit is for situations where a foreign company has a contract to provide services to an Irish company and wants to send its employees to Ireland to carry out that work.

It works well in genuine cross-border service arrangements, but it’s not a flexible option for remote work.

Application process:

• Apply through Employment Permits Online with the contract documents and employment records.

• Submit the application at least 12 weeks before the intended start date.

• If approved, complete any visa and registration steps that apply.

Visa requirements:

• A direct contract for services with an Irish entity.

• No subcontracting.

• You’ll usually need to show prior service with the foreign contractor.

• The permit length must match the contract term, within the official limits (up to 24 months; can be extended up to a maximum stay of five years).

Long-term residency visa

You can apply for long-term residency after you have spent several years in Ireland on qualifying permissions. If you have completed 60 months of qualifying legal residence and held employment permits or Critical Skills Employment Permits, you may be eligible.

This route matters if you want a more stable long-term base in Ireland, but it’s not a way for new arrivals to enter the country.

Application process:

• Complete the long-term residency application form.

• Submit proof of qualifying residence and employment-permit history.

• If approved, pay the fee and complete the required registration steps.

Visa requirements:

• At least 60 months of qualifying legal residence in Ireland.

• Relevant employment-permit history.

• Good standing with the immigration authorities and no undue burden on the state.

Do digital nomads pay taxes in Ireland? 

If you spend enough time in Ireland, you may become an Irish tax resident. In general, that happens if you spend 183 days or more in Ireland in one tax year, or 280 days or more across two tax years, as long as you’re present for at least 30 days in each year.

If you stay below those thresholds and don’t earn Irish-source income, you usually won’t owe Irish income tax, but you may still have tax obligations in your home country. If you’re planning to work remotely from Ireland for more than a short stretch, it’s smart to get tax advice to avoid unintended tax residency.

Let’s look at the tax rules by route:

• Stamp 0. You’re not supposed to join the local job market, so taxes paid to Ireland are not an issue unless you spend more than 183 days in the country.

• Short-stay “C” visa. Local work isn’t allowed, so the same 183-day rule applies.

• Critical Skills Employment Permit. Irish employment, Irish payroll, and normal Irish tax treatment.

• STEP. No special tax breaks; standard Irish tax rules apply.

• Intra-Company Transfer Employment Permit. Tax can become more complicated because of cross-border employment structures.

• Contract for Services Employment Permit. Also potentially complex because the worker is employed by a foreign contractor while working in Ireland.

Tips for working remotely as a digital nomad in Ireland

Ireland doesn’t have a dedicated visa for remote workers, so getting this right is mostly about choosing the option that fits your situation and following the appropriate steps:

• Choose the right permission for your work situation. Employees, founders, financially independent residents, and short-term visitors all face different visa conditions.

• Check the financial side early. If you’re considering the independent-means route, the published benchmark is a minimum annual income of €50,000 (US$54,000), plus access to a substantial lump sum.

• Lock in accommodation as early as you can. A stable address makes registration and day-to-day setup easier.

• Open an Irish bank account if it makes sense. This step helps if you’ll be paying rent, handling regular bills, or running a business from Ireland.

• Understand the tax residency rules. Spending more than 183 days in Ireland in a tax year may make you an Irish tax resident.

• Budget properly. If you’re wondering, “Is Ireland expensive to visit?”, yes, it is, particularly for accommodation, dining, and transport.

• Sort out your mobile data before you land. A travel eSIM for Ireland will make navigating, banking, and staying in touch much easier.

A digital nomad visa for Ireland: Key considerations 

Ireland doesn’t currently have a dedicated digital nomad visa, so no single route neatly fits remote workers. Instead, look at the closest official alternatives and choose the one that best matches your situation. As a remote worker, you may need to demonstrate financial self-sufficiency, stay out of the local labor market, take out private medical insurance, and keep an eye on tax residency if you spend enough time in the country.

If Ireland is your next stop, it helps to arrive connected. Download the Saily eSIM app before your trip so you can handle maps, transport, banking, and messages as soon as you arrive. And if you’re still weighing eSIM vs. a physical SIM card, it’s worth checking the differences before you travel.

If you want to learn more about digital nomad visas as well as find out where and how you can get one, read our guide, "What is a digital nomad visa? Requirements and countries."