Ireland Digital Nomad Visa: New Self-Service Portal

Key Takeaways

• Ireland does not offer an official Digital Nomad Visa, so remote workers must use alternative pathways, such as Stamp 0, the Short Stay ‘C’ Visa, the Critical Skills Employment Permit, General Employment Permit, or the Start-Up Entrepreneur Programme (STEP).

• Stamp 0 is sometimes used by people with foreign income who want to live in Ireland, but in most cases, it does not permit work. Any remote work would need to be explicitly allowed in the permission letter from Immigration Service Delivery.

• Ireland launched a new Digital Contact Centre and Immigration Portal that allows online appointment booking, status checks, and some application submissions, improving overall processing.

• Remote workers must meet strict requirements, including non-Irish income, financial self-sufficiency, private medical insurance, and compliance with the 183-day tax residency rule.

• In recent years, Ireland increased digital processing and scrutiny of cross-border remote work, but core tax and immigration rules remain unchanged.

• STEP (Start-Up Entrepreneur Programme) remains a viable long-term option for entrepreneurs with innovative, high-growth businesses that meet Ireland’s funding and job-creation criteria.

• Companies sending employees to work remotely from Ireland must address tax, payroll, and immigration laws—making an Employer of Record (EOR) the safest way to remain compliant.

Does Ireland Have a Digital Nomad Visa?

No, Ireland does not have a specific Digital Nomad Visa, but remote workers can use alternative pathways.

The key options include:

• Short Stay ‘C’ Visa (90 days)

• Stamp 0 Temporary Residence Permission

• Critical Skills Employment Permits for skilled workers

• Start-Up Entrepreneur Programme (STEP)

This patchwork approach means Ireland is still an attainable destination for remote professionals—but careful compliance is essential. These pathways allow you to live in Ireland while continuing your foreign employment—provided you do not join the Irish labor market.

Understanding Your Options If No Formal Ireland Digital Nomad Visa Exists

Although an official digital-nomad visa for Ireland does not exist, several pathways offer digital-nomad-style flexibility. Each visa category comes with its own conditions, restrictions, and documentation requirements. The most commonly used options are:

Stamp 0

A temporary residence permit that allows you to live in Ireland if you are financially self-sufficient. Remote work is only permitted if explicitly approved in your permission letter. It's the closest alternative to an actual Ireland digital nomad visa for financially self-sufficient individuals.

Short Stay ‘C’ Visa

Allows stays up to 90 days. The visa does not legally permit work, including remote work, even for foreign employers.

Critical Skills Employment Permit

This category is designed to attract highly skilled people to Ireland to encourage them to take up permanent residence. Employees need to earn over a certain salary level (expected update in Jan 2026) and be employed and paid by an Irish entity. 

Eligible occupations are set out in the Critical Skills Occupations List, which are critically important to growing Ireland's economy and are in high demand. The job category must not be on the ineligible list. Occupations that are listed on the ineligible list indicate that applicants may not apply for this type of permit/employment.

*processing timeframes are estimates and vary beyond our control

Start-Up Entrepreneur Programme

Ireland's Start-up Entrepreneur Programme (STEP) enables non-EEA entrepreneurs with innovative business concepts to live in Ireland while launching and operating a business there.

General Employment Permit

This employment permit category may be issued for occupations for which Critical Skills Employment permits are not available or, in exceptional cases, for which the salary is below EUR 30,000. 

Note that, due to several perceived disadvantages, most companies and employees prefer the Critical Skills route when possible.

*processing timeframes are estimates and vary beyond our control

The Ireland Remote Work Visa Landscape: Key Rules Remote Workers Must Know

The term Ireland remote work visa is widely used online, but there is no single visa category officially labeled that way. Instead, remote workers must use existing immigration categories that allow residence without employment in Ireland.

Key rules:

• Your income must come from outside Ireland

• You may not accept work from Irish employers

• You must demonstrate financial self-sufficiency

• You must have private medical insurance

• Long stays may result in Irish tax residency (183-day rule)

These rules apply whether you use Stamp 0, a tourist stay, or STEP.

Stamp 0: Ireland’s Closest Alternative to a Digital Nomad Visa

Stamp 0 is sometimes used by remote workers with foreign income, but it normally prohibits work unless immigration expressly allows it in writing. It is a temporary residence permission designed for individuals who have sufficient financial resources and who will not participate in the Irish labor market.

Who Stamp 0 is For

(Note: Work is generally prohibited unless specifically granted.)

• Remote employees of foreign companies

• Freelancers with non-Irish clients

• Entrepreneurs managing foreign businesses

• Retirees and individuals with passive income

Stamp 0 Requirements

• Approx. €50,000 annual income from non-Irish sources

• Private medical insurance

• Proof of accommodation

• Proof of clean criminal record

• You must not work in Ireland unless your permission letter explicitly allows remote work for a foreign employer.

Validity

• Typically granted for 1 year, renewable

This is the most realistic long-stay pathway for digital nomads.

Short Stay ‘C’ Visa: A Temporary Option for Remote Workers

For short-term remote stays, the Short Stay ‘C' Visa offers:

• 90 days in Ireland

• The visa does not permit work (including remote work), though some visitors still work for foreign employers informally.

• No right to enter the Irish labor market

• Suitable for exploratory stays or temporary projects

Requirements:

• Valid passport

• Proof of return or onward ticket

• Evidence of financial capacity

• Accommodation details

• Travel insurance

• Letter explaining the purpose of visit

Start-Up Entrepreneur Programme: A Long-Term Option

Remote workers who also run innovative companies may find the STEP route appealing.

Requirements:

• “New or innovative” business idea

• Business is less than 6 years old

• Potential to create 10 jobs within four years

• Potential for €1,000,000 in sales

• Minimum €50,000 funding

• HQ located in Ireland

This is the longest and most stable pathway for digital nomads who want to transition into entrepreneurship while living in Ireland.

New Immigration Portal & Digital Contact Centre Ireland Offers

Ireland has modernized its immigration system with the launch of new digital tools for remote professionals. The Ireland Immigration Portal serves as a centralized platform to:

• Submit visa applications

• Upload documentation

• Track the progress of applications

• Book immigration appointments

The portal supports some renewals and status checks, but initial Stamp 0 and Short Stay ‘C' visa applications are still submitted through embassies or ISD, not fully online.

Digital Contact Centre Ireland

Launched in 2024–2025, this new system:

• Replaces phone-based appointments

• Allows online booking for first-time registration

• Lets applicants check their Ireland visa application status digitally

• Consolidates multiple immigration workflows into a single platform

Ireland Immigration News & Policy Changes in 2025

Ireland introduced several updates affecting remote workers and employers in 2025, including:

1. Expansion of digital immigration services

The Digital Contact Centre and immigration portal streamline processes that were once manual and fragmented.

2. Increased compliance scrutiny

Remote workers must clearly demonstrate:

• Non-Irish employment

• Financial independence

• Purpose of stay

3. Tax residency clarification for mobile workers

Ireland reinforced the 183-day rule, affecting digital nomads who stay beyond short-term periods.

4. Greater focus on high-value entrepreneurship

Programs like STEP signal a long-term intention to attract global founders.

These policy shifts reflect Ireland's desire to balance openness with compliance oversight.

Cost of Living, Remote Work Infrastructure, and Digital Nomad Life in Ireland

Ireland offers a comfortable lifestyle for remote workers, with:

Cost of Living

• Rent: €1,000–€1,400/month (outside Dublin, varies by city)

• Cafés & coworking hubs are prevalent in Dublin, Cork, and Galway

• Groceries: €300–€400/month

• Restaurants: €20–€50 per meal

Remote Work Infrastructure

• Fast, reliable internet

• Growing coworking ecosystem (PorterShed, Republic of Work, Tara Building)

• Safe, English-speaking environment

• Strong startup scene

Support for Companies Hiring Remote Employees in Ireland

Ireland's visa system can be complex—not only for individuals, but especially for employers navigating cross-border compliance. When an employee wants to work temporarily from Ireland, companies must consider:

• Tax residency triggers

• Employment law risks

• Immigration compliance

• Payroll, benefits, and insurance obligations

Through global Employer of Record (EOR) services, companies like Atlas HXM manage these challenges, allowing organizations to legally employ workers in Ireland without establishing a local entity. 

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How Atlas HXM Can Help

Atlas HXM empowers organizations to support remote workers in Ireland and across 160+ countries. As immigration systems evolve—through platforms like the Ireland immigration portal, Ireland's Digital Contact Centre, and new Ireland immigration policy changes 2025—compliance becomes more critical than ever. 

With Atlas HXM, you can:

• Hire or relocate workers to Ireland compliantly

• Use Atlas HXM as the legal employer in-country

• Run payroll in EUR while maintaining global control

• Provide Irish-compliant benefits

• Reduce global HR and immigration administration

Whether you're temporarily relocating employees, hiring Irish talent, or navigating alternative pathways to the Irish digital nomad visa, we help organizations operate globally with confidence by delivering:

• World-class global mobility guidance

• Employment law and immigration compliance

• EOR infrastructure for fast, compliant hiring

• Unified payroll and workforce management

• Support for distributed and location-independent talent

Contact Atlas HXM today to explore how our global Employer of Record services make international hiring, relocation, and remote work simpler, safer, and fully compliant.

FAQs

What is the closest alternative to the Irish digital nomad visa?

Because the Irish digital nomad visa does not exist, the closest alternative is Stamp 0, a temporary residence permit that allows you to live in Ireland if you are financially self-sufficient. Remote work is permitted only if explicitly approved in your permission letter.

Who is eligible for Stamp 0 as a remote worker?

Stamp 0 is designed for people who can financially support themselves without relying on Irish employment. Eligible applicants typically include remote employees of foreign companies, freelancers with non-Irish clients, entrepreneurs managing international businesses, retirees, and individuals with passive income, but remote work is permitted only if the permission letter explicitly approves it. You must show financial stability, private medical insurance, and a clear intention not to enter the Irish labor market.

Will I pay taxes in Ireland if I work remotely for a foreign employer?

Remote workers may become Irish tax residents if they spend 183+ days in a year, or 280+ days over two years (with at least 30 days in each). If you remain under this threshold and do not earn Irish-sourced income, you typically will not owe Irish income tax—though you must still meet tax obligations in your home country. Long-term remote workers should seek local tax guidance to avoid unintended tax residency.

How long can digital nomads stay in Ireland without becoming tax residents?

You can generally avoid tax residency if you stay under 183 days in a single year and below the 280-day / 2-year threshold. Once you reach 183 days, Ireland may treat you as a resident for tax purposes. This threshold applies regardless of whether you use Stamp 0, a tourist stay, or another visa pathway.

Do companies need a local Irish entity if an employee wants to work remotely from Ireland?

Yes—unless they partner with an Employer of Record (EOR). Companies without an Irish entity cannot legally employ or pay a worker in Ireland. An EOR like Atlas HXM becomes the legal employer on your behalf, ensuring compliance with Irish labor laws, payroll rules, and immigration restrictions while the employee works remotely.