People who have been legally resident in Ireland for over five years on the basis of work permit/work authorisation/work visa conditions may apply to the Immigration Division of the  Department of Justice for a five-year residency extension. In that context, they may also apply to be exempt from employment permit requirements.

Long-term residence is granted on the basis that a non-EEA national has completed five years’ (60 months’) legal residence in the State on work permit conditions which is reflected in the corresponding Stamp 1 or Stamp 4 endorsements in a person’s passport, and not by the dates of commencement and expiry of each work permit.
The dependants of applicants who have been legally resident in the State for over five years may also apply for long-term residency. This particular long-term permission does not grant an exemption from employment permit requirements to such dependants. For further information visit www.inis.gov.ie/en/INIS/Pages/Long Term Residency