Guide only — this matter needs a solicitor. Under Irish law this work must be carried out by a solicitor, so it is not sold on this site. The information below explains what is involved so you can brief a solicitor with confidence.
OnlineLegalServices.ie is operated by Plus Promotions Limited, which is not a solicitor’s practice and does not give legal advice. To instruct a regulated practice, use the Law Society of Ireland’s Find a Solicitor directory.
A solicitor-handled review of your Stamp 0 “Persons of Independent Means” application pack before you submit it to the Irish Department of Justice. Built for US retirees and persons of independent means who want to relocate to Ireland without working. Not currently available.
What Stamp 0 is — and why applicants get refused
Stamp 0 is Ireland’s long-term low-intensity immigration permission for persons of independent means aged generally 18 and over. It allows you to live in Ireland without working, renewable annually, provided you continue to meet the income threshold and do not become a burden on the Irish state. Refusals almost always come down to three issues: failure to demonstrate the minimum verifiable annual income (currently €50,000 per person plus access to a lump sum), incomplete supporting documentation, and poorly drafted covering submissions that do not address discretionary factors.
What this review includes
- Full documentary audit — a solicitor would review every item in your application pack against the current Department of Justice Stamp 0 guidelines.
- Income proof review — whether your 401(k) distributions, IRA drawdowns, Social Security, pension income, rental income or annuity statements meet the €50,000 threshold and how to document currency conversions.
- Private health-insurance check — we confirm whether your US-based policy satisfies the requirement or whether an Irish private health policy is required.
- Covering submission draft — a solicitor would draft the solicitor’s submission letter addressing discretionary factors (ties to Ireland, character, genuine intent to live in Ireland).
- Accommodation evidence — whether your tenancy agreement, hotel booking or property deed is sufficient.
- Dependents review — if you are applying with a spouse or adult dependent, we confirm the additional income requirement and documentation.
- Submission checklist — a final one-page checklist so you post or courier the right pack to the right address.
Who this review is for
- US retirees planning to move to Ireland under Stamp 0.
- Early retirees with portfolio income looking to relocate.
- Returning Irish nationals with a US spouse who needs Stamp 0.
- Persons of independent means who have been previously refused and are reapplying.
- Applicants whose US tax advisor has recommended Irish residency for estate-planning reasons.
How the review runs
- Instruct a solicitor of your choice.
- Upload your pack. Via an encrypted client portal — income statements, passport, insurance, accommodation evidence, covering letter drafts.
- 30-minute scoping call — of receipt.
- Written review memo. delivered by email, flagging red, amber and green items.
- Covering submission letter. Drafted on a solicitor’s practice letterhead and sent to you ready to include with your application.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you actually submit the application for me?
The review does not include submission. You (or your Irish-based sponsor) post or courier the pack to the Department of Justice. We can separately act as your Irish agent of record for an additional fee — ask in your scoping call.
What income counts toward the €50,000 threshold?
Verifiable regular income only — typically pensions, Social Security, 401(k)/IRA distributions, annuities and rental income. Capital gains and one-off dividends generally do not count. A solicitor would advise on how to present mixed income streams convincingly.
My combined household income is €50,000. Will one application cover my spouse?
No. The current interpretation is €50,000 per principal applicant, with additional income required for each dependent. In practice this means around €100,000 household income for a couple. We will flag this as a hard gate.
I was refused last year. Can you help me reapply?
Yes. Second-time applications benefit most from the covering submission — we address the specific refusal grounds head-on and provide supplemental documentation where needed.
Can I work under Stamp 0?
No. Stamp 0 holders cannot engage in employment or self-employment in Ireland. If you may want to work, consider Stamp 1G (graduate), Stamp 4 (long-term) or the Critical Skills Employment Permit. We can flag this during the scoping call.
Does Stamp 0 lead to citizenship?
Stamp 0 is renewable but generally does not count toward the five-year reckonable residence required for naturalisation. If citizenship is a long-term goal, we can discuss alternative pathways.
Why Online Legal Services
Work of this kind is carried out by a solicitor regulated by the Law Society of Ireland. We are not a solicitor’s practice and do not provide it — to instruct a solicitor, use the Law Society of Ireland’s Find a Solicitor directory. Every review is supervised by a qualified immigration solicitor. Payments via Stripe; documents submitted over HTTPS and stored on GDPR-compliant EU infrastructure.
Related services
- US-Ireland Tax & Residency Consultation
- Americans in Ireland Welcome Pack
- Moving to Ireland from the USA: Solicitor’s Checklist
- Immigration Solicitor Ireland for Americans
If you would like to be told when solicitor services are available again on this site, you can join our no-fee waiting list. To instruct a solicitor now, use the Law Society of Ireland’s Find a Solicitor directory.
