The Temporary Protection Transition Scheme

Immigration Service Delivery has extended Temporary Protection to 4 March 2027, automatically and without an application. A certificate showing an expiry of 4 March 2026 remains valid until then. IRP cards still need to be renewed in the usual way.

The Temporary Protection Transition Scheme provides a residence permission that continues after Temporary Protection ends. It grants a Stamp 4, and the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration told the Dáil that it is granted for up to two years, renewable for further two-year periods, with time on the permission counting towards naturalisation.

What the scheme asks for

The written answer to the Dáil on 16 June 2026 set out the conditions for a principal applicant, who may apply on behalf of their family:

Residence in Ireland as a beneficiary of Temporary Protection for one year before the application process opens
Employment or self-employment for six months before the application
Gross annual earnings of €29,432
Independent accommodation (not State-provided or funded)

The permission covers the family unit who have been living in Ireland with the applicant under Temporary Protection.

Preparing the supporting evidence

The application needs documents showing that each condition is met.

Employment history. Provide payslips, an employment contract and employer records covering the required six months. These should agree with Revenue records. Self-employed applicants need evidence from returns and accounts.

Earnings. The employment condition covers the previous six months, while the earnings condition concerns expected income. Check which earnings count, the period covered and whether the payslips support the amount stated in the application, particularly where income is close to the threshold.

Accommodation. The scheme requires independent accommodation. Applicants must meet this condition before applying; residence in State-provided accommodation does not meet it.

Change of permission. Stamp 4 replaces Temporary Protection. Plan the change well before March 2027, allowing time to prepare the required evidence.

Other residence options

Other residence routes may be relevant where the scheme’s conditions are not met. An eligible job offer may support an employment permit and Stamp 1 application, while study may provide another basis for permission. Each route has separate requirements, documents and processing arrangements.

Consider these options while Temporary Protection remains current, allowing time for any application that may be needed.

Common questions

Is Temporary Protection the same as asylum?

No. Temporary Protection is a separate permission from international protection, with its own rules. They are different applications, and a person holds one or the other.

Can I keep Temporary Protection and hold the new permission at the same time?

No. The Stamp 4 granted under the scheme replaces Temporary Protection rather than sitting alongside it.

Does time on this permission count towards citizenship?

The Department has said that time on the permission counts towards naturalisation. Naturalisation remains a separate application with its own residence calculation.

What if I do not meet the earnings or employment condition?

Applicants must meet the scheme's conditions. Other residence permissions have their own requirements, so allow time to consider those options before Temporary Protection ends.