On 22 October RBK HR Solutions highlighted the Government’s launch of the Temporary Protection Transition Scheme (TPTS), a programme that will allow qualifying Ukrainian nationals to exchange their EU Temporary Protection status for the more secure Stamp 4 immigration permission. Stamp 4 confers the right to live and work in Ireland without an employment permit and is normally reserved for long-term residents, critical-skills workers and spouses of Irish nationals. Under the TPTS, applicants must have lived in Ireland for at least one year under Temporary Protection, been in employment or self-employment for six consecutive months before 30 September 2026, earn at least €29,432 and live in private (not State-provided) accommodation. Successful applicants will receive a two-year Stamp 4 that can be renewed, giving employers a clearer compliance path than the humanitarian status currently stamped on yellow certificates. The move follows the EU’s decision to extend Temporary Protection for Ukrainians to March 2028. Irish officials say the transition option balances humanitarian support with labour-market integration, acknowledging that many of the 26,000 protected Ukrainians now have permanent jobs in hospitality, healthcare and IT. For employers, the advice is to audit right-to-work files and alert eligible staff early: TPTS applications close on 30 March 2027 and workers cannot hold both statuses. Mobility managers should also update permit-renewal trackers—Stamp 4 holders no longer need a permit, easing administrative burden but changing social-insurance contributions and localisation costs. Legal practitioners note that family-reunification rights under Stamp 4 differ from those under Temporary Protection, so individual counselling is essential before employees switch. The Department of Justice is expected to issue detailed FAQs in the coming weeks.
Source: RBK HR Solutions
