The Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service recently notified other relevant government departments and the HSE of the proposed introduction of an additional immigration stamp, namely Stamp 0. The introduction of Stamp 0 is simply an administrative change to the immigration stamps and there is no change in policy nor any change in legislation regarding immigration permissions. I am informed that this has since been confirmed to the HSE.
Stamp 0 indicates a temporary and limited permission. It is intended to cater for some of the exceptions thrown up by the immigration system and to provide some additional flexibility. While its use is not expected to be widespread, it does provide in some cases, an alternative to refusal of immigration permission. It could include, for example, such persons as:
a service provider sent to Ireland by an overseas company to carry out a particular task.
Special humanitarian cases — e.g where a visitor becomes ill and a family member stays on in Ireland to assist with their recuperation.
The introduction of this additional category is designed to facilitate visitors who wish to remain in the State beyond the normal 90 days entry permission. Moreover it does not impose any additional burden on either the migrants or visitors to which it applies nor to staff in the HSE or other service providers.
The reason for writing to service providers, including the HSE, is twofold. Firstly it is to let the relevant officials know that a Stamp 0 is a legitimate immigration category, in case a foreign national presents with it, and secondly to provide some background as to the circumstances in which it might be obtained. This Department does not determine eligibility for public services on the basis of immigration category. Such matters are for the relevant bodies to decide. However, if a person is granted a temporary and limited permission to be in Ireland and it was granted on the basis that they would be self sufficient it should be of assistance to service providers in deciding any issues of eligibility. The requirement to hold private medical insurance is consistent with the self sufficiency requirement.
