Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation Sends Email Alert, Leads to Questions From Foreign Nationals
December 21, 2018
The situation
Foreign nationals who have previously submitted applications for Critical Skills Employment Permits or Stamp 4 Support Letters may have received an email alert on December 21 from the Department of Business, Enterprise, and Innovation (DBEI). The email alert was also sent to foreign nationals who do not have a current employment permit application pending with DBEI.
A closer look
The email alert, which had the subject line “Important notice for Critical Skills Employment Permit holders intending to apply to the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation for a Stamp 4 support letter” included information about:
- Processing delays. The DBEI is aware that there is a significant backlog of Stamp 4 applications due to an increased volume in employment permit applications.
- Advice from previous announcement. DBEI reiterated their announcement that foreign nationals with pending Stamp 4 status applications can reside and work in Ireland once they have completed 20 months under their Critical Skills Employment Permit and recommended that Critical Skills Employment Permit holders apply for a Stamp 4 letter of support four months before they need the letter, once they have completed 20 months on their Critical Skills Employment Permit.
- Pending applications. The DBEI stated that foreign nationals awaiting decisions on Stamp 4 applications will not be asked to cease work or leave Ireland.
Impact for foreign nationals
Be advised that this was a generic email distribution, and it does not pertain directly to one’s application. Individuals who have received this email should not be alarmed, and if recipients have queries about a particular application or permit, they should contact their Immigration Consultant directly for advice.
Looking ahead
The Department expects that the delays in Stamp 4 issuance will be resolved by the end of January 2019. Fragomen will publish relevant updates on the situation.
This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact the global immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen or send an email to [email protected].
Explore more at Fragomen
Media mentions
Practice Leader Olga Nechita outlines key Portuguese visa options for UK nationals, including routes for entrepreneurs and retirees, alongside basic income and residency requirements.
Video
Partner Melissa Vasquez-Myers reviews the June 2026 Visa Bulletin, including retrogression for EB2 and EB1 India and forward movement in the EB3 category for Indian and Chinese nationals.
Media mentions
Awards
Canada Managing Partner Cosmina Morariu is recognized by Women We Admire among the Top Women Leaders of Toronto for 2026 for her leadership in immigration and global mobility.
Video
Senior Manager Harry Goldstraw outlines key considerations for UK employers hiring international talent, including sponsorship requirements, visa pathways and compliance obligations shaping workforce mobility strategy.
Article
Senior Counsel Jo Antoons examines how the EU’s proposed social security reforms are reshaping A1 compliance for business travel, introducing “Day One” requirements and greater complexity.
Awards
Fragomen is recognized with multiple honors at the 2026 FEM Americas EMMAs, including Outstanding Agility & Crisis Management as a Service Provider and Thought Leadership – Best Survey or Research Study of the Year for the Worldwide Immigration Trends Report 2026.
Blog post
Destination Services Director Christine Sperr examines how housing market reforms, rent stabilization measures and cost-of-living dynamics in Saudi Arabia are influencing workforce mobility, compensation planning and long-term settlement strategies under Vision 2030.
Visas
Manager Dr. Adela Schmidt explains how German authorities assess past travel and business activities and why suspected unauthorized work during prior visits can lead to visa refusals and temporary entry bans.
Video
Assistant Manager Sukhjeet Kaur discusses Romania’s proposed immigration reforms, including new visa categories, employer authorization requirements and a new digital immigration platform.
Podcast
Partner Cosmina Morariu and Senior Director Leah Rogal discuss the mission of Fragomen’s Center for Strategy and Applied Insights and how it helps organizations and governments navigate evolving immigration policy and global talent mobility challenges.
Fragomen news
Fragomen and Papaya Global announce a strategic partnership combining workforce technology and immigration capabilities to help organizations simplify global mobility, enhance compliance and manage cross-border workforces through a more integrated, technology-enabled approach.
Media mentions
Practice Leader Olga Nechita outlines key Portuguese visa options for UK nationals, including routes for entrepreneurs and retirees, alongside basic income and residency requirements.
Video
Partner Melissa Vasquez-Myers reviews the June 2026 Visa Bulletin, including retrogression for EB2 and EB1 India and forward movement in the EB3 category for Indian and Chinese nationals.
Media mentions
Awards
Canada Managing Partner Cosmina Morariu is recognized by Women We Admire among the Top Women Leaders of Toronto for 2026 for her leadership in immigration and global mobility.
Video
Senior Manager Harry Goldstraw outlines key considerations for UK employers hiring international talent, including sponsorship requirements, visa pathways and compliance obligations shaping workforce mobility strategy.
Article
Senior Counsel Jo Antoons examines how the EU’s proposed social security reforms are reshaping A1 compliance for business travel, introducing “Day One” requirements and greater complexity.
Awards
Fragomen is recognized with multiple honors at the 2026 FEM Americas EMMAs, including Outstanding Agility & Crisis Management as a Service Provider and Thought Leadership – Best Survey or Research Study of the Year for the Worldwide Immigration Trends Report 2026.
Blog post
Destination Services Director Christine Sperr examines how housing market reforms, rent stabilization measures and cost-of-living dynamics in Saudi Arabia are influencing workforce mobility, compensation planning and long-term settlement strategies under Vision 2030.
Visas
Manager Dr. Adela Schmidt explains how German authorities assess past travel and business activities and why suspected unauthorized work during prior visits can lead to visa refusals and temporary entry bans.
Video
Assistant Manager Sukhjeet Kaur discusses Romania’s proposed immigration reforms, including new visa categories, employer authorization requirements and a new digital immigration platform.
Podcast
Partner Cosmina Morariu and Senior Director Leah Rogal discuss the mission of Fragomen’s Center for Strategy and Applied Insights and how it helps organizations and governments navigate evolving immigration policy and global talent mobility challenges.
Fragomen news
Fragomen and Papaya Global announce a strategic partnership combining workforce technology and immigration capabilities to help organizations simplify global mobility, enhance compliance and manage cross-border workforces through a more integrated, technology-enabled approach.