The right to work
Under Temporary Protection (Stamp 4T), you have the right to work in Ireland without any work permit. You can work for any employer, in any sector, for any number of hours. You can also be self-employed or set up a business. Your IRP card showing Stamp 4T is all the evidence your employer needs.
Practical steps to start working
- Get your PPS number — your employer needs it for payroll and tax
- Register with Revenue (myaccount.revenue.ie) once you have your PPS number
- You will pay PAYE tax and PRSI contributions the same as any Irish employee
- PRSI contributions count toward future entitlements like Jobseeker's Benefit
Healthcare
You are automatically eligible for a Medical Card regardless of income. The normal Habitual Residence Condition — which requires you to demonstrate long-term ties to Ireland — is waived for Temporary Protection holders. This means free GP visits, free prescriptions, and free hospital treatment from day one.
Social welfare
Payments you may be entitled to
- Jobseeker's Allowance — if you are unemployed and looking for work, €232/week
- Child Benefit — €140 per child per month, no income test
- One-Parent Family Payment — if you are a single parent with children under 7
- Back to Education Allowance — if you want to study while on a welfare payment
- Supplementary Welfare Allowance — emergency payment while waiting for other payments to come through
Education
Children under 18 are entitled to free primary and secondary education in Irish schools. Schools are obliged to accept Ukrainian children. Contact your local school directly — there is no special application process, just bring your child's birth certificate and proof of address.
Adults can access free English language classes (ESOL) through local Education and Training Boards (ETBs). Some further education courses are also free or subsidised — check etbi.ie for your local ETB.
The path toward long-term residency
Temporary Protection is not permanent. If you want to stay in Ireland long-term — regardless of what happens in Ukraine — there are pathways to consider:
Long-term residency (Stamp 4)
After 5 years of legal residence in Ireland, you can apply for Stamp 4 — long-term residency that gives you full rights without an expiry linked to Temporary Protection. Time spent on Temporary Protection counts toward the 5 years. If you arrived in 2022, you could be eligible from 2027.
International Protection (refugee status)
You can apply for refugee status at any time. This is a more complex process but if granted gives you more secure long-term rights. Contact the Irish Refugee Council for advice before applying.
More Temporary Protection Guides
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