Perhaps you're a recent student looking to take one year in Ireland to gain valuable knowledge, or a professional seeking to elevate you career further or even considering the idea of making Ireland your home for yourself and your family members, you'll be pleased to know that the Irish hospitality is supported by a straightforward and easy immigration procedure.
Where are you coming from
If you're out of within the European Economic Area (EEA countries that comprise the EU and Norway, Iceland & Liechtenstein) or Switzerland and Switzerland, you're lucky. There is no need for visas for Ireland or an employment permit. Book a flight and it's that easy.
If you're visiting Ireland for longer than three months outside of the EEA or Switzerland it will be a procedure in moving to Ireland simpler than for other countries. It is possible to require an immigration visa to Ireland depending on the country you're coming from and, most likely, an employee permit.
Visas allow you to enter a nation while an employment permit permits you to work while you are there. The visa application process and permits for employment are distinct and are issued by two distinct departments of the government.
If your spouse or partner is a citizen of EU/EEA or a member of the EU/EEA then you may be able skip the process of obtaining a visa or work permit. If this is the case, you should contact the state that issued the member of your residency card for more details.
Visas for Ireland
You can learn about the requirements you'll need to do to enter Ireland depending on your country of origin on this page. Choose your nationality in the dropdown menu and then choose the duration you're planning on staying for and then select the kind of visa that you require. Then, you'll be provided with an outline of what you'll need to do before you leave, during your leave, and when the time you arrive in Ireland. If you're planning to stay shorter than 90 days you must apply for an 'C' short-stay visa. If you plan to live and work in Ireland for longer than 90 consecutive days it is necessary to apply for a long-stay "D" visa.
The visas you need to Ireland can be obtained through the Department of Justice and Equality. You can make your online application from your home country and submit your hard copy application and supporting documentation to the relevant Irish Embassy/Consulate/Visa Office. The cost for a visa is 60 euros and there could be additional expenses involved in preparing the documents required for your application. You can generally expect a decision within 8 weeks from the date on which your application is lodged at the Embassy/Consulate/Visa Office.
Work Permits for Ireland
The department that issues employment permits is The Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation. If an employee is issued an Employment Permit and has been employed and employed, they enjoy all the Irish Employment Rights as Irish citizens. There are a variety of permits for employment and for those wanting to work in the tech sector there are two main choices: those are the Critical Skills Employment Permit and the General Employment Permit.
The Critical Skills Employment Permit
This permit is only available to professionals who are included on the Highly Skilled Eligible Occupational Careers List. This is a great possibility for those employed in the technology industry since many of the skills are in high demand on the Irish labor market, such as the development and design of websites, experts as well as programming and other ICT occupations.
There are numerous advantages to choosing to go with the Critical Skills Employment Permit route:
Since the skills are recognized as scarce Since the skills are in short supply, it is not necessary to conduct a Labour Market Needs Test is not necessary.
Permit holders can apply for immediate family reunification from the Irish Naturalisation & Immigration Service of the Department of Justice and Equality and once their dependents/partners/spouses are resident in the State they are eligible to seek any employment and apply to the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation for a Dependant/Partner/Spouse Employment Permit which is currently issued free of charge.
Permit holders can submit an application to the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service to be granted permission to live and work, without the need for a work permit after successful completion of Critical Skills Employment Permit's term.
The annual remuneration of the position being offered must not exceed EUR30,000. The prospective employee required to be able to secure an employment offer for 2 years with respect to the job position from the prospective employer.
The cost of this permit is EUR1,000.
The General Employment Permit
The permit allows the holder to pursue work in a broader range of areas, not including those that are listed as ineligible categories for Employment for Employment Permits.
The annual remuneration of the position must be at minimum EUR30,000. In certain circumstances the required annual remuneration can be reduced to EUR27,000. The following exceptions apply:
A non-EEA-based student who has completed their studies within the last 12 months at an overseas third-level college and was offered a post as a graduate within the High Skilled Eligible Jobs list.
A non-EEA student who graduated within 12 months of an institution outside of the EU and was offered a post as a graduate within the ICT Category of the list of Highly Skilled Jobs list.
In both cases to renew your permit you must earn at least EUR30,000.
The General Employment Permit (GEP) is granted for two years, and could be renewed for an additional three years. Permit holders are permitted bring their dependents into Ireland after a period of one year, but they must be able to assist the family financially. They may apply for residency within 5 years.
There is the EUR500 fee for permits that is less than 6 months and a EUR1,000 cost for permits ranging from 6 months to 2 years.
How to apply to be granted an employee permit
It is necessary to receive an employment offer prior to applying to get an employee permit. It is possible to submit an application for an employment license on your own or have your employer apply on your behalf. However, applications made by recruiters or other agencies won't be considered. Employers are able to pay for costs associated with the application.
Online applications are accepted with the latest process time for the two permits Critical Skills and General permits is around eight weeks.
Refusal of employment permits
There are several reasons why your application for a work permit or renewal could be rejected.
You came to Ireland as a guest, not as an employee.
You are currently in Ireland illegally or do not fulfill the criteria under which you first entered the country.
You have been deported or you have been requested for your departure from Ireland from Department of Justice and Equality Department of Justice and Equality
You are looking for employment with a Swiss employer that is not an EA/Swiss company that is not authorized to conduct business in Ireland
Any refusal to issue employment permits can be appealed after 28 days.
Permanent Residency in Ireland
Generallyspeaking, you can apply for residency once you have been legally having lived in Ireland for five years. This is also applicable to general Employment Permit applicants. But, as an added benefit for techies, Critical Skills Employment Permit holders can apply for residence within 2 years. After you've been granted residency, you will not require any more work permits.
Be aware that the duration of your time that you are legally living in Ireland isn't based on dates on your visa or work permits It's determined by the time you sign up with Immigration. This means it's crucial to register immediately after your arrival, as delays in registering can result in serious issues when you apply for residence or additional permits or visas. In Dublin the registration process is in the Garda National Immigration Bureau Outside of Dublin you can apply at the local Garda District headquarters. There is an EUR300 fee per document of registration granted.
Citizenship in Ireland
If you have five years' residing and sustaining yourself with a steady income in Ireland If you have a stable income, you could be eligible for citizenship. Being a citizen of Ireland permits the applicant to obtain an Irish passport and to vote in every Irish elections. It also is a condition of becoming an official citizen within the EU.