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Ireland
The information provided is designed to give a summary of the immigration requirements. It is not offered as legal advice and should not be taken as such. The firm and the contributing authors expressly disclaim all liability to any person in respect of anything done or omitted in reliance upon the contents of this information sheet. Immigration rules and requirements frequently change without notice and you should contact our Global Immigration team for further information and advice.
Who needs a visa?
Business Visa
Work Authorization
Family
Penalties
Do's and Don't
The following nationals do not require a visa to enter Ireland:
Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, El Salvador, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Hong Kong (Special Administrative Region), Hungary, Iceland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kiribati, Latvia, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macau (special Administrative Region), Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Nauru. Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Saint Kitts & Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent & The Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovak Rep, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Tonga, Trinidad & Tobago, Tuvalu, UK, USA, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Vatican City, Venezuela.
British Dependent Territories (Colonies) include:
Anguilla, Bermuda, British Antarctic Territory (South Georgia, South Sandwich Islands), British Indian Ocean Territories (Chagos Archipelago, Peros Banos, Diego Garcia, Danger Island), Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands and Dependencies, Gibraltar, Montserrat, Pitcairn (Henderson, Ducie and Oneno Islands), St. Helena and Dependencies (Ascension Island, Tristan Da Cunha),
The Sovereign base areas of Akrotiri and Dhekila, Turks and Caicos Islands,
British Virgin Islands.
Visas are not required by persons who are holders of convention travel documents issued by the following countries:
Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Iceland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland.
Citizens of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region should contact our Global Immigration team before travelling to Ireland.
Transit visas are required by nationals of the following countries:
Afghanistan, Albania, Cuba, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eritrea; Ethiopia, Ghana, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Moldova, Montenegro, Nigeria, Serbia, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe
Nationals who do not require a visa to enter Ireland are permitted to enter and stay in Ireland for a period up to 90 days. However, the length of permitted stay is granted at the discretion of the Immigration Officer at the port of entry.
There are a number of visas to facilitate short-term visits to Ireland.
1. Business Visit Visa
The permitted activities whilst in Ireland on a business visitor visa are limited to attending business meetings and/or seminars.
2. Training visa
Training visas are granted where the applicant's sole purpose for travelling to Ireland is for training.
Processing time:
Processing times of business and training visas vary according to the country where the application is filed.
Business and training visa applications in the UK may be processed within 15 working days from the date of submission.
Validity:
Business visit visas are generally issued for 90 days. In a limited number of cases, business visit visas may be issued for a period up to 12 months.
Training visas are generally issued for a maximum period of 90 days. If the assignment is for more than 90 days, the applicant will need prior authorization from the immigration authorities in Ireland.
For an up-to-date list of required supporting documentation, please contact our Global Immigration Team.
There are a number of schemes to facilitate foreign workers to work in Ireland.
Foreign workers who are in Ireland as a visitor cannot change their status whilst in Ireland. Foreign workers should not be in Ireland when their employment permit application is submitted and being processed. The Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment will not issue a work permit to the foreign worker who is in Ireland without appropriate working permission.
1. Green Card scheme
The Green Card scheme allows highly skilled workers to reside and work in Ireland. There are two categories of occupation to which the Green Card Scheme applies. The first category provides for foreign workers who earn an annual salary of a minimum of EU 60,000. The second category caters for foreign workers who earn between EU 30,000 - EU 59,000 and the position is listed within the shortage occupation.
No resident labour market test is required. The foreign worker must however be offered a position within a company registered in Ireland for a minimum period of two years.
2. Intra-Company Transfer scheme
The Intra-Company Transfer scheme allows the transfer of employees from an overseas company to an Irish company.
The requirements for an Intra-Company Transfer permit include:
- The foreign worker must be senior management, key personnel or undergoing a training programme
- Earn a minimum salary of EU 40,000
- The foreign worker must have been working for the overseas company for a minimum period of 12 months
- There must be a direct link between the overseas company and the Irish company in Ireland by common ownership
There is no resident market labour test.
If the foreign worker does not meet all the requirements set out above, s/he may still qualify. Please contact our Global Immigration team for further guidance.
3. Work Permit Scheme
The Work Permit scheme allows foreign workers who do not meet the requirements of the Green Card or the Intra-Company Transfers schemes to work in Ireland. As a general rule foreign workers must earn a minimum salary of EU 30,000 and in very limited circumstances a salary lower than EU 30,000 may be accepted provided it is not listed in the official Ineligible Jobs Categories. Please contact our Global Immigration team for further information.
A resident labour market test is required. The foreign worker must posses the relevant qualifications, skills or experience required for the role.
4. Concessions
In very limited cases a foreign worker can obtain a work permit without meeting the above schemes' requirements. Please contact our Global Immigration team for further information.
Procedure:
The procedure is the same for each scheme:
- A work permit must be obtained from the Department of Enterprise Trade & Employment
- Once issued the original work permit is sent to the foreign worker in their country of usual residence.
- Visa nationals will have to obtain a visa before proceeding to Ireland. Non-visa nationals can enter Ireland by producing their original work permit and valid passport at the airport.
- Once in Ireland, foreign workers must register with the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB). The foreign worker will be issued with a residence card.
Validity:
Green Card - a work permit under the Green Card scheme may be issued for an initial period of two years. On completion of which the foreign worker can apply for permanent residence in Ireland.
ICT - the Intra-Company Transfer permit is issued for a period of two years for senior management and key personnel. Successful foreign workers undergoing a training programme will be issued with an Intra-Company Transfer permit for a maximum of 12 months.
General work permit scheme - a work permit issued under the general scheme is approved for an initial period of 2 years, which can be extended for a further period of 3 years. On completion of 5 years residence in Ireland as a work permit holder, the foreign worker may be eligible for an unlimited work permit.
Processing time:
Processing of work permits usually take 8-12 weeks at the Department of Enterprise Trade & Employment.
Processing times of work visas vary according to the country where the application is filed.
Work visa applications in the UK may be processed within 15 working days from the date of submission.
For an up-to-date list of required supporting documentation, please contact our Global Immigration Team.
Dependants
The spouse and unmarried children under the age of 18 can accompany foreign workers to Ireland.
If the foreign worker is a Green Card holder, their dependants can join them immediately.
If the foreign worker is a Work Permit holder, their dependants can join them one year after the work permit holder entered Ireland and the Work Permit holder has applied for a second Work Permit. There may be exceptional circumstances where the dependant can join the foreign worker in Ireland before the period of one year. Please contact our Global Immigration team for further information.
Dependants must apply for a work permit in their own right before taking commencing any employment in Ireland.
Procedure:
If the spouse/unmarried child requires a visa to enter Ireland, they will be required to obtain the visa at the Irish Consulate in their country of residence. If the spouse/unmarried child is not required to obtain a visa before entry to Ireland, they will be required to register with GNIB or the local police station after entry to Ireland.
Processing time of visa/registration application:
Processing times of dependants' visa application vary according to the country where the application is filed.
Dependant visa applications in the UK can be processed within 15 working days from the date of submission.
Validity:
Dependants of Green Card holders are usually granted permission to stay in Ireland for the same period as the foreign worker's work permit.
Dependants of work permit holders may be granted permission to stay in Ireland for the remaining period on the work permit holder stay in Ireland.
For an up-to-date list of required supporting documentation, please contact our Global Immigration Team.
Unmarried Partners/Same sex partners
Unmarried partners and civil partners can accompany foreign workers to Ireland. The same rules apply with regards to the period that the foreign worker has resided in Ireland before the unmarried partner/civil partner can join them.
Procedure:
If the unmarried partner/civil partner require a visa to enter Ireland, they will be required to obtain the visa at the Irish Consulate in their country of residence. If the unmarried partner/civil partner is not required to obtain a visa before entry to Ireland, they will be required to register with GNIB or the local police station after entry to Ireland.
Processing time of visa/registration application:
Processing times of the visa application vary according to the country where the application is filed.
Visa applications in the UK can be processed within 15 working days from the date of submission.
Validity:
Dependants of Green Card holders are usually granted permission to stay in Ireland for the same period as the foreign worker's work permit.
Dependants of work permit holders may be granted permission to stay in Ireland for the remaining period on the work permit holder stay in Ireland.
For an up-to-date list of required supporting documentation, please contact our Global Immigration Team.
Employer:
Working without requisite employment authorization is a criminal offence in Ireland. If the employer breaches immigration rules, the company could be fined and individual representatives, including the directors of the company could be imprisoned.
Employee:
If the foreign worker breaks the immigration rules, they can be imprisoned, deported from Ireland and/or fined.
Do:
- Contact us to prepare your work permit application as soon as possible - applications can take 2 - 6 weeks to be processed from the date of receipt at the Irish authorities
- Provide all requested information and documents promptly to enable us to prepare your application efficiently
Don't:
- Book your flights until you have the relevant work authorization and/or visa
- Be physically in Ireland when the work authorization application is submitted
- Perform any duties that may be construed as work whilst in Ireland as a business visitor
The information provided is designed to give a summary of the immigration requirements. Please note that the information was correct at the time of writing, however the immigration rules and regulations of Ireland, like many other countries, frequently change without notice and you should contact our Global Immigration team for further information and advice.