How to Immigrate to Ireland

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: December 29, 2020 References Approved

Whether you have Irish ancestors, or you simply love the country, Ireland is a great place to visit or live. Recent years have seen an increase in the number of people immigrating to Ireland. The reasons are varied, from employment to education to those seeking long-term immigration status. The process varies as well, according to the reason for your request.

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Immigrating for Employment

1
Look up the Ireland immigration laws specific to your country of residence. Each country has its own set of rules. Information can be obtained through the Irish Naturalization and Immigration Service.^{[1]
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- In many cases, a green card or work permit will be required in order to live and work in Ireland.
- Certain non-EEA citizens will require a visa in order to enter the country. EEA stands for European Economic Area.
2
Research whether you'll need a visa to enter Ireland. You can find this information from the Irish Naturalization and Immigration Service at http://www.inis.gov.ie/en/INIS/Pages/check-irish-visa
- If you live in a European country, USA, or Canada, you likely don't need a visa.
- If you need a visa, apply for your visa at an Irish Embassy or Consulate. This visa allows you to seek entry to Ireland, it does not guarantee it.
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3
Obtain employment in a category that allows you to have a Green Card or other work permit. This includes two options: employment that includes a salary of €60,000 or more, or employment that includes a salary of €30,000 or more and is in a "strategically important" occupations. This includes nurses, IT professionals and other highly skilled workers.
- The Department of Enterprise has created a list outlining the positions which qualify. It can be obtained from their website. They can also provide information on work permits.
- Green cards are not the only employment based permits that allow one to work in Ireland, but they are the highest form. Green cards allow a person to apply for permanent residence in Ireland after two years, unlike other work permits.
- Other employment based permits include: General Employment Permits, for those with a salary of €30,000 or more in any occupation, and Dependant/Partner/Spouse Employment Permits, for dependents, partners and spouses of those with a green card.
4
Apply for a work permit. This can be done by you or your employer. Green Cards are valid for a period of 2 years and there is a fee of 1,000 euro (approximately 1,440 USD). This fee can be paid by either you or your employer.
- Application can be done by filling out the application form found on the Department of Jobs, Enterprise, and Innovation's website.
- Some of the information you'll be required to include on the application form includes: details about you like your passport information, social security number, and education and work history, and details about your employer like their employer registered number, address and type of business.
5
Register with the immigration authorities. If your application for a work permit is successful, and you have your visa if you require one, you may travel to Ireland. Once there, you must register for residency with the Garda National Immigration Bureau within 90 days.^{[2]
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Research source} This must be done in person. The Immigration officer and Garda station can be found in Burgh Quay for those residing in Dublin. Those outside of Dublin should contact their local Garda station to locate the local Immigration Registration Officer.
- If you're a non-EEA national, you will be issued a GNIB (Garda National Immigration Bureau) card when you register.
- There is a €300 fee. This can be waived for spouses of Irish citizens, those under 18, and refugees.
6
Get Permission to Remain if you wish to retire in Ireland. If you have a visa or do not require one, and you can prove that you will not be a burden to the state, you can be permitted to reside in Ireland for up to five years, at which time you can renew your permission. You prove you won't be a burden to the state, and that your retirement is legitimate, by showing the immigration authorities certain records such as your bank statements, and previous work permits, if applicable.^{[3]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Immigrating for Education

1
Determine whether your student status in Ireland would fall under the Degree Programme or the Language and Non-Degree Programme. New guidelines were put into place in 2010 dividing the regulation of students. The Degree Programme refers to full-time enrollment in a program that will lead to anything from a bachelor's degree to a Doctorate degree. The Language and Non-Degree Programme refers to full-time enrollment in an English Language Course or a Further Education course. ^{[4]
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- Make sure that you meet the qualifications under the specific educational programme. These can be found through the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service.
2
Determine whether or not you must apply for a visa. The list of countries whose citizens are not required to obtain a visa includes the US, Canada, Mexico, Australia, most European countries, and others. You can find more information from the Irish Naturalization and Immigration Service at http://www.inis.gov.ie/en/INIS/Pages/check-irish-visa
- If you need a visa, apply for your visa at an Irish Embassy or Consulate. This visa allows you to seek entry to Ireland, it does not guarantee it.^{[6]
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- If you need a visa, apply for your visa at an Irish Embassy or Consulate. This visa will allow you only to seek entry to Ireland, it does not guarantee it.
3
Register with the immigration authorities. If you are successfully enrolled in an Irish university on a Degree Programme or a Language and Non-Degree Program, and you have your visa if you require one, you may travel to Ireland. Once there, you must register for residency with the Garda National Immigration Bureau within 90 days.^{[7]
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Research source} This must be done in person.The Immigration officer and Garda station can be found in Burgh Quay for those residing in Dublin. Those outside of Dublin should contact their local Garda station to locate the local Immigration Registration Officer.
- If you're a non-EEA national, you will be issued a GNIB (Garda National Immigration Bureau) card when you register.
- There is a €300 fee. This can be waived for spouses of Irish citizens, those under 18, and refugees.

Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Seeking Long-Term Residency or Asylum

1
Determine whether you qualify for long-term residency. Allowable situations include spouses/dependents of Irish citizens and workers legally residing in Ireland for more than 5 years.^{[8]
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- Spouses and dependents of those who have been granted long-term residency can also apply for long-term residency.
- More information on the eligibility requirements for long-term residency can be found through the Irish Naturalization and Immigration Service at http://www.inis.gov.ie/en/INIS/Pages/Long_Term_Residency.
2
Apply for long-term status through the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service. Documents required will include work permits, visas, Certificate of Registration, passport and proof of relationship or residency. There is a fee of 500 euro (approximately 719 USD).^{[9]
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- Application can be done online through the Irish Naturalization and Immigration Service website.
- The process for long-term status may take up to 6 months to complete.
3
Renew your long-term residency status. Every stamp giving long-term residency status lasts five years. If you've received long-term residency status previously and wish to renew this status, you don't need to submit another application. You just need to attend your local Immigration Office and renew your permission in person.
4
Determine if you qualify for refugee status for permittance into Ireland. According to the Refugee Act of 1996, refugee status may be granted to someone "owing to a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion, is outside the country of his or her nationality and is unable or, owing to such fear, unwilling to avail himself or herself of the protection of that country....."^{[10]
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- If you arrive at the frontier of Ireland and ask to seek asylum, an Immigration Officer will conduct a preliminary interview. Then you will be required to go to the Office of Refugee Applications to further your application process.

Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Becoming an Irish Citizen

1
Familiarize yourself with the requirements needed for naturalization. Naturalization is the method through which a non-Irish citizen can get Irish citizenship. There are a number of requirements you must meet before you can apply. Those include:
- Be of legal age (18). Children can be naturalized through a different form if they are the children of an Irish citizen.
- Be of good character.
- Be a resident of Ireland for the required amount of time.
- Make a declaration of loyalty. (This is done at the naturalization ceremony after your application is accepted.)
2
Determine whether you've lived in Ireland long enough. To be naturalized, you must have been living in Ireland legally for at least a year before the date of application. You must also have been a resident for at least 4 years in the past 9 years prior to the application. Residency is proved via the dates on the stamps on your passport. You get those stamps when you register for residency with the Immigration Bureau.
3
Make sure you meet the standards meant by "good character". Good character means respect for the laws of the state. When you apply for citizenship you must provide information about your criminal record and offenses committed both inside and outside of Ireland. Everything down to traffic tickets will be evaluated. A background check will be conducted after you submit your application.
4
Apply for naturalization. Application forms can be found here: http://www.inis.gov.ie/en/INIS/Pages/Citizenship%20Application%20Forms. You must mail the application form to the address listed on the same webpage. A background check will be conducted and an assessment of your financial status will be conducted. These processes may take a good amount of time. Eventually, the form will be sent to the Minister for Justice and Equality, who has absolute discretion on the applications approval or disapproval.
- If the application is approved, you'll be sent a letter telling you so, with instructions on final procedures. After you submit the final documentation and fee, you'll be invited to a ceremony. At the ceremony you'll receive your certificate of naturalization.^{[11]
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Community Q&A

Question

I'm Pakistani and wish to immigrate with my family. What should I do?

Community Answer

Follow these steps! Ireland has a large Pakistani community and you’ll be welcomed
Question

Would having an Irish grandfather qualify me for immigration to Ireland if I'm an American citizen?

Community Answer

Contact the Irish Embassy. You could probably obtain dual citizenship.
Question

If I am a U.S. citizen with Irish heritage, are there options for immigration?

Community Answer

With Irish heritage, you can get an Irish passport - as long as it is not too many generations back.