If you’re not eligible for Irish citizenship—or perhaps haven’t yet submitted your application—you can still reside in the country on a visa. Visas allow non-EU citizens to remain in the Republic of Ireland for longer than the usual 90 days granted for tourists. There are many different options available, depending on your circumstances and reasons for being in the country. Read more below to figure out which visa is right for you and how to apply.
Who has to apply for a visa?
Your home country will determine whether or not you need a visa. Those who hold EU passports do not need a visa to visit or remain in Ireland. On the other hand, people from certain countries will be required to get a short-stay visa when either transiting through or visiting Ireland for short periods (under 90 days). A complete list of such countries can be found on the Irish Immigration Service website.
Finally, those who are not EU/EEA citizens who intend to stay in Ireland for longer than 90 days will need to apply for an Irish visa. This kind of visa is known as a “D” visa.
Note also that, while Ireland is part of the EU, it is not part of the Schengen Area, meaning that there are border control checks even if you arrive from an EU country.
Types of visas
Family reunification—If you’re a family member of an EU/EEA/Swiss citizen (spouse, dependent child, or dependent parent), then you can remain in Ireland long-term on the basis of family reunification. There is no D visa required, though you might first have to apply for a short-term C visa, depending on your country of origin. Once in Ireland, you can then apply for a residence card to stay more than 90 days.
Work—Depending on the kind of work you do, there are a few different visa options to accommodate various situations. Unfortunately, Ireland does not currently offer a Digital Nomad Visa. However, there are still a few different options for employment visas. One is the standard employment visa and is issued by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. It covers specific sectors for which Ireland is lacking. Then there is an Atypical Worker Scheme issued in certain cases for jobs not covered under DETE. Scientists there for research can access a particular visa for their purposes. And finally, there is the Van der Elst visa for non-EEA citizens who are already working in another part of the EU.
Study—If you come to Ireland for the purpose of studying you can receive a visa for the length of your coursework. Your school will provide you with the necessary paperwork on their end for the visa application.
How to apply
Once you have gathered all the documentation to support your particular visa, along with a copy of your passport, passport-sized photo, and paid the fee, you will complete the online application form. This site will also tell you where to finalize the process, be that a consulate, embassy, or other center.
Next steps
Upon a successful visa application and entry into Ireland, you will still need to register your presence with the Immigration Service Delivery. This needs to be done within 90 days. You will first need to make an appointment online. At your appointment, you will need to present a list of required documents, depending your “Stamp” category (type of visa). You can find the list for your particular Stamp on the Irish Immigration Service website. You will also have your photograph and fingerprints taken at your appointment, and might need to pay a fee. After your paperwork has all been promised, you will be issued an Irish Residence Permit within 10 business days.
After 5 years, certain persons may be eligible to apply for permanent residency, allowing you to remain for another 5 years before renewing. Eligibility is strictly limited to those on an employment permit with Stamp 1 or Stamp 4. Family members and dependents of permanent residence holders might also be allowed to apply for permanent residence. (Note that this does not apply to spouses/dependents of Irish citizens). You can find more information on the Irish Immigration Service website.
Regarding minors
Visa applicants under the age of 18 will need to have their application submitted by their parents or legal guardians. This will include a letter of consent signed by both parents/legal guardians. In the case of single parent households, a death certificate or court order showing sole custody—depending on the situation—will also need to be provided.
Citizenship by naturalization
Finally, citizenship by naturalization is also an option. This is available to people 18 or older who are of “good character” and can prove “reckonable residence” in Ireland for 5 out of the past 9 years. One of these years includes a full year of continuous residence in Ireland immediately prior to the application. You must also intend to remain in Ireland, and fill out a particular form for temporary absences abroad. Parents can include minor children in their applications. Spouses of Irish citizens only need to demonstrate reckonable residence for 3 out of the past 5 years.
Conclusion
Not qualifying for Irish citizenship by descent does not necessarily mean your pathway to residing in Ireland is closed. Hopefully, this article gave you a few ideas on visas to apply for so you can make your exciting move. If you need any help in the process, please contact us at info@irishcitizenshipassistance.com!