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Ireland, situated as an island nation on the westernmost edge of Europe, continues to captivate with its stunning landscapes and rich cultural heritage. The Republic of Ireland comprises 80 percent of the island, while a significant portion in the north remains part of the United Kingdom.
Renowned for its verdant expanses of lush green fields, Ireland earns its nickname as the Emerald Isle. However, rugged, rocky terrains also characterize its landscape, shaped over millennia by the movement of glaciers which once covered the land entirely, leaving behind vast stretches of flat limestone pavement.
Here are some updated fast facts about Ireland:
With its vibrant cities, picturesque countryside, and rich cultural heritage, Ireland continues to enchant visitors and residents alike, offering a unique blend of natural beauty and warm hospitality.
There are a number of reasons that you may wish to settle permanently in Ireland. Perhaps you moved here temporarily as a worker and have come to fall in love with its natural beauty, or perhaps you moved to be with your Irish spouse and wish to eventually naturalise as an Irish citizen.
Whatever your personal circumstances, Ireland is an idyllic place to live and one which attracts millions of visitors each year.
To become a permanent residence, you must meet the eligibility criteria. The Irish Permanent Residence Permit is specifically for foreign (non-EEA) nationals who have been living in the State for five years continuously under a form of work authorisation. There is also an option for those who are the spouse/dependent of an Irish permanent residence holder to apply for permanent residency this way.
EU citizens exercising their EU Treaty Rights are not eligible to apply for this permit.
You are eligible to apply for Ireland permanent residency if you fulfill the following conditions:
Additionally, if you are the spouse or dependent of an Irish Permanent Residence holder, you are also eligible for permanent residency, provided that you meet the time requirements (you have spend at least 60 months of legal residence in Ireland). Your family member must have already been granted their own permanent residency on a Stamp 4 before you can apply.
As a spouse/dependent, you will receive an immigration Stamp 3 and you will not be exempt from holding an employment permit.
You are not for permanent residency in Ireland, even if you meet the time requirements, if:
Candidates must follow the steps given below to receive a PR visa in Ireland:
You must have lived in Ireland legally for at least 5 years. The time when you weren’t in Ireland during that time won’t count as your “reckonable residence”.
You should have lived in Ireland with any work authorization, such as an employment permit, or must have held a Stamp 4 or Stamp
Candidates applying for PR in Ireland must have spent a specific amount of time in Ireland. The minimum time requirement for a candidate to receive a Permanent Residency is 5 years or sixty months. If you are dependent or a spouse of an Irish PR holder then your family member must have been granted their permanent residency on a Stamp 4.
A dependent or a spouse will receive an immigration Stamp 3 and you won’t receive an exemption from holding an employment permit. The processing time for the Irish Permanent Residency permit application is six to eight months. The processing time may vary from application to application. You don’t have to apply for another PR application once your permit expires. You can just visit the Immigration Officer and renew your PR for another five years.
Once you have resided in Ireland for at least eight years or 96 months, then you are eligible for an Irish PR without condition as to time endorsement.
When you submit your Ireland permanent residency application, you have to include the following documents:
You do not have to submit another Ireland Permanent Residence Permit application. Once your permit expires, you just have to visit your local Immigration Office and renew it for another five years.
Once you have lived in Ireland for at least eight years (96 months), you may be eligible for the Irish Without Condition As To Time Endorsement.
This type of endorsement, as the name suggests, is not issued with any specific expiry date. It is placed on your passport in the form of a Stamp 5 and is valid for the full duration of your passport. When your passport expires and you get a new one, you can apply to have your Stamp 5 renewed.
You are eligible for the Without Condition As To Time Endorsement if you fulfill the following conditions:
However, if you had one of the following stamps on your passport while you lived in Ireland, they will not count towards your required time for the Without Condition As To Time Endorsement:
The documents you have to include along with your application for the Without Condition As To Time Endorsement are:
However, if you have lived in Ireland for the required amount of time, you may be able to obtain Irish citizenship through naturalization. You can apply for Irish citizenship through naturalization if you can prove that you were legally resident in Ireland for at least 5 years out of the last 9 years, including the one year immediately preceding the application.
If you enrolled for a study degree that lasts longer than three months, you will need to register at the local GNIB as soon as you arrive in Ireland.
The residence permit allows you to stay in the country for up to 12 months and will receive a Certificate of Registration (known as a Green Book), which must be renewed before it expires.
English is widely spoken and those that live on the Emerald Isle are friendly and welcoming. The country has one of the highest standards of living in Europe and thanks to its well-connected geographical location and low corporation tax rates, an impressive number of multinational companies have European headquarters in the country, providing a wealth of opportunities.
Famous for its history and folklore, working in the country you’ll be able to take advantage of everything that the lush green landscapes and metropolitan cities have to offer, and maybe indulge in a Guinness or two.
The service sector dominates the job market. Opportunities can be found in a number of major industries including the growing technology sector, where the demand for IT workers is high, and thanks to Ireland’s rising popularity as a holiday destination, the hospitality and tourism industry are in need of both skilled and casual workers.
The country is also home to several multinational companies, including:
Competition for skilled jobs is fierce and your chances of securing work will increase with relevant work experience and third-level qualifications. In general work will be easier to come by in major towns and cities such as Cork, Dublin and Galway. While the capital city of Dublin is known to be relatively expensive, the cost of living is cheaper than other major European cities such as Copenhagen, London, Paris and Zurich.
The Irish economy has skills shortages in a number of areas including:
Due to the country’s busy tourism industry summer, seasonal and casual jobs shouldn’t be hard to come by. Once again your chances of securing such roles will increase in the bigger towns and cities.
Temporary jobs can cover everything from cleaning and promotions, to teaching and hospitality work.
Ireland is a popular destination for those who want to learn English. Typical employers include commercial language schools, public and private schools and institutions of higher education.
The majority of English as a foreign language (EFL) schools are privately run and are located in or around Dublin, but work can also be found in smaller towns and cities such as Cork and Galway.
The Accreditation and Coordination of English Language Services (ACELS) is the national body responsible for the development and management of English language teaching organisations in the country.
Because of the competitive job market in Ireland, you are more likely to secure a role in the country if you have relevant work experience.
Depending on the industry in which you want to work, you could contact firms individually to see if they have a scheme in place.
UK and EU nationals do not need a visa to enter Ireland. If you are a non-EU or international citizen you may need a visa to work in the country and you should apply for this online at the Irish Nationalization and Immigration Service (INIS).
UK, EU, European Economic Area (EEA) and Swiss nationals are entitled to work in Ireland, and be treated in the same way as Irish citizens when applying for a job, without an employment permit.
If you come from a country outside the EU you will need an employment permit to work in Ireland prior to your arrival in the country. If you’re coming to live with family, in some cases you may not need one. There are nine different types of permit including a general permit and a critical skills permit.
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