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Updated March 2024
Ireland has become a highly sought-after destination for international workers in recent years. From a strong and stable job market to a welcoming atmosphere for expatriates and a commitment to fostering innovation and growth, Ireland offers a unique blend of professional opportunities and a high quality of life. However, it is important to note that if you want to work in Ireland, you must first obtain an Ireland work permit.
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Read on as Wego covers everything you need to know and prepare to apply for an Ireland work visa.
Table of Contents
Ireland work visa types
Non-European Economic Area (EEA) and non-Swiss individuals are required to secure a work permit to legally work in Ireland. Nevertheless, the type of permit you need may vary depending on the duration of your stay in the country.
Below are the options for applying for an Ireland work visa, depending on your duration of stay
Less than 90 days
The following are some of the Ireland short-term visas, which allow applicants to work in Ireland for less than 90 days:
You can find out the complete list of short-term visas here.
Atypical working scheme
The Atypical Working Scheme permits individuals to engage in employment roles that do not fall under the purview of standard employment regulations. This might encompass positions in industries facing skill shortages, internships, and various other job opportunities.
Once you receive an approval letter from the Atypical Working Scheme Division of the Immigration Service (ISD) in Ireland, you will be eligible to apply for an Atypical Working Scheme for short-term employment. The application can be submitted up to 3 months before your intended travel date to Ireland.
Documents required
The following are some of the documents required to apply for the Atypical Working Scheme:
- two color passport-sized photographs not more than 6 months old. Please make sure to add your name and visa application reference number on the back of the photos.
- the current passport and a full copy of all previous passports. Please note that your current passport must be valid for at least 12 months after your proposed date of arrival in Ireland.
- a signed letter of application that includes your:
- full contact details
- reason for wanting to come to Ireland
- how long you intend to stay
- details of any members of your family who are currently in Ireland or any other EU Member State
- details of where you intend to stay while you are in Ireland
- commitment that you will observe the conditions of your visa, that you will not become a burden on the State, and that you will leave the State on the expiry of your permission to remain in Ireland.
- a valid Atypical Working Scheme approval letter.
- evidence of your obligations to return to your country of permanent residence
- medical or travel insurance
- previous visa refusals, if any
Please note that some additional documents might be required depending on your purpose. Hence, make sure to refer to the Irish Immigration Service website for more information
Application process
To apply for Atypical Working Scheme, follow the steps given below:
- register on the Irish Immigration Service website
- make an application for permission under the Scheme from outside the State. Please note that an application will NOT be accepted if it is made from within the State.
- fill out and complete the online application form.
- submit all the required supporting documents
- pay the application fee by credit card
Please note that in case you have engaged the services of a Legal Representative or an agency to submit the application on your behalf, you must also submit a Letter of Authorisation signed and dated by you. This letter authorizes the Legal Representative or agency to act on your behalf.
Fees
The application fee for the Atypical Working Scheme is €250 for each application. It is is non-refundable.
Please note that in case the payment of the application fee is not received in full, your application will be rejected.
Van der Elst visa
The Van der Elst visa is designed for a non-EEA national who is lawfully resident and legally employed in another EU member state to work in Ireland on a temporary or short-term contract.
The following categories are eligible to apply for the Van der Elst visa:
- lawfully resident in the EU member state in which the employer is established
- lawfully employed by the employer in the sending EU member state
- on the payroll of the employer in the sending EU member state
- coming to Ireland to provide services on behalf of your employer
- coming to Ireland on a temporary or short-term contract, up to a maximum of 12 consecutive months.
Documents required
The following are some of the documents required to apply for the Van der Elst visa:
- two color passport-sized photographs not more than 6 months old. Please make sure to add your name and visa application reference number on the back of the photos.
- the current passport and a full copy of all previous passports. Please note that your current passport must be valid for at least 12 months after your proposed date of arrival in Ireland.
- a signed letter of application that includes your:
- full contact details
- reason for wanting to come to Ireland
- how long you intend to stay
- details of any members of your family who are currently in Ireland or any other EU Member State
- details of where you intend to stay while you are in Ireland
- commitment that you will observe the conditions of your visa, that you will not become a burden on the State, and that you will leave the State on the expiry of your permission to remain in Ireland.
- evidence of your right to reside
- letter from your employer in the sending EU Member State
- letter from the Irish-based host company
- medical or travel insurance
- previous visa refusals, if any
Please note that any official documents issued by a non-EEA or non-Swiss State, including birth certificates, marriage certificates, death certificates, and divorce certificates, must undergo an attestation/apostille process to verify their authenticity. This attestation/apostille should be carried out by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the issuing state to ensure the documents are considered valid evidence for Irish visa applications.
Application process
The application for the Van der Elst visa can be accessed through Ireland’s official visa/preclearance application facility, AVATS. You will be required to answer all the questions about your personal information, visit purpose, biometric information, and more.
Please make sure to answer all the questions accurately and honestly.
Alternatively, for further guidance in using the online application system, you can check the official guidelines provided by Irish Immigration.
Fees
The fee for the Van der Elst visa is as follows:
- single entry – €60
- multiple entry – €100
Please note that additional charges may apply for some applications, such as consular fees. Hence, make sure to consult the respective visa office, embassy or consulate for more details and local payment options.
Short-stay business visa
A short-term business visa permits you to visit Ireland for business-related activities, including attending meetings, negotiating or signing agreements or contracts and for work lasting 14 days or fewer. These visas, commonly referred to as ‘C’ visas, are valid for a maximum stay of 90 days.
However, you should apply for a business visa only if your work in Ireland starts and ends within a single 14-day period.
Please note that you cannot work more than once during the 90-day period.
Documents required
The following are some of the documents required to apply for a short-stay visa:
- printed, signed and dated application summary sheets from AVATS
- application letter, including:
- full name and postal address
- reason you want to come to Ireland
- dates you plan to arrive and leave
- names and addresses of any members of your family who currently live in Ireland or any other EU/EEA country or Switzerland
- a written invitation from a host in Ireland. Please note that the host may be a customer, a supplier, a company or an organization
- accomodation plan
- travel or medical insurance
- proof of fee payment
- the current passport and a full copy of all previous passports.
Please note that some additional documents might be required. Hence, make sure to refer to the Irish Immigration Service website for more information.
Application process
The application for this visa must be prepared 3 months in advance. To apply for this visa, you can follow the steps below:
- create a visa application online through the AVATS website
- pay the visa application fee
- send your passport and other documents for processing to the visa office address shown on your summary sheet. Your application office may be the Dublin visa office, an international visa office or an Irish Embassy or Consulate worldwide, depending on where you apply from. Moreover, in some cases, the office may send your application to a different office for a visa decision.
Fees
The fee for the short-stay visa is as follows:
- single entry – €60
- multiple entry – €100
Please note that additional charges may apply for some applications, such as consular fees. Hence, make sure to consult the respective visa office, embassy or consulate for more details and local payment options.
More than 90 days
The following are some of the Ireland long-stay visas, which allow applicants to work in Ireland for more than 90 days:
You can find out the complete list of long-stay visas here.
Van der Elst visa
The Van der Elst visa can also be applied for if you want to work in Ireland for more than 90 days, as one of the eligibility criteria for this visa includes individuals who arrive in Ireland under temporary or short-term contracts with a maximum continuous duration of 12 months.
Documents required
The following are some of the documents required to apply for the Van der Elst visa:
- two color passport-sized photographs not more than 6 months old. Please make sure to add your name and visa application reference number on the back of the photos.
- the current passport and a full copy of all previous passports. Please note that your current passport must be valid for at least 12 months after your proposed date of arrival in Ireland.
- a signed letter of application that includes your:
- full contact details
- reason for wanting to come to Ireland
- how long you intend to stay
- details of any members of your family who are currently in Ireland or any other EU Member State
- details of where you intend to stay while you are in Ireland
- commitment that you will observe the conditions of your visa, that you will not become a burden on the State, and that you will leave the State on the expiry of your permission to remain in Ireland.
- evidence of your right to reside
- letter from your employer in the sending EU Member State
- letter from the Irish-based host company
- medical or travel insurance
- previous visa refusals, if any
Please note that any official documents issued by a non-EEA or non-Swiss State, including birth certificates, marriage certificates, death certificates, and divorce certificates, must undergo an attestation/apostille process to verify their authenticity. This attestation/apostille should be carried out by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the issuing state to ensure the documents are considered valid evidence for Irish visa applications.
Application process
The application for the Van der Elst visa can be accessed through Ireland’s official visa/preclearance application facility, AVATS. You will be required to answer all the questions about your personal information, visit purpose, biometric information, and more.
Please make sure to answer all the questions accurately and honestly.
Alternatively, for further guidance in using the online application system, you can check the official guidelines provided by Irish Immigration.
Fees
The fee for the Van der Elst visa is as follows:
- single entry – €60
- multiple entry – €100
Please note that additional charges may apply for some applications, such as consular fees. Hence, make sure to consult the respective visa office, embassy or consulate for more details and local payment options.
Employment (scientific researcher) visa
The Employment (scientific researcher) visa can be applied if you wish to come to Ireland for the purposes of carrying out research under a “hosting agreement.”
Please note that before proceeding with your visa application, make sure to familiarize yourself with the immigration regulations that pertain to scientific researchers intending to come to Ireland under a hosting agreement.
Documents required
Given below are some of the documents required to apply for an Ireland Employment (scientific researcher) visa:
- two color passport-sized photographs not more than 6 months old. Please make sure to add your name and visa application reference number on the back of the photos.
- signed application letter. The information in the letter should include contact details, visit purpose, duration of stay, family members details who are currently in Ireland or an EU Member State, details of the place where you want to stay, and your commitment related to your visa.
- current bank statement with your name, address, account number and account type visible.
- copy of the hosting agreement with an accredited research organization.
- copy of the contract of employment
- medical or travel insurance. Please note that this document is not mandatory, but the visa officer may request it before deciding on your application.
- previous visa refusals, if any
Application process
The application for the Employment (scientific researcher) visa can be accessed through Ireland’s official visa/preclearance application facility, AVATS. You will be required to answer all the questions about your personal information, visit purpose, biometric information, and more.
Please make sure to answer all the questions accurately. Alternatively, for further guidance in using the online application system, you can check the official guidelines provided by Irish Immigration.
Fees
The fee for the Employment (scientific researcher) visa is as follows:
- single entry – €60
- multiple entry – €100
- transit – €25
The visa fee is an administration fee that covers the cost of processing your application, and it cannot be refunded if your application is refused or withdrawn.
Please note that additional charges may apply for some applications, such as consular fees. Hence, make sure to consult the respective visa office, embassy or consulate for more details and local payment options.
Ireland work visa processing time
The application for a work visa may vary between countries. However, it takes approximately 8 weeks from the submission date of the application to the visa office, embassy or consulate.
Please make sure to consult your respective visa office, embassy or consulate regarding the accurate processing time.
