The Irish government has extended the validity of Irish Residence Permits (IRPs).

Key Points:

  • IRPs that were valid in March 2020 are now valid until Jan. 15, 2022.
  • Foreign residents with currently expired IRP cards can use their expired cars to travel to and from the country until Jan. 15.
  • Individuals who have yet to compete their initial IRP registration must obtain a re-entry visa.
  • IRPs must be renewed before returning to Ireland if traveling after Jan. 15.

Additional Information: Authorities extended the validity of IRPs to help facilitate travel throughout the holiday season. More information regarding the extension can be found here.

BAL Analysis: Eligible foreign nationals will now be able to travel from and return to Ireland with expired IRP cards during the holiday season. BAL will continue to monitor visa extensions and will provide more information as it becomes available.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice group. For additional information, please contact berryapplemanleiden@bal.com.

Copyright © 2021 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries please contact copyright@bal.com.

IMPACT – MEDIUM

The Irish government resumed and added countries to the Short-Stay Visa Waiver Program on Oct. 31.

Key Points: 

  • Eligible foreign nationals who have a valid short-stay visa for the U.K. can now visit Ireland without an Irish visa. 
  • To use the program, eligible travelers must enter the U.K. on a valid U.K. short-stay visa before traveling to Ireland. 
  • Individuals from the following 24 countries are eligible under the Short-Stay Visa Waiver Program:  
    • Bahrain, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, China, Colombia, India, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kuwait, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Oman, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine, Uzbekistan and Vietnam.  
  • Eligible foreign nationals may be able to stay up to 90 days under the visa waiver program.

Additional Information: The visa waiver program does not apply to travelers with an Irish visa wanting to enter the U.K. Hong Kong and Macao passport holders do not need a visa to visit Ireland. Travelers from Kuwait, Oman and Qatar cannot use the U.K. Electronic Visa Waiver (EVW) to travel to Ireland from a third country. With an EVW, travelers must fly directly to the U.K. and then directly to Ireland to be able to enter the country without an Irish Visa. More information on the Short-Stay Visa Waiver Program can be found here.

BAL Analysis: Foreign nationals from the aforementioned countries can once again travel to Ireland for short trips if they are already in the U.K. on a short-stay visa.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice group. For additional information, please contact berryapplemanleiden@bal.com.

Copyright © 2021 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries, please contact copyright@bal.com.

The Irish government recently amended its ineligible occupations list for employment permits and increased quotas for some professions.

Key Points:

  • Most construction sector jobs are now eligible for General Employment Permits.
  • Dispensing Opticians are now eligible for General Employment Permits.
  • Authorities have allotted 350 General Employment Permits for hospitality managers.
  • Social workers are now eligible for Critical Skills Employment Permits.
  • Authorities increased the permit quotas for existing occupations in the horticulture, meat and dairy industries.

Additional Information: Current processing dates for employment permits can be found here. Ireland reviews and updates the critical skills and ineligible occupation lists twice a year. Changes to the lists were made based on labor market conditions, submissions from relevant stakeholders and the current COVID-19 situation.

BAL Analysis: The decision to remove some occupations from the ineligible occupations list and increase quotas for some professions is intended to make it easier for companies to hire foreign workers in certain positions and alleviate labor shortages across the country.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice group. For additional information, please contact berryapplemanleiden@bal.com.

Copyright © 2021 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries, please contact copyright@bal.com.

The Irish government announced that it has ended the mandatory hotel quarantine requirement for all travelers and will be lifting many COVID-related restrictions on Oct. 22.

Key Points:

  • As of Sept. 25, travelers arriving in Ireland are no longer required to quarantine at hotel, but still must:
    • Present a negative pre-travel PCR test or proof of vaccination or recovery from COVID-19.
    • Complete a home-based quarantine.
    • Fill out a Passenger Locator Form before entering Ireland.
  • On Oct. 22, authorities will lift the majority of remaining internal restrictions including, but not limited to:
    • Face masks outdoors and at indoor private settings.
    • Physical/social distancing.
    • Vaccination, immunity or testing certifications as a prerequisite to enter events.
    • Restrictions to high-risk activities.

Additional Information: The Irish government may reintroduce and implement new heath requirements and internal restrictions if the situation worsens.

BAL Analysis: The response to the COVID-19 pandemic continues to develop, and BAL will provide additional updates as information becomes available.

This alert has been provided by the BAL U.S. Practice group. For additional information, please contact berryapplemanleiden@bal.com.

Copyright © 2021 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries please contact copyright@bal.com.

IMPACT – MEDIUM

The Irish government recently announced an extension of immigration and international protection permissions.

Key Points:

  • The extension allows individuals who held valid permission to be in Ireland in March 2020 the ability to stay in the country until Jan. 15, 2022, even if their Irish Residence Permit card has expired.
  • The extension applies to:
    • Permissions that will expire between Sept. 21, 2021, and Jan. 15, 2022.
    • Foreign nationals whose permissions were extended under previous notices since March of 2020.
    • Permissions registered by the Immigration Service in Dublin and An Garda Síochána nationwide.
  • International students must still adhere to special arrangements, detailed here.

Additional Information: Individuals renewing their permissions are no longer required to submit their passport. More information regarding on registering for immigration permissions can be found here.

Currently, the public registration office in Burgh Quay is open for appointments and those in Dublin can renew their permissions online at this website. Information for all registration offices outside of Dublin can be found here.

BAL Analysis: The measure will provide foreign nationals additional time to renew their immigration permissions and ensures that employees will retain their permission under their current conditions until Jan. 15, 2022. The response to the COVID-19 pandemic continues to develop, and BAL will provide additional updates as information becomes available.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice Group. For additional information, please contact berryapplemanleiden@bal.com.

Copyright © 2021 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries, please contact copyright@bal.com.

The Irish government announced it has resumed processing short-stay visa applications.

Key Points:

  • As of Sept. 13, foreign nationals may apply for short-stay visas.
  • Travelers arriving into Ireland must continue to comply fully with all public health measures.
  • More information and application instructions for short-stay visas can be found here.

Additional Information: The announcement marks the first time since March of 2020 that short-stay visas have been processed. Short-stay visas can be used for up to 90 days for business travel, tourism purposes and training.

Individuals traveling from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) who do not have a DCC or proof of vaccination or recovery will be subject to a mandatory quarantine and further testing. Individuals from high-risk countries may have to quarantine in a designated hotel.

BAL Analysis: Travelers from countries that require a visa to enter the country will benefit from the processing resumption. BAL will continue to monitor these developments and will provide more information as it becomes available.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global practice. For additional information, please contact berryapplemanleiden@bal.com.

Copyright © 2021 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries, please contact copyright@bal.com.

IMPACT – MEDIUM

The Irish government will begin using the EU Digital COVID Certificate (DCC) and will update its travel advisory on July 19.

Beginning on July 19:

  • EU or EEA travelers who use the DCC will not have to quarantine upon arrival from another EU or EEA country.
  • Travelers from non-EU or EEA countries will not have to quarantine if they have proof they have received an EU-approved vaccination. If no proof of vaccination is given, travelers must show proof of a negative PCR test conducted within 72 hours of arrival and undergo a home quarantine.
  • Ireland will follow an approach similar to other EU countries for non-essential travel from third countries by using an “emergency brake” system for countries that have a virus variant outbreak. Travelers from a country where an “emergency brake” has been applied must show proof of a PCR test conducted within 72 hours of arrival, quarantine regardless of vaccination status and undergo post-arrival testing. If an individual is not vaccinated they must undergo a hotel quarantine instead of a home quarantine.

BAL Analysis: The DCC will be used in Ireland to help facilitate free movement of EU and EEA citizens across the region. The response to the COVID-19 pandemic continues to develop, and BAL will provide additional updates as information becomes available.

This alert has been provided by Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For additional information, please contact berryapplemanleiden@bal.com.

Copyright © 2021 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries please contact copyright@bal.com.

IMPACT – MEDIUM

The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment has opened public consultations for an upcoming review of the Critical Skills Occupations List and the Ineligible Occupations List.

Key Points:

  • Employers and other stakeholders can make submissions for the lists from now until Aug. 12. at 5 p.m. Irish Standard Time.
  • All submissions must be made through an online form and should be sent to empu@enterprise.gov.ie.
  • Submissions should include any relevant factors that are impacting a specific industry, such as data on skills and labor shortages, industry surveys, recruitment information, retention difficulties, training incentives or business expansion plans.

Background: Ireland’s employment permit systems are vacancy-led and driven by changing labor market needs. The Irish government periodically updates the occupations lists to match the labor market demand.

The Critical Skills Occupations List and Ineligible Occupations List serve as the basis for what occupations will be prioritized for employment permits. The Critical Skills Occupations List includes highly skilled occupations that are experiencing a labor shortage and need to be filled. The Ineligible Occupations List shows occupations for which employment permits will not be granted.

BAL Analysis: The submission process serves as an opportunity for employers and other stakeholders to provide information, perspectives and data on current labor market shortages and surpluses. Submissions are key in helping the Department finalize the occupations lists for employment permits later this year.

This alert has been provided by Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For additional information, please contact berryapplemanleiden@bal.com.

Copyright © 2021 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries please contact copyright@bal.com.

The Irish government has lifted COVID-related visa restrictions on nationals of South Africa and a number of South American countries.

Key Points:

  • As of June 16, travelers who hold passports issued by the following countries no longer need to obtain an entry visa to travel to Ireland:
    • Argentina
    • Bolivia
    • Brazil
    • Chile
    • Guyana
    • Paraguay
    • South Africa
    • Uruguay
  • Under temporary restrictions that were imposed on Jan. 28, nationals of these countries were required to obtain entry visas. While the visa requirement has been lifted, nationals of these countries will have to meet Ireland’s conditions of entry related to the purpose of their stay.
  • Travelers who are unsure whether they require a visa or preclearance to enter Ireland can check here for more information.

BAL Analysis: While the change will make travel easier for nationals of some countries, employers should note that Ireland continues to enforce COVID-related conditions of entry and that an advisory against non-essential international travel remains in place. The response to the COVID-19 pandemic continues to develop, and BAL will provide additional updates as information becomes available.

This alert has been provided by Berry Appleman & Leiden. For additional information, please contact berryapplemanleiden@balglobal.com.

Copyright © 2021 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries please contact copyright@balglobal.com.

IMPACT – HIGH

The Irish government has announced officials will resume processing visa applications for essential family reunification and for certain business and employment purposes for applicants who have been granted an employment permit.

The following applicants are now eligible to have their visas processed:

  1. Long-stay Join Family Members visa applicants, including:
    • All Long Stay D Visa join family applicants, including third country national family members of Irish nationals and individuals exercising free movement under the EU Directive.
    • Preclearance applicants for: De Facto Partner of an Irish National; De Facto Partner of a Critical Skills Employment Permit Holder, or of a non EEA Researcher on a Hosting Agreement and Non EEA Family members looking to join a U.K. National in Ireland.
  2. Individuals traveling for business or employment purposes who have been granted an employment permit by Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment to meet an enterprise’s key business.

Additional Information: The Irish government continues not to process the majority of short-stay applications except for cases that fall under the Emergency and Priority criteria. Other visa processing suspensions will be reviewed in the coming weeks.

Anyone traveling to Ireland must complete a COVID-19 Passenger Locator Form, test negative on a COVID-19 test taken no more than 72 hours before arrival and quarantine at home or in a designated facility, depending on their travel history.

Analysis & Comments: The change is welcome news that will allow a significant number of people to obtain their visas to travel to Ireland. The response to the COVID-19 pandemic continues to develop, and Deloitte will provide additional updates as information becomes available.

Rest of World Source: Deloitte. Deloitte refers to one or more of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited (“DTTL”), its global network of member firms, and their related entities. DTTL (also referred to as “Deloitte Global”) and each of its member firms are legally separate and independent entities. DTTL does not provide services to clients. Please see www.deloitte.com/about to learn more. Deloitte Legal means the legal practices of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited member firms or their affiliates that provide legal services. For legal, regulatory and other reasons, not all member firms provide legal services. This includes Deloitte Tax LLP in the United States, which does not provide legal and/or immigration advice or services. This communication contains general information only, and none of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited, its member firms or their related entities (collectively, the “Deloitte network”) is, by means of this communication, rendering professional advice or services. Before making any decision or taking any action that may affect your finances or your business, you should consult a qualified professional adviser. No entity in the Deloitte network shall be responsible for any loss whatsoever sustained by any person who relies on this communication. © 2021. For information, contact Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited.