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Living and working in Ireland continues to grow in popularity and may be achieved through an Irish work permit or Intra Company Transfer (ICT), or by applying for an Irish Green Card.

Whilst Intra Company Transfers are specifically intended as a temporary Irish immigration service requiring applicants to return to their country of residence upon expiry, the option to extend them may result in a permit holder immigrating to Ireland for some years. Similarly, those who successfully apply to live and work in Ireland through Irish work permits or Green Card applications may relocate to Ireland, visa permitting, for several years in some cases progressing to permanent residency and naturalizing as an Irish citizen. As a result, Irish visa services make specific provision for spouse immigration and dependent immigration allowing the immediate family members of the main applicant to migrate to Ireland with them.

Immigration to Ireland has undergone a considerable expansion in recent decades, rapid economic growth has created a demand for economic migrants, and increasingly foreign nationals are benefiting from the high quality of life and comparatively liberal immigration service offered by Ireland. Unlike the processes encountered by those who apply for a UK visa, Australian visa, Canadian visa or more so a USA visa, Ireland has a relatively uncomplicated system of Irish visas for different types of immigrant.

However, whether you wish to apply for an Irish visitor visa for tourism or for visiting friends and family, or you intend to work towards permanent residence in Ireland and a grant of Irish citizenship, it is essential to apply for the correct Irish visa service for your relocation to Ireland. Visas can be obtained at any level from an Irish tourist visa through to longer term business visas and as a specialist immigration consultancy, Worldwide Visa Services( TNS) can help you to navigate the structure of immigration visas and Irish work permits helping you to embark upon the most appropriate route for you. Our immigration consultants can provide specialist immigration lawyer advice at every stage of your application and will be happy to respond to any queries or concerns you may have.

Benefits

In Ireland, work permit applications, Intra Company Transfers and Green Card visa applications all address the issue of family immigration, allowing the spouse and or dependents of applicants migrating to Ireland to join them in the country. The Irish Spouse and Dependent permit scheme allows these family members to apply for permission to work during their time in the country, enabling those who have entered the country through this family visa route to help to support themselves for the duration of their stay.

In Ireland, spouse visa and dependent visa applications provide the key benefit of allowing applicants to work without the need to undergo a labour market means test. This process, similar to that employed in immigration services in various countries and a key requirement when applying for a USA visa, Canada visa or South Africa visa, seeks to prove that a position being undertaken by an economic migrant could not have been filled by an indigenous worker.

Where those entering the country are the relatives of an applicant who has already successfully obtained an Irish work visa this requirement is waived allowing the dependent family members to seek and undertake employment as easily as possible.

Eligibility

In Ireland, immigration of family members through spouse and dependent permits entails some eligibility requirements, however these relate to the main applicant and their immigration status. People applying for an Irish spouse visa or dependent visa must be joining a primary applicant who is in possession on one of the following:

A current and valid Irish Green Card Permit.
A current and valid working permit with a grant of at least 12 months duration.
A current and valid Intra-Company Transfer permit with a grant of at least 12 months duration.

Duration

In Ireland, spouse visas and dependent visas are normally issued to coincide with the immigration status of the main applicant. Permits will be granted to match the duration of the primary candidate's work permit, ICT or Green Card application.

Additional Information - Changing Employer

A dependent or spouse visa application is subject to the same rules which govern applicants for work visas for Ireland; work permit and Green Card holders are obliged to stay with the specified employer for a minimum of 12 months, after which a change of employment may be permitted provided that a new work permit application is made.

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